Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-28
GERMAN COLONIES FATE
DEPENDS UPON THE WAR
Disposition Certain if Allies Win,
Says British Provincial
Secretary
GERMAN RULE A FAILURE
Teutons Unable to Govern Colonials
and Restoration Would Menace
Neighboring Possessions
By WALTER LONG
British Secretary Of state for the Colonies
Written for the United Press

LONDON, Sept l (by maid
You ask me to give you my opinion upon
the question of the German colonies which
we have captured during the war. do
not think that that question can be put in
quite so simple form. II really Is depend
ent upon two totally different conditions
The first and most important is the form
and character Of our victory. II Il is as
complete as we all hope and believe it will
he, then, of course. we can dictate our
terms, and there can be no doubt think, in
the mind OF anybody what they will be. II.
on the other hand. the victory were 70 re-
suit in an inconclusive peace, II Is quite
obvious that any declarations made now
would have very little effect. These Ger.
man possessions have been captured by Brit
ish troops, many of them from our domin-
ions and colonies. The policy of the empire
is not. ard never has been, to seek territory
for territory's sake.
Take, for instance Australia and the
Union of South Africa. Each has land
enough and problems enough to keep II
engaged for long time to come. but in the
case of each her German neighbor consti-
tuted a grave menace to her security and
peace and II was to remove this menace
that they determined TO capture the col
onies, not for the purpose Of increasing
their imperial possessions but the same
remark applies equally to German East
Africa-not yet fully conquered, but prob.
ably soon to be. l am quite sure of this
1
to the question Of their own future security,
will vehemently resent any attempt to re-
store German rule in those territories, at
all events, il German rule in the future is
to be anything comparable with what Ger
man rule has been in the past.
Further. we cannot with wisdom ignore
the fact that I'm the future the submarine
and airplanes, and all the modern and
terrible inventions of war will have ma
| terially altered the situation, and we are
| compelled TO ask ourselves what would be
| the opportunities of selfish and aggres-
| sive Power, animated solely by military
| lust, IL We were TO allow them TO retain in
| every part of Africa outposts which they
| would assuredly make submarine and air
craft bases and convert into strongholds
| from which to attack their peaceful neigh
| bors.
You also ask me what is my view of the
| proposition that the Portuguese should sell
| Portuguese East Africa to Germany, in
! order to recompense her for the loss of her
| African possessions Well there has, l
| know, been some discussion about this. Per-
! sonally, | am not inclined TO favor the idea.
! which seems to me TO savOr far too much
| Of disregarding the views of the natives,
| and treating them as though were mere
| chattels. The British territories in Africa
| would still have a very troublesome neigh
| Dor. What they want Is peace. l have
| no doubt that they would entertain no OBJ
| lection to see German colonies growing UP
| ment of the whole country the bettering
| of the condition Of the natives and African
| progress generally, but they know from
| bitter experience that 1t means exactly the
| opposite.
In their view, which believe to be wei
| founded Germany has never learned how
to ColCnize. Her idea of foreign possession
is that it is something to be exploited solel!
for her own immediate profit. The rights
| and advancement of the natives seem e
mean nothing to her.
You ask mo also what of the suggestion
made in some quarters OF trading back &c
| Germany her conquered colonies in Consd
GRAFTON of her REIMBURSEMENT of Alsace
Lorraine to France. Ny reply is that thi.
has been suggested as a possibility onll
resulting from an inconclusve peace
am not prepared to contemplate or dis
Cuss any peace of this character. We as al
empire have made immense sacrifices anC
are still making them The United States
has come into the war and is throwlnI
| all her great strength into the common pool
We both realize quite clearly that the caus,
! Of the Allies is not individual advantage II
! territory. but the future freedom and lib
erty of the world, and I think il must b,
clear t. all of us that if the German polio,
in the future is TO he what it has been II
! the past-and, judging from the utterance,
of her leading representatives, there is nc
prospect of a Change-then the security OF
our own countries and the peace of tn,
world will be gravely endangered II she /.
allowed to return to the status quo ant,
bellum. peace that will see these op
pressed German possessions started on the
/ road toward progress and prosperity witt
a future like that of other British colonies
as their goal Is tho only peace which the
world can contemplate with satisfaction.