The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1918-12-12
Varied PROBLEM
Of HUN COLONIES
Up TO AMERICANS
Propaganda Coming From All
Parts Of Germany Seeks to
Divide Allies Upon Import
ant Question at Peace Table
hi FRANK II. SIMONnS.

NEW YORK, Dec. IL. 2.-Unmistakahle
propaganda now coming from all quar-
ters In Germany discloses the expected
attempt TO divide the Vctors on the
question of the ultimate disposition OF
the German colonies. 1t is to America
too, that the Germans are looking In the
matter of the colonies, as well as in the
question of the freedom Of the seas
for the initiative In moment which
shall split the nations which have won
this war,
1t Is therefore Of utmost Importance
that the American people should un-
uerstand the question of the German
colonies. The obvious German maneu-
YER will be to establish the idea that
tho single question involved la one OF
territorial expansion. 1t Is already be-
ing artfully inSinuated that the Brit
ish are preparing TO grab" German
colonies with no other intent than to
increase their empire and enlarge their
commercial markets,
Now, what are the facts2 First Of
all, the decision Of the British in the
matter of the colonies will not be made
by the inhabitants Of the United King
dom; the policy Is imperial, not Euro
pean. And in this connection we have
reported this week the demand OF New
South Wales, following that OF New
zealand, that the German colonies shall
not to be returned. Prime minister
country last summer spoke with great
emphasis In the same sense the will OF
the union Of South Africa has been
made clear and IL the same.
Much Due Colonies.
Now Britain has won this war in no
small measure because Of the support
OF her colonies. She can not, by sheer
force, compel restoration Of German
colonies to Germany In the face OF the
opposition OF her own colonies without
the graVest consequences, In point Of
fact, the Pacific islands Of Germany
were taken by Australian and New
Zealand troops who occupy them, and
the conquest OF German South Africa
was mainly a South African enterprise
And to understand the attitude of the
British colonies 1t Is useful for Amer
leans to 60 back in American history
to the time OF the victory OF Britain.
with the very great aid of the American
colonies, over France, which eliminated
In the capture Of Quebec, At that time
the suggestion of return of Canada
to France would have precipitated a
revolution In the 10 colonies, and for
the simple reason that II would have
meant a perpetuation OF the condition
of warfare In America.
1t was not that New England or New
York was primarily interested In the
annexation Of Canada; what concerned
them both was tho imperative need for
peace on their frontiers, for an end OF
Indian raids, border warfare and inces-
SAINT attacks by an enemy whose forces
aasailed American colonies whenever
European differences brought France
and Britain ihto conflict, New England
and New York sent their militia to the
struggle against Canada 10 end nui-
sance and peril which had troubled
them over many decades.
nf
South Africa, for example, Is exactly
that Of the Is colonies, save. as the
situation in Africa Ia far worse, German
Southwest Africa was not merely the
base for an invasion of British South
Africa In the present war, but was also
the center which rebellion against Brit
ain was fomented before the war, It
was to abolish not merely the. imme-
date but all future perii OF the sort
which had been experienced In the
De Wet rebellion that Botha and SHUTS
led Boer as we'll as British troops into
German territory
Means Menace.
Southwest Africa having been con-
quered and the peril abolished. the Brit
ish colony Is resolved that 1t shall not
return II Germany comes back to
her old colony II means q permanent
menace and permanent necessity to
maintain an army, II means, In addi-
tion the possible danger of the old In
trirue and the certain peril Of an inter
runtIon OF communication with Britain
In case of another war, since the Ger
man colony faces the sea route from the
mother country and offers an admirable
submarine base. And what Is true OF
German Southwest Africa la in the
main to be said Of German East Africa.
Exactly the same emotion Is revealed
BY the people Of Australia and New
| Zealand. To return New Guinea and
Samoa to the Germans would be to re-
| store them bases for future naval ag-
gressions Had the Germans developed
their submarine plans before the war
| as they did subsequently. had they been
able 20 station submarines In naval
| bases al Samoa and New Guinea all the
| British sea routes in the far East would
| have been cut, and the results would
have been disastrous. Neither Austria
| liza nor New Zealand wishes in the fu-
| ture to have to maintain nnvies against
a new German attack; they desire the
danger which has been abolished TO re"
main abolished, and their purpose In the
pcace conference ic unmistakable.
There are other aspects to the prob
| lem On the humanitarian side the sto-
| nv of German colonization Is one OF the
| blackest In all history the oenperate
| determination OF all but handful OF
the Herrero people In Southwest Africa
| ia a page Of brutality passing even the
! Belgian and Polish episodes In the war
| TO turn back helpless people to cruel
and vicious masters would be a crime
against tho principles champloned by
the allies.
It is not a British scheme Of expan-
sion. then, this purpose not to return
German c; colonies II is a matter In
which British policy ysn Is not Svtnsd made , IN II
Mq'Sin ropoIitan w. policy But II the Germant
we're able to gain American support for
their desire to reclaim their, lost colo
MES they would not only divide Britain
and America at Versailles, but Were
they successful in maintaining theil
object, they would drive Britain from
her colonies and succeed at the peace
table in doing exactly what they failed
10 do during the war. There is then
every reason to watch this latest ma
Wopy right, 1918, by the New York
Tribune Association)