The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-22
LOSS OF COLONIES
ALARMS GERMANY
Vital Question to Workers, DR..
SOlf Says, as He Seeks
Compromise.
PLANS FAIL
Secretary Speaks of Mutual
Tolerance in Russia and
Independent Belgium.

fore the German Society in Berlin. DR..
w. S. Solf. German Secretary OF State
for the Colonies, said that the German
working classes were becoming con-
scious OF the fact that the retention of
Germany's colonies was vital question.
He said that Germany desired to COM
promise regarding colonial questions on
the basis that these possessions shall
correspond to the economic strength of
the nations On this point DR.. Solf
said:
II dare say the safeguarding of our
colonial future is not only the aim of
our Government and certain groups of
individuals. but It has become an aim OF
the German people. A lively conscious
ness now extends far into the workers
circles that the retention of our colonies
Is vital question for the honor of Ger
many as n great Power. Our colonial
war aims are second to no other in ma
tional Importance. The growing reali-
cation of German workers as to Ger
manys position is especially gratifying
in view of the plans of our enemies,
which have been clearly revealed during
tho last few days"
Referring to the recent address by A.
j. Bakeur, British Secretary of State for
Foreign Affairs. DR.. Solf said
HE formally announced Great Brit
aims claim for the annexation of our
colonies, and did not hesitate to adj
vance on moral grounds this claim for
annexation. He not only concerns him
self as to our colonial methods, but goes
into high politics with all sails set Mr.
Balfour in his speech announced the
British creed, which amounts to repre-
senting Britan's right to world domna-
ton as something self-evident and
morally annihilating Germanys claim to
be a great Power"
Mail Fist Doctrine.
Declaring that Mr. Balfours accusa-
ton against Germany demanded a reply,
DR.. Solf continued
Mr.. Balfour asserts that intellectual
Germany Is dominated by the mail fist
doctrine. Here there are chauvinistiG
tingoes. people who worship the eternal
yesterday and anxlously. and without
understanding await the approach OF a
new era. Before the war these people
formed a small group without political
influence on the Government, which con-
| stantly combatted them. During the
war. their number, indeed. increased, not
because the struggle for Germany su-
premacy in the world had taken deeper
root. but because their ranks we're
swelled by numerous sober and solicitous
patriots.
Among these are many who before
the war held high ideals about an under
standing OF peoples. good will and fair
play in international relations, but
whose political creed broke down under
| the experiences of the war.
Where does the blame lie? Nowhere
| but in the spirit which animates our
enemies--that spirit which is n dishonor
| IA, t,tr,, al tl,a
of a league Of nations by simultaneous
Germany.
| Mention OF Belgium.
| MFR. Balfou~ first mentions Belgium
| How small part regard for Belgium
| plays in the plans OF the Entente is
most clearly shown by an extract from
| the American press. which England 8
Minister of Propaganda. Northcliffe
| printed with enthusiastic approval in
one of his papers
DR.. Solf cited a statement from the
! New York Times that Germany's atti-
| tude toward Belgium was unimportant
as the Allies would drive the Germans
| from Belgium and France, and quoted
the London Evening Neps comment on
this that Germany must be destroyed
by bloody and irreparable defeats on
the battlefield"
DIR. Solf exclaimed: Thus speak the
protectors who for the sake OF Belgium
have drawn the sword"
Referring to Mr.. Balfours second
| charge" he said:
| This is directed against our Eastern
| policy. To this l reply that the Brest-
| Litovsk peace came about by agreement
between the Russian and German Gov
ernments that the frontier peoples OF
Russia after centuries of oppression
| should be permitted to live their own
national life, for which object they had
been striving This agreement on the
fate OF the border peoples Is a fact OF
world Importance which never can be
erased from history.
Not about the aim but about the
ways and means leading to comforting
their own national life upon these peo-
pies did the Russian and German con-
ceptions differ. Our conception was and
Is that the path to freedom shall not
lead through anarchy 10 wholesale muir
der. Between the first bursting OF the
bonds and full capability for self-deter.
mination of the border peoples there lies
a natural transitory period. Until the
regulation forces should cooperate in
the various countries Germany fell
called upon to protect these communities
interest. as indeed she has been called
upon to do by both national majoritie:
and minorities.
Brest-LltOysk Peace.
The Brest-Litovsk peace is frame
work, and the picture which IL to appear
within is only sketched in rough lines
England has forfeited the right to
act as moral champion OF the Russian
border States in their unparalleled time
of suffering. During the war they re-
peatedly appealed to England for help
1t was always denied them"
He declared that EngTand's attitude
toward Russia was merely selfish. say
ing: Were Ivan the Terrible to rise to
weld Russia together again he would be
welcome ally to England in her cru
SADIE for freedom and right.
THE recognition Of the Czecho-Slo-
vaks-those landless robber bands-as
an allied Power Is the logical keystone
of the singular structure of Anglo-Rus-
sian friendship.
The economic distress in the terri.
tories occupied by US Is undoubtedly
great but 1t is cynicism when England
laments this, because her hunger block
AIDE Is directed against the occupied ter
ritories just as it is directed against us
against neutrals and against the whole
|. world"
Action In Finland.
DR.. Solf denied that Germany had III
treated Finland and the Baltic prov.
inces. and said that not a single soldier
| OF those count tes had been forced N