Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-02-20
BY LLOYD ALLEN,
snecial staff Correspondent.


Downright. Western Newspaper on,oh'
Iondon.-"Will America be Wiling
+o take on some of the German cor
on;es or Turkish possessions III inc
near East?" o.os+
That is a question that is uppermoS'
in the minds of large section VI ','e
governing class Of England. men "io
have led British political thoosh' ioi
,.nars helieye that we "should assume
soma of,the responsibility of governing
the lands captured from the "er'.l"'is
and Turks" as one leading BRUSH
nublcist told me recently. lhere 10
dnuble reason back Of this IDEA.
First of ALL America is an Ehsllsh-
s,aokinr nation that can be trusted 10
administer wisely and well the aeslr
MES of Il less-enlightened people.
secondly, ut is only through actual
participation in the Responsiveness u
looking after far-away colonies tlla'
America can ever appreciate the true
.tote Of mind of the British people OF
all classes, upper, middle and lower, on
This delicate subject of empire" IL Is
stated bv several prominent propa-
landiSts.
Division Of Colonies.
At this stage of the peace negoua-
lions the question of dividing the cor
onies is n matter on which no puhilc
man is anxious to go on record. But
unotiicialy the subject is attracting
wide attention. Too many interests
are involved to invite outspokeh dls-
cussiou. There are larger problems
that must first be solved: The llihl'a'
lion of ornaments, freedom OF the seas
and above all other subjects, 1ori'ia'
ton of league of nations. once
these are disposed Of the colonial kilot
will PROBABLY be quickly cut.
1t is with implicit faith in the ult-
mota outcome of these basic ailalrS
that thn intelligent Briton outlines ms
belief that America, if she is to remain
as leading factor in world politics.
nnst 90 into the colony business.
should such course be embarked
on by the United States, should we
take, for instance, the administration
of Palestine and Armenia and possibly
some Of the former German lailus III
South Africa, it would be put on the
same platform that the best elements
i'm England accept for India; namely,
that sooner or later India will develop
into dominion capable of self-govern'
ment. like Canada and Australia, ana
must then be given every freedom to
determine her own destiny.
The same principles would apply to
the subject African states-ultlmate
freedom to choose whether or not the
ties chat bind to the mother country
must he cut, or allowed to remain.
AnswerabIe to League Of Nations.
Through all the days of American
adminiStration-and it is admitted
many Of these days would prove irk-
some and expensive-Ameriea would
be answerable to the league of nations
for her actions in the territory held in
trust, lust as the other European pow
crs, England, France and Italy, will be
onswprable to the league of nations
for any maladministratiOn of subject
peoples,
In brief, intelligent England is rec
ommanding for world consideration
new form of colonial control with the
feeling that the world has Outgrown
the days when a Spanish tyrant could
terrori2e Cuba or n hrutalized Ger
man government could commit atroci-
ties in South Africa.
There is in America somewhat
general belief that the average Brit
ish citizen takes great pride in the
large colonial possessions of his coun-
try: that he gloatS with much salts
faction over the fact that Great Brit
ain controls something like one-quar-
ter of the inhabitable portions of the
world
our ideas on this subject are not
exactly correct. There is large ee-
ment in the citizenship of this coun-
try that is dead against the proposal
to acquire any more territorial possess
Sions. In fact, among the Labor party.
which is showing unusual strength
these DAYS, there is a firm conviction
that India must soon be allowed to
say what her government shall be.
Problems to Be Solved.
Here we have another side of the
problem that many predict will be
solved by providing for enlightenment
of the uncivilized colonial peoples, and
by introducing into colonial government
a. ,e of
the sale of alcohol to natives, first of
all. and next the establishment of well
fare departments calculated to better
the living conditions of the natives.
Much effort is being expended here
in England to start fundamental re-
forms in the attitude toward the col
ones Booklets are being issued and
are just off the press. One entitled
.Windows of Freedom" carries an in
PRODUCTION by Viscount Grey.
= "America's Place in World Govern
ment" is given considerable space. 1t
is strongly pointed out that none Of
the territories outside Europe de-
tached by this war from the German
and Turkish empires can in the near
future provide peace, order and good
government for themselves. How to
provide government for these terri
tories is the most difficult of the ques-
tons which the conference has to face.
From IA hundred lips and pens the
answer will come that the solution lies
In international control. The league Of
nations will solve the problem.
The booklet then emphasizes that
the league of nations, in itself, cannot
provi." actual government for the col