828 millions of marks and her exports to which at 1,386 millions.
Development, NOT Exploitation.
The principle of German colonization has been construction, not destruction, development, not exploitation. There was a time when the cry was raised, “the Germans are not good colonizers,” and there was a time when German inexperience in colonial work seemed to justify this cry. It should never be forgotten that English colonization to a large extent followed after the pioneer work—such as the early subjugation and pacification of the savages—had already been accomplished by the Spaniards, Dutch, Portuguese or French. Germany’s initial methods may have been far from perfect, but in later years the results under an improved system have been fruitful, as acknowledged by numerous English colonial experts whose opinions shall be quoted later.
Common Initial Errors.
Errors have undoubtedly been committed in Germany’s methods of colonization. Let the nation that has not committed such errors fling the first—Blue Book. “It would be un-German and pharisaical,” as I have openly declared on another occassion, “were we to contend that our colonial past is spotless. But our catalogue