39

The “Equitable Claim.”

Germany’s claim to the recovery of her colonies is based upon the irrefutable fact that, by every written or unwritten law of colonisation, they are now as much her soil as the soil of Pomerania. Her claim is based upon something higher than mere expediency or interest. It is based upon a moral right, as this right is in turn reinforced by an imperative need. She bases her claims to the recovery of her property upon arguments which must receive the sanction of all honour­able men, upon those ideals which President Wilson has enunciated in the Fifth Article of his Programme.

“The free, open-minded and absolutely impartial ad­justment of all colonial claims, based on the strict observance of the principle that in determining all such questions of sovereignty, the interests of the pop­ulation concerned must have equal weight with the equitable claims of the government whose title is to be determined.”

Rights Above Interests.

Germany and her enemies have both accepted this liberal doctrine of the American President as the basis for peace negotiations. Any deviation from its clearly- formulated clauses woidd prove a flagrant violation of a solemn agreement. Germany has nothing to fear from a “free, open-minded and absolutely impartial adjustment,”