PACIFIC ISLANDS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VI, Issue 1588, 17 March 1919, Page 9

PACIFIC ISLANDS.

IMPORTANT DISCUSSION.

Bg Cable — Press Association — Copyright. Australian and S.Z. Cable Association. (Rec. March 17, 1.15) PARIS, March 15. Mr Keith Murdoch states that an important discussion has begun regarding the Pacilic Islands. The general interpretation of the mandatory theory is that three classes of mandates should be prepared, the first governing intelligent peoples, as, for instance, Arabia; the second cannibalistic natives, including East Africa; and the third territories where internecine warfare prevails. The Australasian'mandate for the South Pacific will fall under the last head. The main points of discussion arc the wisdom of permitting fortifications in the South Pacific Islands, in view of the certainty that similar rights will be strongly claimed for the northern islands. A second is whether Britain should insist on the promised clause providing that the territories shall become • integral parts of the mandatory countries whenever the inhabitants choose or present a petition claiming the union. A third point is whether identical mandates should be given for the Carolines and Marshalls in view of the strong and clamorous Japanese demand. New Zealand seems prepared to forgo point one. Mr Hughes is ■vigorously pressing point two, and considerable feeling has been aroused over the violence of his representations. The delicacy of the position lies in the fact that the British believe that if the right of fortification is given to Australasia over Samoa and the southern islands, the same right must be given to Japan. NAURU ISLAND. Australian and X.Z. Cable Association. (Rec. March 17, 1.0) LONDON, March 8. On the subject of Mr Hughes's claim to the right to fortify the southern Pacific Islands, the view held by Mr Lloyd George, Mr Balfour and Lord Milner is that it is better to accept a general agreement not to fortify than to grant a similar concession to Japan. Should President Wilson insist on the incorporation of the League Covenant in the peace treaty, the preliminary discussions may come to a head, but otherwise the points will not be decided for a considerable time.

The second class of the mandate rigidly applies to the principle of an open door and the third to a closed door. Nauru Island, for which Australia ■wants a mandate, possesses almost unlimited supplies of phosphates, most valuable for Australian agriculture. It will be remembered thai Mr Hughes and Mr Massey presented separate memorandums claiming this mandate. Lord Milner's memorandum puts a strong British view, stating that there are ample supplies of sulphuric acids which are necessary for the milking of phosphates into superphosphate fertiliser, which is growing more precious to the British farmers. It is true that an Australian garrison is now on the island, but is paid from local revenues supplemented from Imperial funds. Lord Milner urged that the island should be attached to the British groups administered by a High Commissioner for the Pacific. This course appears most likely to be adopted, unless Mr Hughes and Mr Massey can reach a reasonable agreement, whereby Australia will get the Tnandate on condition that New Zealand gets stated quantities of phosphates yearly. Mr Hughes uncompromisingly presented a further memorandum setting out that Australia had wrested the island from the enemy and had maintained a parrison throughout the war. That has not impressed the delegates, who declare that the "wresting" consisted in merely landing from a whaleboat It is hoped that Mr Hughes and Mr Massey will agree to a joint representation. The Australian mandates will certainly include a provision that German properties shall be taken over and their value added to Germany's reparation fund and counted as part of the Australasian share of the reparation.