The sun., 1919-07-06

around the shores of the Levant, studied
on the voyage how Germany could ac-
quire Cyprus and check the influence of
the English in Syria and Asia Minor.
Sir William MacGregors estimate Of
the German merchant IN the Pacific as
thoroughly trustworthy in business is
radically different from the unfavorahle
opinion in regard to the German merchant
entertained in South America by those
Englishmen and Americans best ac-
quainted with the deceptive practices to
which they constantly resort in such cen
tres % trade as Buenos Ayres, Monte
video and Rio Janeiro.
III.
Although the Pacific Ocean, considered
III its greatest extent, ranges through $50
degrees of longitude and nearly $50 de-
grry Of latitude, Mr.. Fletcher says that
10 most Europeans it has hardly been bet
ter known than the dark side of the moon.
Since the middle of the nineteenth CEN
fury its shores, continental islands and
smaller islands have been dominated
chiefly by four forces-Great Britain, the
United States and Japan, acting in SUBJ
stantial unity to promote the cause Of
liberty, and Germany, generally hostile
TO freedom-so hostile, indeed, that she
had TO be subdued to the uttermost if the
world was to be worth living in.
As result of the great war the German
Pacific colonies have been placed under
provisional administration by the Domin-
ions OF Australia and New Zealand, and
assuming that they are never TO be re-
turned TO Germany-whieh may be re-
garded as a tolerably safe assumptions
secondary problem Of the Pacific is how
they are TO be governed in the future.
Whatever form of administration may
be adopted, Sir William MacGregor says,
there are British officers in Australasia
competent to carry it out. In his judg-
ment the question of financial support for
the several Governments that may be set
up is likely to prove more difficult. New
Zealand is ready and willing to provide
for her share of the expense, but Austria
liza, it seems, is inclined TO place por-
ton Of the burden at least upon the I'm
perial Government in England.
One objection to the extension of Aus
tralian governmental methods TO other
colonial possessions is the failure of Aus
tralian craftsmanship always 10 deal most
effectively and satisfactorily with the
problems of the Commonwealth itself; but
Mr. Fletcher is confident that "when the
time comes Australia Will prove herself
quite capable of large responsibilities and
serious sacrifices; but she will require
the patience given to strong limbed, Wig
orous youngsters intent upon reading the
world their own way"
No other Australian has done more than
Mr.. William VI. Hughes, the Prime Min
lister of the Commonwealth, who recently
visited the United States, toward the So
luton of present day problems in the
Pacific; and II. would have been satisfac-
tory TO have had an estimate of the char
acter and achievements of this statesman
from journalist like Mr. Fletcher, whose
Judgments of prominent Australians in
public life must be acceptable TO a large
constituency of newspaper readers. All
that we are told concerning the Prime
Minister, however, is that he would not
face the threatened peril of martial law
and civil war for the sake of forcing
compulsory military service upon the
Australian people; but, on the other hand,
that zone of the ablest and wisest of Aus
tralian publicists thinks that Mr. Hughes
saved the Commonwealth from revolution
by turning TO the referendum" though
the referendum was bound to fail.
The end of the war has made the ques-
ton academic; and Mr. Hughes can
point with pride to the fact that Austria
liza contributed 100000 men to the Brit
ish armies, of whom $1,000 laid down
their lives in defence of civilization against
German aggression. Indeed, there were
more Australians in the single battle OF
u IL Il II