Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-01-29

tsF hORhiho JOURNAL sFEC' NJ lFbHEp Nlet1
Paris. Jan. 2S (by the Associated
Press --Germany colonies occupied
the entire attention of two extended
executive sessions Of the supreme
council of the great powers today,
and the disposition of this small em-
pire, scattered over the Africah
mainland, in Asia and throughout
the Pacific, is presenting n territorial
question of the first magnitude The
hearings given today covered the
entire range of these German colo
nies, as the delegates of Australia.
New leland and Japan presented
their respective interests in the Pa
cific groups of islands Japan and
China their interest In Kiau-Chow
and the German concessions at many
treaty ports, and the French min
lister of colonies. NJ Simon, took up
the African colonies, embracing Togo
land the Kameruns and German
East and Southwest Africa,
Beers Heard on Question.
General Jan Christian Smuts the
South African leader, and Gen Louis
Botha. the South African premier, al
ready have been heard on the ques-
ton of German East Africa, and now
1t only remains to obtain the view
point of the Belgians. who are about
TO present their ideas of their in
terest on the colonies adjacent to the
Belgian Congo, 1t appears to be the
generally accepted views among
those having interests in the matter
that Germaanys colonies should not
be returned to her.
This in turn has developed another
s,I
German sovereignty over these colo
nies should pass to the powers who
may receive them or whether they
should he entrusted to a league of
nations which would exercise inter-
national control while giving a man
date to such powers as administers
the particular colonies.
This larger question affecting the
general administration OF the colo
nies, was considered by the council
today, as well as the particular in
terests involved, and the discussion
will be continued tomorrow morning.
important TO Britain.
German East Africa is the most
important territorial possession in
volved, as it has upward of 1000
100000 inhabitants Besides being
adjacent to the British South Africa n
commonwealth, it is a necessary link
connecting the British in the south
and the north, thus completing the
Rritish territorial chain between
Cairo and Cape Colony.
German Southwest Africa is re-
garded as less important though the
harbor in Walfish bay has some ad-
cantages.
Belgian interests are believed ia
be related TO Southwest Africa. while
the French interests are toward the
kameruns and Togoland. which ad.
'oin French Dahomey and the French
Congo. 4 in
Asiatic Interests Large.
China's interest in the colonies is
In getting back Kiau-Chow after il
passes from Germany to Japan. and
also in the termination of German
concessions at Tien Tsin, Shanghai
and other points. Japan's interasts
are both in Kiau-Chow and the Pa.
cific islands. The islands are being
considered in two main groups. first
New Guinea. Rismark and the Samoa
group, in which Australia and New
Zealand are presenting their inter.
ests, and second the Marshal Caro-
line and Marianne groups, lying east
of the Philippines and south of
Japan.
The first group of islands is fertile
and productive; the second consists
of coral islets, chiefly valuable as