GERMANY'S COLONIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22896, 26 November 1937, Page 15

GERMANY'S COLONIES

Sir, —The question of return to Germany of colonies held under mandate is gathering momentum daily. There must be only one answer, definitely no surrender. The matter directly concerns this country, Australia and South Africa, in addition to Imperial interests. That tho Empire could transfer big tracts of country to Germany without any economic hardship cannot be denied, but unfortunately, this is not the major factor, rather tho reverse. This applies to other Powers beside Great Britain. Germany is lacking in certain raw materials which would enable her to dominato Europe. That she could buy theso tho same as we have to is liablo to bo overlooked. Bather, she spends all available exchange on the sinews of war. Tho plea that it is far better to satisfy "have-not" Powers, than make them resort to war, is blackmail and nothing less. Can anyone possibly imagine that this great armament raco will finish with tho material being dropped in the seaP The Empire, lias enough to contend with without letting Germany obtain war operation bases, especially 011 tho West Coast of Africa, to harass our exports. Tho day of Germany being satisfied with talk is past, and there is only one answer tho Prussian understands, which is greater force. That a general settlement is desirable and must' eventually come is obvious, but to attempt to satisfy German colonial claims at this juncture is playing Avith fire, and will simply be accepted as weakness and used as tho thin edgo of the wedge. Only those totally lacking vision fail to realise tho British Empire is but tho stepping stono to a World Umpire based 011 Christian principles. Germany has no more right to demand a return of her Colonial Empire than, for example, Spain. If, as she claims, "might is right," she forfeited all claim when defeated in war. Tho claims of the nativo races should come first and they have as much right for a place under the sun as any bully who wants the whole world to march over, and squeals because wo cannot see his view 011 the subject. Speaking individually, .1 bitterly protest against any consideration of German colonial claims without a general world settlement with disarmament coming first. W. A. Booth. Waiuku.