The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-03
GERMANY'S COLONIAL
POLICY ALL UPSET
Resignation of Minister Dern-
burg Further COmplicates
Delicate Situation.
BY MALCOLM CLARKE,
.cial Cable TO The Tribune.

L /
BERLIN. July 2.-The resignation OF
Colonial Minister Dcrnburg was not ex-
pected. The Importance and significance
OF Herr Dernburg's departure far trans
ccnd the limited sphere OF German CO.
lonial policy and enterprise. II Is the
end, at any rate for the present. OF about
the most remarkable ministerial expert
ment In modern German history. and IT
Will accentuate afresh not only party diff
ferences, but the deeper divisions of eco
nomiC interests and social traditions
which still underlie German politics.
When Herr Dernburg was brought TO
the colonial office from the Dnrmstadter
bank In 1906, he was expected not merely
10 sweep away the traces OF unpleasant
colonial scandals, but also to put the
German colonies on a business basis for
the encouragement OF the public and the
edlhcation OF foreign countries. His ap-
pointment was 10 be the introduction Of
the commercial spirit into German ad-
minstruton, and was to forge a link
between the government and the imme.
dlatc interests OF an Industrial people,
Those who knew Germany best have al
ways discounted the exaggerated hope OF
the experiment.
Since Prince Buelow's fall and the re-
newal OF the alliance OF the Conservative
and Center parties, Herr DGrnburg has
had to fight against increasing odds. The
Conservatives are necessarily opposed 10
IL primarily commercial colonial policy
not least because they fear that colonial
imports Will hurt their agrarlan Inter
ests. The Conservatives, moreover. In
cude number OF former colonial ad-
ministrntors, who resent reversal OF the
policy which they applied. The Center
party was Herr Dernburg's natural
enemy, They gave him plenty OF rope;
but seized the opportunity afforded IN
April by "A bin dealing with the eXpen-
diturc for suppression OF the rlslnES IN
German Southwest Africa 10 inriGt upon
Herr Dcruburg. series OF humlllatlons'
When tho bin was carried II was gen =
orally supposed that Herr DernburS had
been rcprleved. II is now clear thnt he
had already recognized that ms p0si'lon
was In the long run untenapic. inc NJ
tacks at home were supported IN tno
colonies themselves, and especially III
Southwest Africa, where there has oeeh
violent criticism of Herr DcrnburSs &c,
tIon in regard TO diamond claims ana
other company concessions. Herr Dcrn-
burg complained bitterly of colonial Gls
loyalty. and declared IN the reichstns
that the officials who tought MN WIN
public messages to politicians and the
press ought to be taught sharp les
son. ~
These are the circumstances OF Herr
Dernhurg's resignation. It's causes IN
clude an inevitable reaction In popniaT
feeling after the eXaggeration OF colonhI
prospects and possibilities which marked
Herr Dernburg's arrival In onioc. go
efie increase and certainly Will expose.
the difficulties of the political situation.
Rightly or wrongly. the public VIII ASK
tomorrow. ''Who will be next? and no
vr,I, confident answer will bo forthcom-
ing Tho dominant parties will, no doubt,
protest that Herr Dcrnburg's resignation
is uncalIcd for and unnecessarily, out IN
no uunrtcr will II fall 10 produce an un-
comfortable focling OF insecurity.
This will bo increnaod rather thnn d.
mininhcd by tho appointment or iorr
Won fIphu,ii1t nm blH HucccBBor. Ito In
typicnl German burcnucrnt, narrow, opln-
iona tod and nutocrntlc,