BID FOR COLONIAL POSSESSIONS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20674, 12 March 1937, Page 9

BID FOR COLONIAL POSSESSIONS

APPEAL FOR BRITISH CO-OPERATION BRITAIN ATTACKED AT GENEVA United Press Association—By EDortrlo Teiegrapn—Copyright (Received March 11, 7.30 p.m) LONDON, March 10. At Geneva to-day the committee of the League of Nations on raw materials agreed that the questions relating to the distribution or transfer of colonial territories lay outside its competence. British Empire Criticising The British Empire came in for a running fire of criticism especially from Poland supporting the Japanese proposal for complete freedom of immigration to all colonies, the abolition of overseas tariffs, and other trade restrictions, provoking Sir Henry Strakosch to point out that the British Empire was not a closed monetary and economic unit. The Dominions had political and economic autonomy, and if certain countries had no raw materials, it was not due to lack of colonies, but a policy of substituting gur.s for butter.

The American delegate urged the extension of the most favoured national clause, lowering trade restrictions, and the abolition of Empire preferences. GERMAN APPEAL FOR RETURN OF COLONIES CONFERENCE OF POWERS ADVOCATED United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright (Received March 11. 10.30 p.m.) LOURENCO MARQUES, March 10. “Britain ano Germany must establish contact if Europe is to be saved,” declared Admiral Foerster, former Com-mander-in-Chief of the German navy, who has arrived on a tour of the German settlements in Germany’s former African colonies. Admiral Foerster added: There is no question of Germany attempting to take back the colonies forcibly, but the League of Nations was cumbersome and was unlikely to settle the issue. A conference of mandatory Powers ought to be held to examin; the question with a view t< meeting Germany’s needs.