Evening star., 1936-07-05

| little more than one-fifth comes from
colonial territories. Germany has
ample coal and iron already and Is
producing some 40 per cent of her
oil requirements, in peace time, from
her own resources. Furthermore, there
are other important industrial nations
in Europe without colonies-as, for ex-
ample, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Aus
tria, Switzerland and Sweden. Indeed.
the Poles have already stated that if
there is to be any redistribution Of
/ colonies they have a claim.
Political Boycott.
| The economic difficulties of Ger
many are. as can be shown quite
clearly, not due 10 lack of colonies at
all, but to the exchange restrictions.
tariffs and quotas from which the
traders of all the world are suffering.
In Germany's case, her difficulties are
accentuated by the political boycott
/ against her goods organized by the
Jews in many parts of the world. And
in addition, Germany has had. as her
leaders have admitted, great difficulty
recently in purchasing the abnormal
amounts Of raw materials-certain
metals, in particular-needed for her
own rearmament.
There is an unavowed reason for de-
string an independent control of CO.
! lonial raw materials. and that is the
desire to be less dependent on such
supplies in case of economic sanctions
/ applied in some future crisis by the
League of Nations or strict interpre-
tatlon OF her neutrality laws by the
United States
! But in peace time there are ample
supplies Of raw materials of all kinds.
Germany, like other countries is suf-
fering in her export trade. This ex-
plains her currency difficulties when
it comes to purchasing colonial prod
ucts. More solidly founded is the Ger
man complaint about her lack of as
sured markets. There is certainly a
grievance with regard to the results
Of the Ottawa conference, by which
the British Empire has made some
/ progress along the road toward CO.
/ lcnlal preference. The old traditional
British policy of the open door in her
/ crown colonies. as distinct from the
seIf-governing dominions. has been
departed from. Although the trading
opportunities in these colonies under
the most favorable conditions are not
so important as to make much diff :er-
ence to Germany's economic situation,
the grievance does exist.
There Is also a grievance-a justi-
fable one, felt not only by Germany
about present and past schemes for
artif1cially restricting the supplies of
tin, rubber, jute and other necessities
OF manufacture in order to raise prices.
This cause of complaint could be re-
moved without any transfer of sover-
eighty. The rubber restriction scheme
broke down under its own weight.
/ Young middle-claSs Germans are
taught to believe that there would be
| plenty Of openings for them in the ad-
mlnistrations, the police and the gar
risons Of the colonies if Germany had
any. To meet this particular griev-
ance a proposal is nov being can
vassed that certain of the present
mandates and also certain of the pres
ent colonial possessions of the Euro
pean powers, should be transferred
directly to the League of Nations and
put under the administration of &C.
neva. In that case, the civil and other
services would be recruited from all
nationalitieS impartially.
Short-Sighted French Policy.
The French for many years have
pursued short-sighted policy in their
own colonies-they have always tried
to favor their own nationals and to bar
out the traders of other nations. Nor
have the Belgians been without blame.
In the case of the Congo basin there
is supposed to be freedom for all: but
in practice. as all the local officials are
Belgians, the dice are loaded in favor
OF Belgian merchants and traders. The
Portuguese have a bad record in this
respect; but the Dutch, have pursued
consistent policy of the open door.
Statistics and economic facts will
not impress the underpaid, poverty
stricken German workmen and their
families. or the jobleSs middle
class students who are told day in and
day out that their troubles are due to
the selfishness of the governments of
the great colonial empires. Nor will
a people that has suffered in the post
war years from the stigma of inferi-
ority be placated unless they can re-
gain the moral equality which Herr
Hitler demands.
For these reasons it should be the
duty of statesmen to seek a Just solu-
ton. There is no reason why Britain
should make all the sacrifices.
The United States of America is not
a colony-ownin2 power in the sense
that Britain, France. Belgium, Japan
and Holland are; therefore her mer-
chants and traders also have an in
terest in this question. The economic
difficulties of Europe 60 far deeper
than any difficulties about colonies, as
I nave shown above; but something
can be done to restore prosperity
along the lines have indicated.
If, at the same time, we can re-
move sentimental grievance that has
come to be generally felt, we shall
have done something to remove the
tension in Europe as reflected in the
feverish war preparations and arma-
ments races now in progress.
Another consideration Is likely to
actuate British policy in the long run.
Can Germany be changed from a
dissatisfied power" into a satisfied
nation. prepared to play her part in
the League of Nations in defense of
the principle of collective security?
There has been rupture of an an
cient friendship between Britain and
Italy. 1t will not be easily healed,
especially as the British feel that the
Italians believe themselves to be the
victors in a contest over principles
It will now be an object Of British
policy to prevent an alliance between
Germany and Italy. Britain and