New-York tribune., 1918-10-12
The German Terror in Africa

Onc Oh the things which Germany
fears most is the loss Of her African
colonies. They are the most tangible
realization Of her desire for "a place in
the sun" We know from the Lichnowsky
memorandum that before the war she
was negotiating with Great Britain for
an economic political sphere of interest
in Portuguese East Africa and that a
member of the British Cabinet said to
Prince Lichnowsky: eve don't want to
grudgc Germany her colonial develop
mcnt"
A condition of the impudent peace
offer to Belgium the other day was that
the Belgian government should urge the
retention of her African colonies by
Germany after the war. This plea has
been favorably regarded by the pacitist
element in the Allied countries, ever
eager to save Germany from punishment
for her crimes. 1t is worth while, there
fore, to emphasize the reasons why Ger
many should lose for all time the foot
hold she has gained in Africa. They are
set forth clearly and concusively in a
report which has just been issued as a
Parliamentary Blue Book "a report
which is the more impressive because it
is not an argument but a plain state
ment of facts.
The accuracy of these facts is indis-
putable. The evidence is drawn from
German judicial and administrative prac-
tice set forth in German official docu-
ments, from writings by recognized Ger.
man authorities and from sworn state
ments, both by Europeans familiar with
the country and by native chiefs.
That German colonial rule has been
characterized by the cruel exploitation
of the natives is, indeed, we'll known:
the notorious DR.. Peters was a fragrant
example of German methods. But it is
worth while at this moment that the
memory of the civilized world should be
refreshed on this point. Germany has
shown the cloven hoof in Africa, as in
every other spot which her Kultur has
contaminated. She has made an un-
broken record of official bad faith and
aggression, of private oppression and
cruelty. This document shows clearly
that Germany can never be trusted to
deal justly or humanely with inferior
peoples. Other nations, it is true. have
sins to answer for in this respect; but in
the case of Germany alone has there
been deliberate and systematic disregard
of even the commonest human rights.
The pnctOn1ary- ,roCooIinrr
many wished to extend her influence
over native tribes or peoples, was first
to enter into agreements with the chiefs.
But these agreements were kept only
until Germany was strongly enough
established to repudiate them. They
were, in the words of a German Colonial
Governor. "dealt with uniformly with
out regard to their stipulated details"
Thus the tribes were all, whether this
was arranged for in the agreements or
not, made subject to German laws and
German jurisdiction, and received Ger
man garrisoDs.
1T might be argued that this decepton
was intended for their good. that Ger
man laws and German garrisons pro-
noted their welfare and developed their
resources. Unfortunately for this the
ory, the records show that German rule
was brutal and tyrannous; that natives
could not get justice in German courts:
that native offences were punished bv
foggngs, by executions, carried out in
manner (which would have been con-
sidered as brutal two hundred wears
ago Some Of the stories told in the
report would be welnigh incredible
were it not for what has taken place in
Belgium and Northern France under our
own eyes. And if tribe, like the He
reros, was goaded into rebellion, orders
were given to exterminate it. xiii
every one of them and take no prison
ers, the German commander said.
Let us keep these facts-a few among
many given in the report-in mind when
the mushy-headed sentimentalists begin
to press for the return to German dom
ination of races she has so brutally and
despicably abused.