South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-29


policy. and the other allies demand
ing that their interests be served.
I Prest Wilson had wished 10 have
the hardest problems, those relating
I 10 European conditions, taken up
first. because he believed that the
danger 20 the world arose from the
unsettled conditions there. But the
/ irresistible temptation. as I'm all such
/ conferences was 10 put OF hard
questions. assign them 10 commit
tees, and take up what seemed 20 be
the easy problem first
The easy problem here seemed TO
be the disposition Of the German
colonies. Everyone was agreed from
the beEinuins that they should not
be returned 20 Germany They APP
peared therefore 20 be the easy
spoiIs of war. the Jackpot OF the
great game And one morning. with
out any introduction without "a word
Of warming. they prepared TO carve
them up and distribute them around.
Apparently everything had some
how. somewhere, been worked out.
Japan was to- have certain Islands
in the Pacific. Australia and New
Zealand certain others; the South
African Federation was to have a
big slice in Africa. France was 10
have such and such colonies and
Great Britain itself such others.
old Game T. Easiest.
one OF the most extraordinary
things about the peace conference
throughout was the efficiency Of the
British and French foreign offices,
or diplomatic machines. They al
ways had plan ready; always had
fl minuteIy worked out. Even in the
minor committees upon one or two
of which 1 sat, no sooner was ques-
tion preached than the French or
British had an elaborate plan, beau
tifully typewriter, TO put down.
There is an enormous advantage in
this. as these experienced negotia-
tors well know. for plan tends to
shape the views of everyone present
and place all other conferees in the
position of critics. 1 could give num-
bers Of instances i'm the high council
in which. although the Americans
We're the suggesters of an idea, the
actual resolutions were presented by
Mr. Lloyd George or some other
member A man or a nation, also,
that desires specific material thing,
an island. for example, or sum OF
money. is always in a very much
stronger and more definite position
than a man or a nation that seeks
10 apply difficult general principles
/ to a complicated situation. It is so
easy 10 play the old familiar game;
so difficult TO play the new. 1t was
| the new game that Mr.. Wilson had
to play throughout; and everyone
/ knows how wearing it is mentally
and physically, 10 be constantly in
l opposition, constantly forced to play
a lone hand.
Many Seek Colonies.
That the plan for the division of
\ the German colonies had all been
worked out-and without any refer
ence TO the establishment of a new
or "A general principle-was clear
enough when the prime ministers of
/ several of the British colonies came
into the conference on Jan. "a quite
unexpectedly. and made prepared
I statements Of their claims TO the an
nexation of certain former German
/ territory Canada made no such de-
mands. although she had had great
i losses and made great sacrifices in
the war-far greater in proportion
than those OF the United States
she made no selfish claim whatever
for herself. 1t developed, also. at
once that Japan expected TO annex
certain colonies. and France certain
others: and that possibly Italy and
Belgium would have TO be permitted
more extensive territorial conces-
sions.
Against Annexation
ft was Jan. ~ before Mr.. Wilson
! got an opportunity TO present his
= idea OF a new principle of world
u colonial policy He was against an
ncNation, he declared for the de-
4 velopment Of each colony. not for
p tho advantage of the nation that
controlled il. but for that of the peo-
B. Pile who lived there. He thought the
? emphasis should be placed upon the
. welfare of the people not upon the
, ownership of the land The world
b. should act as a trustee for these
j weak and backward people until the
. day when the true wishes OF the in
? habitants could be ascertained. Col
p onies should be assigned to certain
b. manufactures or trustees who should
be under the supervision OF the
r league OF nations And he wanted
- the principle TO apply not only 70
p German colonies but TO all those
b parts of Turkey which were not q
e. Do returned 20 the Turks
d This at once precipitated red
r. hot controversy Mr.. Hughes OF
e Australia especially. attacked the
q whole mandatory principle. and was
f. supported less vigorously by the 9th
p er British colonial premierS NJ
K simon. the French colonial minister
appeared and made a long Statement
iu support OF the idea OF frank an
b.. usXauou and set forth the Frencl
& colonial demands 90 the CAMERON.
Fl and TogoIand In this 10 was clea
n that bee had the support OF Clemeu
Z .rau wlp called attention 20 The
e. various secret treaties or converse