Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1919-02-20
WANT UNITED STATES TO take
. ON SOME OF GERMAN COLONIES
Feeling in England That America Should Discard Her Traditional
AIooness and Assume Administration of Part of Cap
tIred Lands-New Form Of Colonial Control
Is Being Advocated.

1rPe peoples ol tile e"iih' 'hS "'"N'>'
with the Viscount Grey introduction
states, and by that control the exist
ence of freedom is secured, not only
in Europe, but also in America and
Australia.
"But what is the effect of this vic
tory to be on Asia, Africa and the
scattered remnants of primitive So
ciety who inhabit a hundred Pacific
isles? In the end the effect must be
that they, too, will achieve the art
of governing themselves. But the
question, how soon can the end be
reached, depends on a right under
standing by the free nations who.now
control the world of the delicate ana
complex nature of the problem. Fail
ure TO grasp it will not only delay
.he end but may yet set the civilized
world by the ears" in brief, may yet
form the grounds for another war.
Injected into this idea is a strong
plea for the utmost fairness in eX-
plotting the territorial natural re-
sources, which must not be considered
the property of any one nation, but
must he open to all.
There is no sentiment expressed In
the publications now being issued on
the colonial problem against any fea-
ture of tho fourteen points laid down
in President Wilson'S peace declara-
ton. Instead, there is shown an eff
fort to make these points harmonic
with the arguments advanced TOR
American participation in colonial gov
eminent.
What Wilson Said.
President Wilson'S fifth clause, in
the notable fourteen points. asks for
"A free, open-mind"d and absolutely
impartial adjustment of all colonial
claims based upon a strict observance
of the principle that in determining
all such questions of sovereigntys the
interests of the populations concerned
must have equal weight with the equi'
table claims of the government whose
title is to be deter;nincd.'
The whole point ut issue, according
to this recently published British view,
is that no government shall claim eX-
elusive title to the captured lands, but
that one government must take the
responsibility Of administration and be
responsible in turn to an international
tribunal
Clause twelve Of the presidents
peace terms provide for the looping
off of Armenia and Palestine from
RI, i
subject states shall "bc assured an I'M
doubted security of life and an abSo-
lutey unmolested opportunity Of au-
tonomous development" which oppor-
tunity, it is pointed out here, would
most assuredly be provided were
America acting as kind of big broth
err to the Armenians and people of Pal
estine.
Want America to Take Hold.
There is hope here among the most
far-sceing British thinkers that Amer
lea will discard her traditional aloof-
ness, and become custodian of the Ar
mcnianS, of Palestine, and take charge
even of the DardaneleS, maintaining
nm open-door policy, a policy the Brit
iSh will undoubtedly strongly urge on
the French and Italian governments as
nm expedient in wise territorial govern
ment
1t is even being urged that we take
over the task of preserving the au-
tonomy of Persia and Arabia.
That America possesses knowledge
for handling such large assignment
is undoubted. 1t is pointed out that
Roberts college and the American mis-
sions in the near East have given us
a preponderant share, if not q monop-
oily, of public-spirited men, many of
them natives of this section Of the
world who consequently have first-hand
knowledge Of these regions.
incidentally, from the near East,
America could promote railroad con-
StructOn without offense to the Brit
ish, and could assist in that most vex-
atiouS problem of the day, the restora-
ton of Russia, the blind giant among
nations, the Grey booklet says.