MANDATE TERRITORIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18510, 22 March 1922, Page 6

MANDATE TERRITORIES

AUSTBALIAN AIISMANAGEAIENT DENTED.

(From Ouk Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, March 16. Charge of mismanagement, corruption, and inefficiency in the administration of former German colonies in the Reichstag by the former Colonial Office official have received an emphatic denial, on the part of the Australian authorities, so far as late German New Guinea is concerned. In an official statement the Under Secretary for External Affairs says: “Australia has received a. mandate from the League of Nations to administer what was formerly German Now Guinea, and she is carrying out that mandate to the letter. The report is of an ex parte statement made by a member of the Reichstag in the hope that the German colonies will be returned. No doubt many Germans who have been expropriated from former possessions in various parts of the world, although they have been fairly dealt with harbotir a feeling of bitterness and resentment. Australia not onb, treated the expropriated German nationals fairly, but humanely, in advancing them considerable sums when they left Australia, as well as for sustenance while they were wailing in Sydney for the vessel to take them to Europe. There was no necessity on the part of the Government to do this. It was pointed out at the time that the Federal Parliament was discussing the question of expropriation that complaints lodged by irresponsible persons would be echoed in Germany, and this has proved to be the case. Coder the mandate Australia has absolute power to expropriate former enemy nationals. We report to the League of Nations regularly, and arc responsible to the League for what wo Ho. If Germany has any complaints she is at liberty to address them to the League.”