New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-04
Prussia Planned to Weld
Blacks Into Unconquer-.
able Armies
Freedom for Negroes
Sir II. II. Johnston Urges
Creation of lndepen-
dent States

1t is believed in some quarters
dare say wrongly-that at the present
phase of the war Germany would be
ready 10 make peace with the Allies on
some terms of limited restitution and
reparation (such as withdrawal from
the countries of her enemies which she
now occupies, a small indemnity TO Bel
GUM, and perhaps some satisfaction re-
garding Alsace and Lorraine to France)
if she were to have her overseas colo
MES restored to her, says Sir II. II.
Johnston in The Manchester Guar
dian"
Many people are asking themselves,
more especially in Russia as the pres
ence of Germany in Africa and Arabia
has little bearing on Russian concerns),
whether we of the British Empire
should not concede this point Of the
restoration of the great German CO.
lonial empire.
Personally, believe that neither
Japan nor China, Australia nor New
Zealand would for one moment consent
to give back to Germany her former
leaseholds in Eastern China or her
colonies" Of Papua, Micronesia and
Samoa. and | question whether there
would be any backing in public opinion
in the United States OF the British En-
pire which would constrain by force
Japan, China, Australia and New Yea
land to withdraw their opposition.
Therefore let us dismiss Germany's So
called colonies in the Far East from
the scope of discussion.
There remain for consideration the
German sphere of influence in the
Turkish Empire and the German pos
sessions in Africa. Should the British,
French and Belgians evacuate what was
formerly German Africa and reinduct
her as a ruling power into the African
continent?
Opposes Restoration
To this | say, if any reader cares
about my personal opinion, who have
spent so much Of my life in Africa
say mo" First of all, we must re-
member that German ministers still in
office have stated.-indirectly it may
be, and yet plainly TO those who under
stand-that when they are back again
tend to weld il into huge slave state
In which the millions of black men
shall simply be trained az tho we'll
caredfor helots of the white man,
drilled TO form uncomfortable armies,
t,,t, Ia.
alta destined to make Germany mistress
Of the resources OF the Dark CONT
nent.
We have been reminded of what an
excellent basis German East Africa
would be for attacks on the British
Empire in the Indian Ocean. And the
British Empire would indeed be guided
by fools, ignorant Of geography, igno-
rant of ethnology and history, if it will
ingly consented to placing the germs
of such power once again in Prussian
hands.
Surely IL we are to consult the feel
ings Of the Poles about Poland and the
Firms about Finland. of the Alsstians
about Alsace, the Southern Slavs abcu.
the Balkan states. we are in duty bound
to consult the opinions Of the natives
of Togoland about the future status of
Togoland, of the Cameroons as to the
disposal Of the Cameroons and the ad-
iacent Congo territories, the African
ders of the Cape, the Hottentots, the
Damara, and the Ovambo about South
west Africa, and the 100000 of
Bantu and Nilotic negroes as TO the
future status Of German East Africa.
Here some critic--for our we'll found
cd admiration of Germany dies a slow
death in many minds-may interpose:
But how is il that, relying mainly on
native lighting force, Germany has
defied our efforts to conquer German
East Africa for nearly three years
II German rule was so intolerable as
you make out, how is il that though
there only remain about 1900 white
Germans in German East Africa, they
are still the officers and non-commis-
stoned officers of native army which
perhaps numbers 10000 or $4,000 p
Because there are bad and rapacious
yellow and black men just as there are
enslaving white men.
A certain type of negro greatly ad-
mires efficiency, and especially eff
cheney in war When Germany first
tackled East Africa she had TO fight the
Zanzibar Arabs and their vast network
of influence between Tanganyika and
the Zangian coast for the countries she
claimed to rule on the basis of what
have truly described as few faxed
treaties. U was out in East Africa
when they were being made)
Helped End Slave Trade
The Arabs in those days were en-