New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-07

,e,red in many quarters, mainly under
ro.,,or inspiration, the assertion that
Germany was prepared to evacuate BEL
OHM, provided her colonies were restored
:, her This proposal, which Is a mere
.s,orer" and does not come from German
oe;.iol sources. has provided German SYM
,a.bizers and the German-Americah
..-.ss of this country with the opportu-
.;.,. .o assert that the real obstacle to
80 now is British determination TO
to,d German colonies. This discussion
las had precisely the effect the Germans
have boped, because the situation as TO
.Lo German colonies is very little under
GOOD IN this country and there is very
,ri5s telief that the colonies are held by
Great Britain and that Great Britain
rurposes TO annex them.
Now. the fact is quite different Ger
r,anv's possessions in the Pacific, aside
s,oro Kiao-chau. which was taken by Japan
and remains in Japan's control, were occu-
MED BY Australia and New Zealand and
Great Britain possesses no authority 10
..r,,s1 Australia or New Zealand 10 re-
s.o-e these colonies to Germany. The other
dow when Sir William Holman, Prime
Minister Of New South Wales, was IN New
York. 7 asked him to make for me state
mont Of the view of Australia with refer
orce n German colonies in the Paciilc'
This statement follows. 1t is the opinion
Of an Australian Prime Minister VINO,
in the public life of Australia, has an IN
Auence second only to that Of the Prlfne
Minister Of all Australia, the Right Hon.
WILLIAM NJ. Hughes, and, like Hughes
rI.,r,an is a member Of the Labor party
.,5 axnresses the view of the mass and
NOT Of the class of Australia.
Sir William Holman said:
Nothing authoritative can be said about
.,s.ralia's determinations with regard to
New Guinea except by the Australian
Federal Government. It is Their right
md theirs alone.
But. speaking as citizen of the Austria
liam Commonwealth, with some knowledge
of Australian feeling and desires would
say
~ German New Guinea-now in Austria
liam hands-borders for many hun
bred miles that other portion Of the
island which has always been Aus
tralian.
(2) New Guinea would furnish base--
naval and aerial-for future hostile
enterprises against Australia.
l2) German New Guinea is within four
DAYS steam Of Australians northern
Queensland ports-within another
three DAYS of New South Wales ports
When hostilities began Australia was
asked TO capture New Guinea. This was
nrincipallv. in order that she should de-
strov a wireless installation there. 1t was
done. almost bloodlessly but thoroughly
under the leadership of General Holmes
one of the most stalwart soldiers, since
siled IN Flanders.
These are the facts.
The retention of New Guinea by Ger
many after a war from which Germany
had emerged uncrushed would mean to
Australia
~ The terrifying and guarding of the
New Guinea frontier.
-, The fertilization Of all east coast
ports.
90 The immobilization Of large de-
st-oyer feet for defence only on the
east coast station.
,O The imperilling of the trade route
bv the north coast of Australia IN
war time.
O5l Continuous menace to Sydney-Aus-
tralia's largest town and chief port
This would involve heavy, an almost
impossible, burden for a community OF
FIVE million people, already weighted with
large responsibilities for defence.
For these reasons Australia proposes TO
keen New Guinea out Of German hands.
There is no visible reason against its
remaining in her own hands.
EeoG possidentes.
She has it. She means to hold IT.
Turning now to Africa, the situation is