THE GERMAN COLONIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16763, 1 February 1918, Page 4

THE GERMAN COLONIES.

In his'- lecture on the German colonies, General Smuts naturally gave prominence to the colonial view of the future of these* colonies. No man is better qualified to express that view, and few are so well versed in the depressing history of Germany's colonial experiment. He laid emphasis upon Germany's present Intentions, not upon what may happen when swashbuckling gains no applause in Prussia,, and when the whole world is fit for a League of Peace. He was more interested to safeguard the communities of the Southern Hemisphere against attack than to extend the principle of self-determination to all the natives of the tropical islands. He was more concerned for the well-being of these natives than for the future trade of Germany. The outline given by General Smuts of Germany's purpose in insisting upon the return of her colonies corresponds exactly with the interpretations of German speeches and demands recently .published in the Herald. There is nothing in the German mind comparable to the British idea, of colonisation. The German has never gone abroad to shoulder any share of tho whito man's burden. He has taken his soulless machine wherever .he could find a foundation for it, and has crushed the native races in tho interests of German efficiency 'and German profit. He has looked at the map arid said: "Here may be established a German naval and military base, and there Germans may go to exploit the .native so that German industry may flourish." It is evident that war has not softened this German attitude to colonisation. .The demand, the German Colonial Society is for a return of all the colonies seized during the war "with additional territory." Baron von Hertling 'made an ambiguous 'reference the other day to "a new construction of the colonial situation." General Smuts has graphically pictured what this-' -new construction would mean to the Southern Dominions if at the close of the war .Germany is permitted to •raise it from the ruins.of her old colonial : empire..