But no remunerative occupation will ever be found within the borders of the existing German Empire for the whole population, however favourable our international relations.

We shall soon, therefore, be faced by the question, whether we wish to surrender the coming generations to foreign countries, as formerly in the hour of our decline, or whether we wish to take steps to find them a home in our own German colonies, and so retain them for the fatherland.
There is no possible doubt how this question must be answered.

If the unfortunate course of our history has hitherto prevented us from building a colonial Empire, it is our duty to make up for lost time, and at once to construct a fleet which, in defiance of all hostile Powers, may keep our sea communications open.
We have long underestimated the importance of colonies.

Colonial possessions which merely serve the purpose of acquiring wealth, and are only used for economic ends, while the owner-State does not think of colonizing in any form or raising the position of the aboriginal population in the economic or social scale, are unjustifiable and immoral, and can never be held permanently.

"But that colonization which retains a uniform nationality has become a factor of immense importance for the future of the world.