South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-03
THE
COLONIAL MANDATES

Gen SHUTS, IN December, last,
published a little brochure. which
he called The League Of Nations;
a Practical Suggestion" In H. he
outlined his project OF a league.
which has been very closely follow
ed in the covenant which has been
adopted by the peace conference IN
Paris. Gen. SHUTS pointed out that
one Of the first results Of the war
would be the removal OF existing
sOverefgnties over the colonial en-
pire OF Germany and the nations
heretofore under Ottoman rule. and
the establishment Of a group or new
and untried states in Europe.
With respect 10 the colonies. he
insisted that none OF these terri
tories should be annexed by any OF
the victorious powers: that in their
future government. any external au
thority, control or administration
which might be necessary because
Of their imperfectly developed civil
ization. should exclusively be vested
in and exercised by or Cn behalf OF
tho League OF Nations He pointed
international administration had
been applied 10 territories or peo-
pies il had been found wanting;
that the only successful administra-
ton OF colonies or dependencies was
that which had been carried out
under the direction OF one state with
sufficient experience for the pur-
pose He advocated administration
Of the peoples and territories com
ing under the jurisdiction or the
league. by nominating a particular
state 10 act for and on behalf OF the
league in the matter. and that
wherever possible, this agent or
mandatory Of the league should be
nominated or approved by the peo-
pie Of the territory IN qestion. the
degree Of authority, control or adj
ministration 10 be exercised by the
mandatory state 10 be in each case
laid down by the lea que in a special
act or charter.
Britain's Colonial Empire"
During the war, different powers
OF the alliance came into the pos
session Of various territories or col
onies. and. at the time of the open
ing Of the peace conference. some of
/ them gave evidence Of a strong de-
sire TO continue such possession FOR
their own benefit. on the other
hand. Great Britain displayed a very
strong disinclination TO expose her
self 10 the charge of having waged
war 10 extend her colonial empire
Gen. SHUTS proposal furnished d
solution Of both of these difficulties,
and the principles advocated by him
were closely followed in article KIN
o. the original covenant Of Paris.
Great objection to il, however. was
expressed in some American quar-
tiers. upon the ground that the
league might require a natiOn-ours.
for INSTRUMENTATION its consent,
and even against its viii, TO under
take the administration of some far
distant country. The apprehension
was not warranted by the language
OF the covenant, but the revised
covenant has removed any possible
basis for it, by expressly limiting the
selection of mandataries OF the
league 10 those states who are will
ing TO accept.
The history of German COLOMBIA
ton is one Of the exploitation Of
semi barbarous peoples for the bene-
ut of Germany, without the slight
est regard TO the welfare or inter
ests Of the peoples she ruled over.
1t is. therefore, unthinkable that any
of the African or Australasian pos
sessions of Germany should be re-
stored to her. nor is it conceive bic