The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-02-21
WANT UNITED STATES TO TAKE
ON SOME OF GERMAN COLONIES

provide government for these terri
tories is the most difficult of the Ques-
tions which the conference has to face.
From q 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
provide actual government for the col
onies: that government must be fur
nlshed by one of the associated pow
ers, acting In way as agent for the
league of nations and of course respon-
slble to the league.
Freedom is Secured.
1.-The control of the four continents
has fallen. or is now falling. to the
free peoples Of the earth." the booklet
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 Asin. Africa and the
scattered remnants Of primitive So
ciety who inhabit 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 n right under
standing by the free nations who now
control the world of the delicate and
complex nature of the problem. Fail
ure 10 grasp 1t will not only delay
the end but may yet set the civilized
world by the ears" I'm brief may yet
form the grounds for another war.
There is no sentiment expressed In
the publications. now being issued on
the colonial problem against any fea-
ture of the fourteen points, laid down
in President Wilson's peace declara-
tiOn. Instead, there is shown an ef-
fort to make these points harmoniZe
with the arguments advanced for
American participation in colonial gov
crnment.
What Wilson Said.
President Wilson's fifth clause. in
the notable fourteen points, asks for
"a free. Open-minded and absolutely
impartial adjustment Of all colonial
claims based upon n strict observance
of the principle that in determining
all such questions of sovereignty the
interests of the populations concerned
must have equal weight with the equi-
table claims of the government whose
title is to be determined"
The whole point at issue. according
TO this recently published British view.
Is that no government shall claim ex-
elusive title to the captured lands, hut
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
Turkey and insist that these one-time
subject states shall "be assured an un-
doubted security Of life and an abso-
lutely 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
er to the Armenians and people Of Pal
eStine.
There Is hope here among the most
far-seeing British thinkers that Amer
lea will discard her traditional aloof-
ness. and become custodian Of the Ar
menians, Of Palestine, and take charge
even of the Dardanelles, maintaining
an open-dOor policy, policy the Brit
ish will undoubtedly strongly urge on
th,, French and Italian governments as
an expedlent in wise territorial govern
ment.
It 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 prep0nderant share. II not a monOp-
oily. Of publlc-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-
struction without offense to the Brit.
ish. and could assist In that most vex-
atiOus problem of the day, the restora.
tion Of Russia, the blind giant among
nations, the Grey booklet says.