The sun., 1919-01-31
COLONIES T0SAY
H0SHALL RULE
Mandatory Chosen by People.
but Subject to League
of Nations.
OPEN DOOR IS PROVIDED
New Principle Also to Be APP
piled to the Larger Terri
tories Involved.
)PEN DOOR IS PROVIDED
By the Associated Press.

PARIS, Jan 30.-The announcement
was made in authoritative quarters to-
day that the great Colonial Powers,
notably Great Britain and France, had
accepted in principle the American
proposal put forward by President
Wilson for the league Of nations ex-
ercising supervision over the German
colonies and allotting their adminis-
tration to mandatory Powers.
The provisional arrangement to
which the communication refers is the
acceptance in principle of President
tering of the colonies.
The reference to the occupied terri
tory OF Turkey in Asia indicates that
Mesopotamia, Palestine, Armenia and
Syria are brought within the scope of
this new polio: OF dealing with the col
onies.
An End to Exploitation.
Thus suddenly has come within range
of practical accomplishment one of the
most sweeping changes In colonial man
agement that ever have occurred The
basic idea of this policy is that the colo
nies will be administered by mandate
for the benefit Of their own people and
not exploited as profit making enter
prises by the Powers claiming them.
While acceptance OF the principle is
with the condition that the details may
be worked out on n practical basis, yet
exchanges among the Powers lead to the
belief that the details will be formulated
for~acceptance by all the colonies and
Powers. including Great Britain, France,
Japan. Belgium and Portugal. The most
formidable opposition has come from
Premier Hughes of Australia, who has
maintained that anything short OF out
right annexation of New Guinea to Aus.
ttalia might cndanger the friendly feel
ing toward the mother country.
This. however, is in process OF being
reconcied by concessions on details, but
in any event the opposition is considered
TO have lost It's effectiveness since the
British Home Government and South
Africa are favorable to the new colonial
policy.
Acceptance Credited to Wilson.
President Wilson has taken leading
part in the animated discussions, and ac-
ceptance OF the new principle is being
credited largely 10 his determined atti-
tude. There is no desire In American
quarters. however, TO herald victory,
but. ON the CONTRARY, an earnest desire
Is shown that the mandatory Powers
shall not be hampered in the least by
the administration of the colonies.
Acceptance OF the new principle Is
construed as applying not only to tho
colonies. but also as the establishment.
of n precedent of the fair dealing
which will prevail when the large ter
ritdrial questions come up for decision
later
Owing 10 the important decision
reached the following precise informa-
tion concerning the mandatory plan was
made available. Three broad proposals
for the disposition OF the German colo
MES were advanced The first proposed
annexation, much as the Pacific North
west was annexed as American terri
tory. Tie serond proposed international
administration, similar 10 the first in
teruational control OF the COMO, which
proved failure. IS did similar systems
I'm Albania and Morocco The third
proposal was the mandatory system
which was included in the American
plan for league Of nations