Review. THE GERMANS AND AFRICA.1 BY EVANS LEWIN. VIEWED in the light of the Great War, German dealings with Africa assume a new colour and a sinister significance. It is deplorable to reflect that the Powers, who ought to be the leaders of civilization, instead of joining hands for the development of the resources of Africa, the suppression of its wrongs and the protection of its peoples, should have been chiefly occupied during the last thirty years in the scramble for territorial advantage and often the outwitting of other Powers-not to mention the introduction in some cases of new forms of slavery in the forcible exploitation of the labour and land of the African peoples. It is a sorry picture, and one to the bitter irony of which custom has too much blinded us. Probably no Power can show an entirely clean record, but we think it is generally true to state, as Earl Grey does in the preface to this book, that "Great Britain has acquired colonies either in order to protect ill-treated natives and to substitute peace, law, order and prosperity for tyranny, bloodshed, famine and war, or for legitimate purposes of trade." The colonizing aims of Germany have been widely different, and this book is a record of her African policy, of her deep-laid schemes and her far-reaching aims, which undoubtedly have been far too little noticed or understood in this country. The author traces the beginnings of the Colonial movement in Germany and shows how the desire for Colonies and expansion began to take definite shape after the achievement of German unity in 1871. The wide influence of the historian Von Treitschke, with his intense hatred of England, also did much to "rush Germany into Colonial enterprises." The present Kaiser regarded colonies as "diplomatic assets to be used in the furtherance of a world policy . . . and as levers with which to secure for Germany the position she requires." Mr. Lewin regards it as absolutely certain that the Germans had a great and far-reaching plan of absorption of the territories of other nations and that Germanism aimed at dominating central Africa. In successive chapters he deals with German action in South Africa, in South-West, and West Africa, and then turns to the Berlin Conference, to her colonizing designs in East Africa and the Anglo-German agreement. of 1890. Two chapters are devoted to the profound significance of her policy in the Congo and Morocco. Some of Germany's earliest plans were laid in South Africa, where the only British statesman who appears to have grasped the meaning of her policy was Sir Bartle Frere, who directed the attention of his Government 1 Cassell & Co. to the subject. Lord Odo Russell, on the other hand, then British Ambassador at Berlin, unfortunately assured the Foreign Office that the Germans had no inclination to acquire distant colonies. In 1883, the occupation by Germany of Angra Pequena, through the dilatoriness of Downing Street and the inexplicable indifference of the Cape Ministers to the importance of the issues, excited considerable enthusiasm in that country, and led to the scramble for territory, known as the "Partition of Africa." German Colonial policy has, as Lord Grey points out in his preface, always been accentuated by military considerations, and her aim has been to acquire strategical points for future conquest. Little wonder then that the methods they have adopted in their dealings with the native races have been singularly unfortunate and have produced deep-seated resentment. German Colonial officials have misunderstood the force of native sentiment, and unlike Britons, who in their long experience have developed a tradition of duty towards native races, have miserably failed to understand or conciliate the natives. The most striking example of the failure of German native administration is seen in South-West Africa, where the rebellion of the Herreros in 1994 was so ruthlessly put down that the natives were practically exterminated or driven into the desert fastnesses, at an enormous cost. General Botha, in speaking recently of the success of the Union Forces in German South-West Africa, said that the Herreros and other natives looked upon the advent of the Union troops as a deliverance, and that to-day they look to the Union for protection. In the Kamerun colony also there have been incessant native revolts involving no less than twenty-nine punitive expeditions between 1891 and 1903, while a similar state of things existed in German East Africa. But this ruthless policy has not justified itself by its results. Another cause of the failure of German administration has lain in the class of officials sent out. The author of The Evolution of Modern Germany is quoted as saying that while great crimes have been committed by high officials, "the entire record makes a terrible story of obliquity and moral deterioration." Mr. Lewin admits that of late years there has been a change in the German attitude to the natives, largely owing to the reforming energy of Herr Dernburg, who introduced a new spirit into official dealings with the Colonies. There has been, especially in East Africa, a great effort to introduce native education, and the foundation of a good educational system has been effectively laid. Now Ready. "NATIVE RACES AND PEACE TERMS." By JOHN H. HARRIS. Reprinted from "The Contemporary Review." 26.5 Published under the sanction and at the Offices of The Anti-Slavery & Aborigines Protection Society 51, Denison House, Vauxhall Bridge Road London, S.W. Anti-Slavery Reporter and Aborigines' Friend. JULY, 1916. [The Editor, whilst grateful to all correspondents who may be kind enough to furnish him with information, desires to state that he is not responsible for the views stated by them, nor for questions which may be inserted from other journals, The object of the journal is to spread information, and articles are necessarily quoted which may contain views or statements for which their authors can alone be held responsible.] Abolition of Indian Indentured Labour. Quarterly Motes. THE announcement that the Government has agreed to the abolition of the system of indentured labour from India to the Colonies is a momentous one, and our Committee has passed a resolution expressing its heartfelt thanks to Lord Hardinge, the ex-Viceroy, and its deep appreciation of his resolute action on this question, which has for so long exercised the Society. Lord Hardinge has replied, acknowledging the resolution in cordial terms, and regretting that his time is too fully occupied to permit of his receiving a deputation from the Society, as had been proposed. The abolition cannot take effect at once, and the question of Indians in the Colonies will still need careful attention from the Society, for, as Lord Hardinge has pointed out, mere abolition of the indenture system is far from settling all the difficulties of coolie labour emigration. Native College. IN February last, General Botha opened the new Native South African College in Cape Colony, adjoining the Lovedale Institute, whose founder and late Principal, Dr. Stewart, originated the idea of the College. The Native Affairs Commission of 1905 reported in its favour, but there was in many quarters a strong prejudice against educating natives, and the scheme has had to face opposition and many difficulties before it was realized. The natives have largely contributed to the necessary funds, the Transkeian General Council having guaranteed no less a sum than £10,000, while the Basutoland National Council also makes a liberal annual contribution. The College is founded on Christian and interdenominational lines, and is designed to provide higher education and training in Arts, Science, Agriculture and Commerce; one of its chief objects will be to supply competent and qualified teachers for the native schools all over the country. Investigation It will be remembered that nearly three years ago the Society established a fund for the purpose of investigating the treatment of native races in different parts of the world, it being felt to be highly desirable to have in hand a fund available |