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Show ALLIES TO KEEP ALL GERMAN COLONIES Japan Insists Upon Retaining Re-taining Kiao Chau and the Pacific Islands in Which They Have Established Es-tablished an Interest as a Result of War With Central Powers. MANY CHANGES IN MAP OF AFRICA New Zealand to Hold Samoa; New British Government Under Lloyd George Reverses the Policy of Asquith Regarding Extension of Possessions. LOXDON, Feb. 10 (correspondence of the Associated Press). The death" knell to Germany's colonial possessions has been sounded, so far as the entente allies can effect flat result, by the almost simultaneous announce'ment of the British minister of colonies, Mr. Long; the Japanese minister of. foreign affairs, Mr. Motono, and the prime minister min-ister of Xew Zealand, Mr. Maesev, -who voiced the view of Australia, as well as New Zealand. Together these statements state-ments declare there Trill be no return to Germany of her colonies in Africa, Asia or tie Pacific, This attitude is not only held by Japanese and the British colonies chiefly chief-ly concerned, but it has the backing of the British and French governments, which have the largest interest in colonial co-lonial Africa and Asia. It develops the fact also that the late Asquith government gov-ernment was opposed to any extension of British colonial possessions in Africa, whereas the new Lloyd George government govern-ment approves this extension as in line with the aspirations of the British colonies colo-nies in Africa. This in turn has established estab-lished that there will be a general re-shifting re-shifting of African colonies, so that the possessions of England, France, Portugal and Belgium will be made more homogeneous, instead of being scattered and irregular in outline, as at present. Japan's Attitude. Japan's attitude toward holding the German colony of Kiao Chau, in China, and the Pacific islands, occupied by the Japanese fleet, came np when the French draft of the reply to President Wilson was being cabled to the various vari-ous entente governments for approval. Japan approved the terms as far as stated on Serbia, Belgium and in other respects, but pointed out that the terms omitted any reference to the German colonies of Kiao Chau and the Pacific islands in which Japan has established an interest-France interest-France and England' thereupon replied re-plied to Japan that it had been deemed desirable in answering Mr. Wilson's request re-quest for terms not to make these terras embrace everything which might come up later, but to confine them for the present to the readjustment of territory in Europe. Later on, it was pointed, out, the future of German territorial possessions outside of Europe would be considered, so that Japan's rights would be properly safeguarded and' secured se-cured for future determination. This was satisfactory to Japan, who then gave approval to the joint reply to Mr. Wilson stating the allies' "main terms." Motono's Statement, The Japanese embassy has given Japan's understanding of the arrangement arrange-ment as stated by Foreign Minister Motono. He said: "The absence of any allusion to tha future disposal of the German colonies has justly attracted the attention of the public in Japan. That point, however, how-ever, lias never escaped the attention of the imperial government. The reply to the American note does not eertainly contain all the conditions of peace to be demanded by the allied powers. They reserve the riht to present these conditions con-ditions when the terms of peace are discussed. Keference is made to this point in the note to the United States. In order to avoid all misunderstandings, we took steps to safeguard our right when we addressed our adhesion to the draft by the Krench government, and I am happy to say that a satisfactory understanding exists among all the allies al-lies on this point." Th" attitude of the new British nd- (Contiaued on Pass ThreJ J ALLIES TO KEEP THE JEI! CKIES (Continued from Page One.) ministration was announced about the same time in the statement of the new minister of colonies in the Lloyd George cabinet, who, in saying he spoke with "knowledge and full responsibility with regard to the German colonies of which we had acquired possession since the war hetra.n and as the representative of the vast overseis dominions," said aa to the British policv toward those colonies: "I.et no man think that their struggles for these ctlouies have been in vain. Iet no man think that these colonies will ever return tn the German rule. H Is impossible. impos-sible. Our ovfrnoa em pirp ..Vliij erate any suggestion oTV- ' have been able to rectify mistakes since the war began, and it now rests with the pedple of this country to help to an early and satisfactory peace, and to take care that they prepare before the war ends to face that other bitter and ruthless contest in trade and commerce which will follow hereafter." Colonial Views, About the same time, the view of Australia Aus-tralia and Xew Zealand as to German island colonies in the Pacific was expressed ex-pressed by Sir Joseph Ward, finance minister min-ister of Xew Zealand, and W". F. Massey, prime minister of New Zealand, both of whom will be in the coming imperial conference. con-ference. Sir Joseph Ward said: "I saw with regret in the note sent to the United States by the allies In reply to the German peace offer that there was i no reference to the manner in which the conquered German colonies are to be treated. There was not a word of reference refer-ence to those islands in the Pacific which Australia and Xew Zealand had taken from the Germans, and which those dominions were determined should never go back again to the Germans. Unless peace conditions provide for the reversion to Great Britain of those German territories, ter-ritories, particularly New Guinea and Samoa, which had been won by the blood I and treasure of Australia and New Zea-j Zea-j land, the people of those dominions would never rest content." Samoa for New Zealand. Prime Minister Massey said at the same time: "Xew Zealand holds Samoa and means to retain it. I am sure the Australian people feel the same as to the enemv islands which they have occupied. When the war began there was no question of taking territory. But after what we have seen in Poland, we in the Pacific would not feel secure if German bases were to be permitted in the southern hemisphere with German warships within a day or two's steaming from our settlements No we must hold what we've taken and this attitude toward the German colonies will be the one taken by Australia and New Zealand in the imperial conference" These views are so uniform from oti ! P-ritlsh. Japanese and Dominion author!-I ties having an interest in the German colonies that retention of these colonies and a readjustment of their boundaries' has become pretty thoroughlv understood. under-stood. The change of the map will be made chiefly in Africa, where the we-t coast now j3 a patchwork of little colonies alternating between France, PortuSl' Knsland and Belgium, and which are expected ex-pected to be merged eventually Into lan-e connected aieas. capable of development m railway telegraph and trade communication, communi-cation, and each part of an imperial domain do-main in Africa France in the wet Fv-gland Fv-gland in the east and south and Belgium and Portugal sharing In this community o Interests. |