THE GERMAN COLONIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16752, 19 January 1918, Page 8

THE GERMAN COLONIES.

jiINJERBftT OF DOMINIONS. -::-_-. LONDON. Jan. 8. lobd. i&gmti&fc, formerly ! Governor of . • Victoria, sajs, in the course of an article in the Daily , Graphic:-" Her f colonies : cannot be returned to Germany.-' Aus- ' tralia and New- Zealand, feared German incursions in the South Pacific, and Aus- ' tralia, endeavoured to forestall the Ger- ; man".occupation of- the non-Dutch portion of New Guinea. The apathy of the Home '< .Government caused Australia's wishes to i be only, partially accomplished. As the , Geonan:Navy.increa«ed. it became evident ' that her,, naval bases in the south-east endangered Australia's ', security. When I ''tHe"Jeacfr' Conference Assembles it must ] he madeclearthat the claims of humanity and the progress of civilisation debar. any further application of the tyrannous German methods to native races in any part of ..the. world;t- We are fighting as an Empire, but without Imperialistic aims. The fate of the German colonies will rest as.Mr. Lloyd George pointed out, upon the Peace. Conference, which must secure just and kindly treatment "for their populations. iri'i >,•>}< • ■' ;\.' ; < • ■ ;•*.' ~'..", The views .of the Dominions, whose , whole future interests are deeply involved, must receive; 1 .'the fullest consideration. ..-Germany/will be disappointed in the expectation.' .that peace will ' restore . her; ; colonies. -The Empire Governments which ;.'. 'the Peace Conference shall decree to be ■'-'• created must/.prevent exploitation, and ■ guarantee the ; onward : and : upward pro:L;; gress of '.the various tribes. : The idea of "- the Labour Conferences; of a^mipernational .Government, in which/the representatives, . of half-a-dozen Powers will participate, is impracticable' '-. It would ;.- lead to endless ' " friction. •"■ The Governments must be on the lines ;ot British, rule -: in '■ India, ,which, .'judged-, by t&e x<sndbrfnl progress of .the most! hittrogeneouit' and ' mutually ('intagonfatns peoples'in the world, is' the ; -gTeatwf of British gettius.''