1939-06-02 — Page 3

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THE CHINA MAIL, JUNE 2, 1939.

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"NAZIS ARE UNFIT TO RULE COLONIES" Survey Of Territorial Problem By Expert Strategic Dangers

Of Return

The case against restoring to Germany her former African colonies under existing conditions, though not under any conditions, is presented in a cogent and comprehensive survey of all the relev- ant factors by Mr. George L. Steer, in a book pub- lished under the title "Judgment on German Africa” (Hodder and Stoughton, 12s 6d).

Mr. Steer, who is a South African with an inti- mate knowledge of his Continent, recently made a special tour of all the ex-Gerran territories.

Mr. Steer's method is to devote a section of his book to each of the three territories concerned South-West Africa, the Cameroons, and Tangan- yika-and to examine systematically` in each case the pre-war German administration, the post-war administration under the mandates, and the strate- gic consequences which would follow from their restoration.

It is no part of Mr. Steer's con- tention that any colonising race in Africa has been free from reproach in its dealings with the natives, but he submits that none has acted with such ruthless system as pre-war Germany.

"Whatever the reason," he says in his summing up, "there is no African colonial Power that has ever stirred-such a storm of resis- tance as Germany in East South-West Africa.

and

"There is also no civilised power which, so late in the history of colonial expansion as the 20th cen- tury, used such gross and criminal violence in the suppression of na- tive revolt as Germany did in the Maji-Maji and the Herero wars; except Italy in Libya and Ethiopia"

regions of which the author speaks with direct personal know- ledge.

Mr. Steer does not suggest that what he calls her "beginner's errors" by any means permanently disqualify Germany from the title to rule in Africa.

NAZI'S ATTITUDE

He renders full justice to the public criticism which was exer- ted in pre-war Germany by the Press, the missionaries and the

Catholic and Socialist parties in the Reichstag, a. d to the results of this criticism in securing the abate- ment of the worst excesses and the suppression of offending governors.

But he points out the absence of these safety-valves in present-day totalitarian Germany, and indicates that the Nazis' attitude on native policy conforms rather to the more ruthless than the more humani- tarian of their predecessors.

The mandatory system, he gives reasons for believing, has brought "Immeasurable” improvements.

He would not, however, restore to Germany her lost colonies even as mandates until she “abandons the theory that colonies exist only to be exploited, and the race phantasy which, displacing science, ports the view that the bigor n serf and the comedian of

In his

that to surrender the colonies to Germany would be to surrender the means of breaking us as a world Power.

PTOMAINE ENDS MASONIC DANCE

Jackson, Miss., May 26.

Some 200 Free Masons suffer- ed from ptomaine poisoning · in various degrees to-day following a grand Masonic banquet last night, when they enjoyed a cold buffet of roasts and potato salad,

Thirty-two persons had to be taken to hospital, while all had to receive medical attention.

One of the men at the banquet stated to-day that the effects of the poisoning were to be seen a short while after the banquet.

·Couples were dancing when they were "suddenly struck down as though by an invisible hand.' Havas.

TOKYO REPORTS

ON MONGOLIA AIR ACTIVITY

Tokyo, To-day.

Japanese planes were again in action on the Outer Mongol fron- tier, according to press despatches.

Japanese bombers claim have silenced the Outer Mongol forces south of the River Khalha, which is described as marking the frontier.

to

JAPAN TO JOIN Mongol planes are apparently

ALLIANCE?

The local "Lih Pao," leading

The despatches add that Outer

massing at Tamsk, south, of the River Khalha. Reuter.

vernacular tabloid newspaper, states POWERS OF NEW

this morning that Japan has de-

cided to join the German-Italian

Military Alliance on certain ditions.

con-

The report is claimed to have originated from a foreign source in Shanghai, and was transmitted last night by the paper's special corres-

He foresees that it would be impondent. possible to reinforce the Sudan against an Italian invasion from Abyssinia except by air transport from British West Africa across the Sahara,

DR. COLIJN RUMOURS.

MINISTRY OF SUPPLY

London, To-day.

The wide powers accorded the Ministry of Supply and outlined by Mr. Neville Chamberlain on April 20 are explained in detail in a Reports of the impending resigna-White Paper issued yesterday.

Colijn, tion of the Premier, Dr.

The Hague, To-day.

The cession of the Cameroons to Germany, would sever this vital line of communication; it would

The White Paper adds that cer- also intercept the western air route which have been circulating during

tain War Office functions carried between Great Britain and Souththe past few days, still persist. Africa, the French air link with Although no official information out on an agency basis for the Equatorial Africa and the Belgian is forthcoming, political circles ex- Admiralty, Air Ministry and with the Congo, and threaten the pect the Premier's resignation at Cvil departments are also to be British sea route to the East. an early date owing to divergencies transferred to the Ministry of

Supply. within the Cabinet.-Trans-Ocean.

Reuter.-

THREAT TO SOUTH AFRICA

A Germany reinstalled in South- West Africa would soon dominate the Union of South Africa from the air, while the pressure she would be able to exert from Tanganyika would constitute a threat sufficient "to bring England to heel on any issue where Germany wished her to be meek,"

NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN TURNS AUTHOR THIS MONTH

London, May 26. Mr. Neville Chamberlain has turned author at the age of 70, and in June his work, "The Struggle for Peace," will make its first appear

Mr. Steer concludes that "the reasons why Germany should not to-day be admitted to Africa are not absolute. They refer to a Ger- many which may pass away; whose own fantastic expenditure on arma-ance on book stalls throughout the ments may be her downfall.”

AALAND ISLAND POSTPONEMENT

STOCKHOLM, TO-DAY. THAT, THE BILL FOR FORTI- FICATION OF THE AALAND ISLANDS MAY BE WITHDRAWN, IS SUGGESTED IN. PRESS RE PORTS.

The difficulties over fortification, owing to Russian objection, it is stated, must be overcome before the question can be discussed by the Swediah Parliament-

Final decision is expecte taken to-day (Friday).

country.

"I admit frankly that during the last 20 years, there have been faults and failures in this direction and that at least some of our present troubles might have been avoided if greater wisdom had been shown at an earlier stage.

"But I believe that the lessons to

In it, the Premier will outline all his efforts for peace, since his acces-be learned from these failures have sion to the post of Prime Minister not been unnoticed and that the in May, 1997, The book covers the world is weary of perpetual excur- period until April, this year, when sions and alarms and would to-day he gave up his appeasement policy gladly join in a new effort to rule and concluded a mutual aid agree-itself more wisely if it were given ment with Poland.

In a brief preface, contents, of which were revealed to-day, Mr. Chamberlain affirms British deter mination not to give way before states attempt to domimate others

the chance.

Referring to his personal efforts to achieve world peace, he also writes, “The last six months haya deeply impressed my mind with the intense desire for the preservation. of peace existing among the peoples. þof every country.

He writes, "Let no one suppose "My efforts have been mocked by ance to such clainds (to some and denounced by others, but would involve denial | I believe that by the majority they lon's right to put-for- have been approved and that if Hoe has not yet been securely lished, we have át äng. rate so x escaped the calamity o

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