The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1938. AFRICAN FERMENT

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14005, 7 November 1938, Page 4

The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1938. AFRICAN FERMENT

From Kenya to Capetown and from Capetown to the Cameroons Africa is stirred to its depths by the fear that the Powers, yielding to unprecedented diplomatic pressure, will return the lest colonies to Germany. In the month that has passed since Die Munich agreement the colonial issue has leapt to the forefront to the exclusion of interest in all other controversies, and it has become evident from the actions of the German Government—undisguised preparations, financial and administrative—that it confidently expects the early satisfaction of its claims. All Germany, m tact, is being Jed to believe that the return, of colonies is to be the inevitable- sequel to the new policy of realistic approach by the democracies to the totalitarian States and that European appeasement is to follow the satisfaction of Nazi aspirations. The reaction in Africa to this swift turn in events has been, immediate and outspoken and the "Union Government of South Africa has taken the lead in marshalling the forces <1 opposition. In the electiou campaign last May there was complete unanimity on one point Every South African without exception supported General Ilertzog when he said that South-West Africa must never be given back to Germany, and Mr O. lhrow, Defence Minister, when he said the integrity of the Portuguese African colonies was a cardinal point of South African policy. These firm declarations and the fact that the Capetown Government banned Nazi youth organisations in South-W est Africa heartened anti-German feeling in Kenya, Tanganyika, Portuguese East Africa and the Cameroons. Now Capetown is planning a pan-African conference, representative of all these interests, and an attempt will be made to reach a compromise that will safeguard British, French and Portuguese interests and will satisfy Germany’s economic claims. The task of such a conference, should Germany acquiesce, will prove most difficult In the first place the nations expected to make concessions to Germany must be satisfied that she will be a “good, neighbour.” The planters of Kenya must first be convinced that they will not he prejudiced if their colony has Italian Abyssinia and German Tanganyika, on each side of it. South Africans, in turn, must he satisfied that a German. South-West Africa will not appear to the Union as Austria appeared to Czechoslovakia, a constant threat and an irritation at its side Nigeria, the Belgian. Congo and Portuguese East Alrioa would also have to accept German neighbours But Herr Hitler, Dr. Schacht and General Von Epn. the active leader of the Colonial Dengue, have always mentioned the unconditional return of the colonies as the only solution Germany will consider. This and the fact ibsxt much Biitish capital has been invested in fTi'e African, mandates and many Eng-hsh-speaking settlers have taken up land there—half the white population of Souili-West Africa are British citizens—make a satisfactory compromise appear a real test of statesmanship. Germany’s bold demands on the one hand and the deep racial and economic fears of South Africans on the other are producing a ferment of controversy unequalled since Boer and Briton settled their bitter differences