The sun., 1919-01-29

ers to-day. And the disposition OF this
small empire. scattered over the ART
can mainland. in Asia and throughout
the Pacific, Is presenting territorial
question of the first magnitude.
ORciaI Com
The official communication issued to-
day on the peace proceedings reads as
follows:
The President OF the United States,
the Prime Ministers and Foreign Min
listers OF the United States. the Brit
ish Empire France and Italy and the
representatives of Japan held two
meetings to-tsy--the first from II
A. NJ. until ~ 80 and the second from
4 to 6 80 p. ".
An exchange OF views took place on
the German colonies In the far East
and the Pacific and on those In Africa.
The representatives OF the do
minions were present at these two
sessions; the representatives OF China
at that in the morning, and the Mar
outs Salvage Gtaly) at that in the
afternoon. In the morning the dele
gates of Australia, New zealand.
China and Japan were heard.
In the afternoon Henri Simon.
French Minister OF the Colonies. ex-
planned the views OF his department on
colonial questions.
In addition the fundamental prin-
eiples of the league Of nations and
their application were considered.
The next meeting will take place to-
morrow at / o'clock.
The hearings to-day covered the en-
tire range OF these German colonies, as
the delegates of Australia, New Zealand
and Japan presented their respective in
terests in the Pacific 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 Togoland
the Kameruns and German East and
Southwest Africa.
Gen. Jan Christian, SHUTS. the South
African leader, and Gen. Louis Botha
the South African Premier. already have
been heard on the question of German
East Africa. and now It only remains 10
obtain the viewpoint Of the Belgians
who are about to present their ideas ot
their interests on the colonies adjacent
, to the Belgian Congo 1t appears to be
the generally accepted view among those
having interests in the matter that Ger
many's colonies should not be returned
to her.
Sovereignty in Question.
This in turn has developed another
crucial qeustion. namely, whether Ger
man sovereignty over these colonies
should pass to the Powers who may re-
ceive them, or whether they should be
entrusted to a league of nations. which
would exercise international control
rttI rey Hat
IS administer the particular colonies.
This large question. affecting the gen.
eral administration OF the colonies. was
considered by the Council to-day. as
we'll as the particular interests involved,
and the discussion will be continued to-
morrow morning.
German East Africa is the most i'm
portant territorial possession involved.
as It has upward of 7,00O.0 900 inhabi-
tants Besides being adjacent to the
British South African commonwealth,
Is necessary link connecting the Brit
ish in the south and north, thus COM
pleting the British territorial chain be-
tween Cairo and Cape Colony.
. German Southwest Africa is constd-
cred less important, though the harbor in
Walfsh Bay has some advantages.
Belgian interests are believed to be
related to Southwest Africa. while the
French interests are toward the Kam-
eruns and Togoland. which adjon
French Dahomey and the French Congo.
China's interest in the colonies is In
getting back Kiau-chow after 1t passes
from Germany to Japan, and also in the
termination of German concessions at
Tsn-tsin. Shanghai and other points.
Interests in Pacific.
Japan's interests are both in Kiau-
chow and the Pacific islands The ISL
ands are being considered in two main
groups. First, New Guinea. Bismarck
and the Samoa group. in which Australia
and New Zealand are presenting their
interests. and. second the Marshall.
Caroline and Marianne groups, lying east
Of the Philippines and south OF Japan.
The first group of islands is fertile and
productive the second consists o. coral
islets. chiefly valuable as strategic bases.
1t Is this whole range of colonies. once
constituting Germany's hopes OF world
extension that are now under considera =
ton in the sessions OF the Supreme
Council OF the Great Powers.
Premier Hughes claims German New
Guinea for the Australian Common
wealth, while New Zealand wants Samoa
Japan desires the Marshall and Caroline
groups OF Islands A reported secret
treaty between England and Japan CIV
ing Japan the islands north of the Equa-
tor and the British the colonies south
OF the Equator stands in the way Of the
INSTRUMENTATION plan. but It Is gen
orally believed that all secret treaties
will give way before the league OF ma
lions.
Big Five May Arrange All.
The impression seems to be that the
disposition OF the German colonies will
be finally arranged by the nve great
Powers without reference to the Peace
Conference at plenary session or to the
various commissions.
The Pacific Island phase the council Is
particularly interesting to the American
representatives because of the Amer
lean interests in the Pacific. notably
through American possession of Hawaii
and the Philippines. There has been
no official announcement of what Japan
proposes that the Powers should give
her for her part in the war, but there
have been reports here that Japan was
willing to turn kiao-Chow back to China
but wished to retain the German rights
to the development Of the hinterland.
There has been no indication OF how far
she would press her claims to the Pacific
islands.
Before to-day's session OF the council
and between the morning and afternoon
gatherings President Wilson had several
engagements, among them one with
Samuel Gompers and another with NJ.
DelacroiX. the Belgian Premier. The
conference with the American labor
leader waS expected to develop con-
sideration OF some of the provisions for
Ia hor oh A Lob L.,