PEACEMAKER OR PEACE-BREAKER

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 292, 3 September 1908, Page 6

PEACEMAKER OR PEACE-BREAKER

German professions of peace towards' the world at large, and Britain in particular, are strikingly at variance with German actions, and with the frequent outbursts >of tho German semi-official Press. To-day tho world nods approval of the pacific declarations of Prince Bulow ; to-morrow it is perturbed by a bollicoso declaration from the Kaiser or an act of indiscretion on the part of a German official calculated to offend the susceptibilities of one of the great Powers, possibly leading to a period of " strained relations." Germany's " intentions " are always of a quite innocent naturo if official explanations aro to bo believed; yet strangely enough they inevitably " arouse suspicion." Latterly we havo had some rather rapid changes, in the front Germany has presented to her rivals. Mr. Lloyd George, on his recent visit to Berlin, met with a hearty response to his declarations of amity, and tho Anglo-German friendship movement received stimulus in various directions. Then came tho outburst from a section of tho German Press protesting at the combination' of nations to " hem in Germany," and declaring that Germany could hold her own against the world. Following on this the Kaiser delivered one of his characteristic speeches at Strasburg, in which ho " rejoiced to, be ablo to express his deepest conviction that the pcaco of Europe is not in danger; " and, finally we have the "incident" in Morocco, described by the Tangier correspondent of the London Times as " a most regrottable step." The German Consul, acting with great secrecy, left Tangier for Fez, presumably in order to resume his post at the court of Mulai Hafid, the new Sultan by force of arms, whom the Powers have not yet recognised. This stop is suspected of being dosigned to foster Germany's desire to bo considered by Mulai Hafid as the first Power to recognise tho new Sultan, and thus to. establish a closer relation between the, Sultan and Germany than exists between Mulai Hafid and any of the other Powers. According to the German official version, tho Consul made his secret mission for quite another purpose," and one entirely removed from politics, but however innocent Germany's intentions may have been, the bad offect remains. Tho Algeciras Conference is not a pleasant memory for Germany, despite professions to the contrary, and ,Germany would dearly like to score over trance and Britain in Morocco. Speaking to a French interviewer the German Chancellor, Prince Bulow, romavked: "You may be sure that we aro not going to make any difficulties, or raise any obstacles, for you in Morocco. Wo will bo faithful to the spirit of the agreement of Algeciras." It is singularly unfortunate that since that profession of loyalty to an agreement arrived at " with mutual goodwill and moderation," to use tho Princc's own words, thero should have been so many occasions for regarding, Germany's attitude in rcspoct to Moroccan affairs with suspicion and distrust. And so it is in world politics generally. By the British nation especially, German professions are almost universally regarded as covering some ulterior motive. Posing through the mouthpiece of tho nation as the Peacekeeper of the World, her actions repeatedly causo her to be suspectcd as the probablo pcacc-brcaker. Tho Moroccan incident may lead to unpleasant complications—it will at least tew further weds at dLutrurt*.