The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-01-30
PACIFIC ISLES
HARD QUESTION
Three Points of View for
Peace Conference to Bring
Into Accord.
AMERICA INTERESTED
Because Of Panama Canal and
Philippines Germany Seeks
Benefit From League.

(London Times-Phii. Ledge ,p. Cabie.D
+ Paris. Jan. 27.--Th Gig powers
have listened to the Ssws of the
Chinese minister of II segn affairs on
the point of the rest ( lion Of kiau-
chau. The general estion OF the
future status of the rsrman colonies
in Africa has ma great progress
towards agreemeu Ind 1t Is clear
that there will be- great cause for
difference of opip
The unconditit right OF South
Africa to renal in possession of
German Southwest Africa has been
admitted. German East Africa prob
ably will be handed over to Great
Britain as mandatory to the league of
nations, although here the claims OF
Belgium will have to be brought nto
account. Disposition of the Cameo,
cons form almost an entirely Anglo
French point of discussion. The
French are not completely satisfied
with the somewhat artificial pro-
visional boundaries made here dur
ing the war, and the British, ami
mated by the widest spirit Of con-
Citation. are considering this problem.
There remains the difficulty of the
Pacific islands where there are
three points of view.
Frank Objection.
The Australians, it may be frankly
stated, do not view with satisfaction
the approach of Japan to their
shores. While they have been pleased
by the great successful effort of the
imperial government to obtain ado
quate dominions representation on
the body of the peace conference,
they feel this matter is one in which
the European does not properly ap-
preciate their point of view. In ac-
cordance with the agreement be-
tween Great Britain and Japan the
equator would form the limit of ia
panese extension south. This would,
therefore. confirm the Japanese in
their possession and administration
of the Marshall and Caroline islands.
These islands, several hundred in
number, consist for the main part of
little coral atolls and are in way,
tho dust of Pacific ocean. As9
What advantage, asks Australia, can
Japan be seskag VI ths Doss.e,sai,Sn q
Japanese population, where there is
practically no population at all from
the point of view of a market which
produces very little for export purposes.
The strategic Importance of these two
groups of islands has. with the growth
of the possibilities of the submarine.
become considerable indeed.
America Interested.
The American viewpoint--and Ameri-
ca is interested. not only as regards
pines-is that the imperial government
should take over the whole of the
German colonies in the Pacific, both
those in the. north and the south Pa
cifc and administer them under the
perial attitude would seem to be they
are more or less bound by agreements |
with Japan to hand over to Japan the |
Caroline and Marshall Islands and the
rest of the German colonies to become I
The question is one the peace confer !
ence will be able to settle and 1t is I
not anticipated that on colonial mat |
ters there will be any great trouble.
There is reason to believe this pro- |
eedure, so unpleasantIIy prominent in
be modified and the minor powers con-
suited formally and informally. The |
extreme doctrine enunciated by Pre- |
mier Clemenceau may thus be tenn |
qualified at the next plenary sitting. |
In this way the danger may be OBJ !
Waited of division of the conference |
into groups OF great and small powers !
and the delegates of the small powers !
may lose the sense of injustice under !
which they are now smarting. While !
this difficulty is likely to be overcome, /
other difficulties arising out of the prin- I
cipal proposal may prove less tract |
able. 1t is obvious that the bolshevists |
are disposed to use the meeting of the |
allied representatives on Princes ISL !
and or elsewhere, mainly for propagan- |
da purposes. 1t is equally obvious that |
all antibolshevst factors in Esthonia, |
Lithuania, Poland, Bohemia. Ukraine !
and Siberia are discouraged by allied !
decision to meet the bolshevists. The |
principal danger appears now in Po-
land. Information supplied by COM |
petent authority recently returned from |
Warsaw, goes to prove unless the allies /
support Poland promptly, by sending
adequate supplies of food and trans
porting thither the Polish division in
France. commanded by Gen. Haller. the
situation may get out of hand before
the end of February. 1t seems uncer-
tain whether the Princes Island pro-
ernment as suspending all measures of
relief for the friends of the allies on
the borders OF Russia. II so, it must
be regarded as a frankly bolshevist
measure. If not, measures of support
and relief should be pushed forward.
Gen. Pilsudski and those who CO.
operate with him are now concentrat-
ing their efforts against the peril
which menaces Poland from the east
They are hampered by the deliberate
tactics Of the German armies, which
retiring westward form a screen he
hind which bolshevist forces are free
to advance without knowledge of their
reaching Warsaw.
Accessible to All.
Saturdays resolution laid down the
that the league of nations
must be made accessible to all civilized
who could be relied upon TO
favor its purpose. This formula is
clear as regards the attitude to be
taken toward enemy countries, but as
is a much less definite guide in dealing
with the admission OF neutrals. As
the league of nations is to become an
integral part of peace negotiations.
enemy countries would obtain admis-
sion to the discussion and neutrals,
even respectable neutrals. would be
kept far from the discussion and would
only be able to recognize the results.
The president OF Switzerland pointed
Switzerland is in the new
regime to be established by the league
Of nations. The Swiss want access to
the sea through the canalized river
Po: they want, through International
zation of the Rhine and international
railway lines, to obtain full freedom
TO trade. 1t Is eminently desirable TO
associate neutrals, at least those who
have given proof of real neutrality.
In which they will be called upon 70
play an important part.
The policy to be adopted towards
Germany must naturally be considered
from a different angle. While II is
by even the most prudent