CO885-(26N14) — Page 43

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2. (a) Maritz had been in communication with the German authorities for some time before he declared, himself, and his first act as a rebel was to join the Germans with his forces. Kemp followed him later, and both Beyers, when he was drowned, and de Wet, when captured, were in all probability endeavouring to seek refuge in German territory. The Germans were thus officially, at an early stage of the War, and almost certainly also before the War, in direct association with the section in the Union who were disloyal to the Crown.

(b) Since the conquest of South-West Africa by the Union Forces, in July 1915, the territory has been under direct Union administration. A Union administrator, Union officials and Union police administer the country, and Union methods have been introduced into every sphere of administration.

Some hundreds of miles of railway have been built in the Union and in South- West Africa in order to link up the two railway systems, and trains now run direct from Windhuk (and further north) to Cape Town and Pretoria,

While at first there was some inevitable friction, South-West Africa is to-day governed, and governed peaceably, under a system alien in every important respect to German notions of government. There is every reason to believe that, if annexed to the Union after peace, it would rapidly become a tranquil and contented province, part and parcel of the Union.

(c) For the first time since the German occupation, the natives of South-West Africa, including Ovamboland, are at peace, unmolested, protected, and on terms of loyal friendship with the Administration. They have openly declared their intention of leaving the territory if it is restored to the Germans.*

3. (a) The Germans do not conceal their designs in Africa. The German Militarist Party seeks to secure a vast African Empire extending across the continent, maintaining a large native army, and fortified with naval bases; an Empire which, in the event of war, would be independent of any assistance from Germany, and capable of successfully attacking its neighbours.t

(b) From its geographical position South-West Africa would form an important part of such an Empire, and it may be assumed, therefore, that the Germans would return to the territory, if they return at all, with aggressive aims.

(i) The railway systems of the two countries are now linked

up.

(ii) The War has shown the importance of submarines and light cruisers, and it would be easy to construct in South-West Africa a base or bases for these craft, from which they could cut one of the most important lines of communication in the British Empire.

(iii) The War has revealed the existence in the Union of a political section openly and increasingly hostile to the British connection.

The presence,

after the War, of a German Government in South-West Africa would immensely strengthen this disloyal section in the Union, and be a source of perpetual and dangerous unrest.

(d) The treatment of the natives by the Germans, and their methods of native administration, are totally contrary to those prevailing here. They lead to a con- tinual state of dissatisfaction and unrest, culminating in risings, massacres, and brutalities,

This state of affairs constitutes a constant source of real danger and native unrest to an adjoining country like the Union with its very large native population. More- over many of these natives have close ties of relationship with the natives of South- West Africa.

(e) For all these reasons, to return South-West Africa to Germany would add vastly to the burden, anxiety, and cost of national defence in the Union; and would constitute a formidable menace to the security, peace, and progress of this part cf the Empire.

It is not on account of military ambition, or megalomania, or land hunger, that the Union desire to obtain control over South-West Africa, but 'because they want to be secured in the peaceful possession and development of their own territory,

* See Ministers' Secret Minute of the 14th February 1918 on the position and views of the natives in South-West Africa.

† See Appendix

and secured from intrigue. This state of affairs cannot be attained with Germany as their neighbour.

The general peace that is essential after the War is not merely a European or Asiatic peace, but the peace of the world, including the peace of South Africa.

APPENDIX.

GERMAN VIEWS AS TO THE FUTURE.

It is unnecessary to dwell on the various statements of German statesmen and German newspapers

in regard to the future of Africa were the German colonies returned. They are no doubt on file in the Colonial Office.

Herr Zimmerman's article of 23rd June in the Europaische Staats und Wirtschafts-Zeitung, quoted in the Times of

is sufficient indication of their views. He anticipated and boasted that in German Central Africa," there may be an army of one million men, and the colony will have its own war navy like Brazil, Africa, India, and Australia.

we shall dominate the English connections with South

According to a Reuter telegram, appearing in the press here on the 22nd December, Dr. Karstadt, the well-known member of the German Colonial Society, stated that—

"Germany must have a Central Africa, stretching from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Hence Germany must recover her colonies and enlarge them, and she must also construct the essential naval bases.....

It is on arguments such as these that a case-and, in the general opinion of South Africans, an over- whelming case against the restoration of South-West Africa to the Germans can be built.

If South-West Africa is not to be restored to Germany, there would appear to be only one practical settlement, namely, that it should be annexed to the Union:-

(1) Incorporation in the Union is its natural destiny.

(2) The people of the Union conquered the territory with their own troops, serving under Union Generals, and at Union expense.

(3) The Union has successfully administered the territory since its conquest.

(4) The Union is now, through its railway system, connected directly and definitely and commercially

with South-West Africa, and the two countries could be peacefully developed as one whole.

21330

No. 19.

NIGERIA.

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 1st May 1918.)

Government House, Nigeria, 4th April 1918.

(Secret.) SIR,

IN continuation of my Secret Despatch of the 15th of March,* I have the honour to transmit a copy of a letter, dated 20th of February, addressed to the Lieutenant-Governor of the Northern Provinces by Mr. G. W. Webster, Resident of the Yola Province, forwarding a report,† dated the 26th of January, received by him from Mr. W. D. K. Mair, 2nd Class District Officer.

I have, &c.,

Confidential. No. 1/1918. SIR,

Enclosure in No. 19.

F. D. LUGARD,

Governor-General.

Yan Camp, 20th February 1918.

In accordance with your telegrams L. 1 and L. 3, dated the 11th and 26th of January 1918, I have the honour to forward herewith a report by Mr. W. D. K. Mair dealing with evidence as to anxiety on the part of natives of the occupied territories of the Cameroons in the British sphere of influence for inclusion in the British Empire.

• No. 9 in [Cd. 9210].

† Not printed.

D 4

ཡ'ཡ-- ཡ

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

885/26

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

rom intrigue. This state of affairs cannot be attained with Germany

bour.

ral

peace that is essential after the War is not merely a European or but the peace of the world, including the peace of South Africa.

APPENDIX.

GERMAN VIEWS AS TO THE FUTURE.

ary to dwell on the various statements of German statesmen and German newspapers iture of Africa were the German colonies returned. They are no doubt on file in the men's article of 23rd June in the Europaische Staats und Wirtschafts-Zeitung, quoted ia sufficient indication of their views. He anticipated

n German Central Africa," there may be an army of one million men, and the colony war navy like Brazil,

Australia.

we shall dominate the English connections with South

a Reuter telegram, appearing in the press here on the 22nd December, Dr. Karstadt, imber of the German Colonial Society, stated that-

ust have a Central Africa, stretching from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean. Hence over her colonies and enlarge them, and she must also construct the essential naval

onts such as these that a case-and, in the general opinion of South Africans, an over- ainst the restoration of South-West Africa to the Germans can be built.

Africa is not to be restored to Germany, there would appear to be only one practical

that it should be annexed to the Union:-

ion in the Union is its natural destiny.

of the Union conquered the territory with their own troops, serving under Union ion expense.

has successfully administered the territory since its conquest.

is now, through its railway system, connected directly and definitely and commercially frica, and the two countries could be peacefully developed as one whole.

No. 19.

NIGERIA.

VERNOR-GENERAL TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

(Received 1st May 1918.)

Government House, Nigeria, 4th April 1918.

uation of my Secret Despatch of the 15th of March,* I have the mit a copy of a letter, dated 20th of February, addressed to the rnor of the Northern Provinces by Mr. G. W. Webster, Resident ince, forwarding a report,† dated the 26th of January, received by 1. D. K. Mair, 2nd Class District Officer.