The Washington times., 1936-12-31
NAzIS ASK i. :.
AID DRIVE FOR
COLONIES
Willing France Finds
Britain Hostile to
German Bluff
By FRANKLIN G. SARTwELL

Strong, though informal efforts
are being made by Germany to
enlist support of the United States
in its campaign to win back at
least some of the former German
colonies, which were placed under
the mandate Of League powers
after the World War.
Given impetus by the offer Of
France to return some of the
German colonies in Africa under
mandate, the movement is under.
stood to be encountering difficult
ties through maneuvering of Great
Britain.
Germany regards the winning
back of the colonies as essential
to her economic existence and Ia
willing to go to almost any lengths
to get them back.
EarmarkS Of Bluff
It is for this reason that many
believe Chancellor Hitler'S belli-
cose attitude over the Spanish
situation is simply a bluff to
force France and England to deal
realistically with the colonial
problem.
Hitler has succeeded in tossing
aside other provisions of the Yer
SallleS Treaty and he believes that
he can do the same with the pro-
visions which killed Germany'S
colonial empire.
In an effort to buy peace in
Europe, France has indicated her
willingness to turn back to Ger
many the colonies in Africa over
which she exercises mandates un.
der certain conditions. Principal
among these are that Germany
agree to further peace moves
among European nations.
But the real key to the German
colonial problem is Great Britain.
Britain Against Return
The German colonies in Africa
which are now under control of
France are not particularly i'm
portant. although Germany would,
of course, like to get them back.
Great Britain. however, controls
vastly more important colonies
that formerly belonged to Ger.
many. These are the ones which
it is important that Hitler regain.
Great Britain not only does not
want to give up the colonies which
she controls, but is understood to
fear that if France returns her
mandates it will set a precedent.
which in the near future would
compel England to relinquish her
mandates.
Germany is basing the informal
suggestions which she is under.
stood to have made to the United
States, to aid her in the fight for
her colonies, on the attitude Of
Woodrow Wilson, as expressed in
the famous Fourteen Points" for
peace which he submitted and on
the wartime Presidents declara-
tions at the Versailles peace CON
ference.
Point Five Is Core
Wilson's attitude, particularly
his Point Five, and Americas de-
sire to preserve world peace, are
held by the Germans to place Q
moral obligation on this country
to come to their aid in the effort
to regain her empire.
Point Five of Wilson's -Four
teen Points" follows:
"a free, Open-minded and abSO-
IuteIy impartial adjustment Of
all colonial claims, based upon q
strict observance of the prin.
ciple that in determining all
such questions of sovereignty
the interest Of the populations
concerned must have equal
weight with the equitable claims
of the government whose title
is to be determined"
The German assertion Is that
in mandating her colonies to the
victorious powers this test sug.
gested by Wilson was ignored, al
though Germany was perfectly
willing to submit her claims to the