The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-02-27
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Captured German Colonies Are to
Be Placed Under Interna-
tionaI Control.
WILSON'S PLAN is, ADOPTED
British Dominions Protest in Vain
Manufactures Of League OF Ma
tions Will Rule the Territories
Little Progress With
Russian Problem.
By EDWARD w. PIcKARD.


Germanys lost colonies occupied
much of the time and attention of the
peace delegates last week, and the
result of their deliberations apparently
was that those colonies, and probably
some of the territories that are to be
Topped off the Turkish empire, are to
be internationalized by being intrusted
to governments designated as amanda
tories" by the league of nations. These
mandatories presumably will have a
certain liberty of action in executing
their control of the colonies, and the
league, it is supposed, will enforce, by
safeguards, a system very similar in
effect to the British colonial admins
tration.
This disposition of the former Ger
man possessions, if it is finally ac-
cepted by the peace conference, will
prove another triumph for President
Wilson, for while he has yielded come
what in compromise, it is mainl his
idea. The British imperial cabinet ac-
copied his theory, despite the strenu-
Gus objections of the representatives
of the British dominions, and the adj
hesion of France also was announced.
Japan was not very well pleased, and
neither was Italy.
IN another way this decision, If
made, vindicates Mr.. Wilson's ideas,
for it is admitted that the creation and
maintenance of the league of nations
is necessary to carry out the colonial
plan, and the president asserts that,
inasmuch as the league was unani-
mously agreed to, it is necessary to
turn the colonies over to the league I'M
der the protectorate of the nations best
fitted to hold them.
The question of the German colonies
developed the most serious diplomatic
contest the conference has engaged in,
and at the time of writing the end of
the fight was not in sight. Those colo
MES were Germany's greatest asset,
and some of the allied nations had
counted on them to make up in part
their immense financial expenditures
in the war. Secret agreements had
been entered into giving Australia and
New Zealand the German possessions
south of the equator and giving Japan
the Caroline and Marshall islands. De-
spite the action of the British imperial
war cabinet in London, the British del
egates to the conference were dis
posed to stand by these agreements.
The representatives of Australia and
New Zealand were especially insistent
on their claims, and were supported by
the Japanese, who expected in return
the support of Great Britain for posi-
lions in the Shantung peninsula and
Manchuria. The South African repre-
sentatives, also, were displeased, be-
lieving the plan would encourage the
rebellious elements there that are still
agitating for an independent South Al
RIGA
Assuming that the internationaliza-
ton plan is adopted, it us likely the
control of the lands in question would
be about as follows: German West At
RIGA to France the Kamerun to
French Congo; German Southwest At
RIGA to the South African Union;
German East Africa mainly to Great
Britain, small part going to Belgian
Congo; the Carolines and Marshall
island to Japan; New Guinea to Aus
tralia; Samoa to New Zealand. Japan
expresses willingness to give Kiao-
Chau back to China, under conditions
that have, not yet developed. These
are in the main the claims that were
made by the allied nations; but Presl-
dent Wilson and his American col
leagues made it clear they would not
agree to the plan by which absolute
possession of the German colonies