WHAT THE GERMANS SAY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 520, 29 May 1909, Page 12

WHAT THE GERMANS SAY.

■ '':■ '■>■ -' ~* —-. -.-■ ; ' ■■ ■ NAVAL POLICY. ■ RELATIONS. WITHBRITAIN. ■'.';, Sir Edward Grey's great speech on navel policy focuses clearly and candidly the-ltojj-nsn view of ( tho international situation, and the possibilities of ou understanding with Germany. Obviously (says "l'ublio Opiii- • ion")i liorraany ie equally entitled to clear and candid viows about its own place in the world, and what it will or will not do. Here are some important statements made in tiermany. ... ....... ■'. . Is Agreement Possible?, First with regard to the possibility, of agreement on naval matters betweon the two countries. : - ','■'•.• The "Berlin Tagoblatt" declares that "the question is uot whether Germany has the right-Ho reject an understanding with Eng-' land,, but whether such a course would be wise. ~ l'rincb von Bulow well knows that i such ah understanding would, bo a most skilful'and desirable policy, but he fears the wrath of tho patriots: The moment for the opening up of au Anglo-German entento was never more favourable than at present. lt» absolute reje6tion could never bo more regrettable than now.' To-day, is the mom o! .. Barjn von Aehrenthal's victory. The anthority of the Triplico nnd thorcfore of Germany IB strengthened afresh. To-day a step to- ■ '.wards.'an accord would no longer be rntop- , preted as a sign of weakness." ■■■.-,. ' ... ifrlnofl Bulow and Disarmament. || A very important statement on the Ger--I,'mari: Government's position wis : made bj ■ Prince Bulow Jn v the Reichstag.- He said that the general position of the Federated govern-. ments towards the disarmament idea had been stated in his .speeches of April 30, 1907, and December 10, 1908. Sinoo then no formula had been produced which would take account of the great geographical,, economic, ■ military, and political differences between the [■'peoples. So long as a practical basis.of discuseiori.was laclring, the German Government could seo no promise of euocoss'in ; u«gotia> tione between two or between soveral Powere. They olaimed that their attitude wae based upon considerations of humanity and of peace, in full accord with the peaceful tendenoy or ;the whole policy of Germany for many dooaderpart. Their maintenance of this,poini 'of view was no evidence of an unfriendly diei.[position, and-that none tho less because they 'made uso of their natural right to refuse to discuss Gorman domestic questions with forleign countries. They would continue to pur- ' suethoir policy of peaoo.-rSo reports 'The Times"-Berlin correspondent. ;l ■ Cormany'3 Naval Policy.: \ • As to the German naval programme, Princ* Bulow declared that:—"The;Federated Qov-, ornmentß entertain ;nothoughta of entering into ,competition with British sea-power by moans of the construction ■ of the.German ■ navy. According to the provisions of the Navy liaw, the immovable, purpose of-Ger-man naval:polioy is.'founded .upon the fact that we desire .to .create"our naval.armft' ! ments solely for tho protection of our coasts and our trade. It is, moreover, an indisput'ablo ;iact i thai' : tb.o 'prbgramme of our naval' ccnstruptionlies opon in absolute publicity. We have nothing.'to keep Bccrot, nothing to hide, and it is not intended to accelerate the carrying.out of our construction programme beyond 4he limits of time contemplated by ; the law. -All rumours to the contrary are. false,,..ln the-autumn ,of .1912, : at .the earliest, ,we shall have ready for . service the. thirteen large new Bhipe, including throe■•>/ . moured,cruisers, proyided by.law," , ■Admiral TlrplU Explains. . : Admiral von Tirpitz also, has niddo important statoments in the Reichstag:—"Nowj , as: previously, we; build all .ships in about thirty-six, months—about 'forty months in the small yards. To that period are added trials, [which last assprtion. • that, with aview ,to',!'m'6re; rapid construction, i the icpntrnctsi'iforuthei bower ships are placeß- looririr". .tKan'iis 'autiwedirby:; the* estimates is* inaccurate!; ; ; Ii repeat once more with emphasis that,' as' the Imporial Ohan■cellor.has..already said,:-we shall liave'-ready for use in-19i2 ten Dreadnoughts and-threo Invincibles—in all thirteen, and not seventeen, large m o&£ji, ships—and that not in the spring, but in : tlie autumn;' How far-it ie' right to base comparisons of naval strength upon the number of Dreadnoughts is a question' which'l-shall not hero discuss," concluded Admiral Tirpitz. :. '. ,

German Press Opinions. ■ "The view that. Germany is provoking British expenditure: is, noli held hero," writes the Berlin correspondent of the .'"Chronicle," ; "It is,'in , factj and ono'hoars ad ilauseamthat Germany is building her float for the protection of German trade and, Ge-rman-coasts. Nothing grows . more ovident than the firth determination,of this' country to fulfil her naval , programme 'undeterred by, what England, may do. . This y. ovening more- than one. journal points out that . if British publio opinion insists- : on the provocative nature of German-naval designs, the feeling of resentment' against this country, which will bo inovitablo in. consequence will result in a similar feeling against England in Germany. •''■-' V' : "V' ■ ; i . "The 'Vossiche-Zoitung' calls in question Sir E. Grey's right:to : ask that German designs for the future be made known to the British Admiralty,:omitting to point out that Sir E. Groy > (>nly : asks for.,this on condition that, the British •Admiralty makes a similar statement, to' Germany. . .. ...' ' "The Berlin 'Post' dismisses the British concern about the future _with the roniark that the building of, a British fleet is a matter purely for, the British taxpayer. . Hβ can build as many ships as ho can pay for: .it is his,''.concert! alone. . 'When all is said,' says the same journal, .'herb, as in England, }(',e are under theipowor of a.dire-necessity, and, should the, terrible moment of. war arrive, which: God forbid,; both natione will have to remember the old Roman proverb , that to be prepared for: war; is the best guarantee for. ! peaoe,''' .'' '.' v. , '.. .- ;., No Basis of Equality. ' ; ,• ■ .-, The, "Kreuu -ZoitungV.;, says' .that "England's foreign policy now, as formerly, sooks to reduce Germany to an inferior position, j "Only on this basis, ,, says the, Conservative organ,; "does .England think of conclud- ' ing with Germany an arrangement concerning armaments, whereby England , would at any time be free_ to meko an end forthwith of Gormany's position , as a scal'ower and of v her, overseas trade,' for Sir Edward -Groy says, with, creditable candour, that such an arrangement could Viiot be concluded on a basis of equality, but only on ono of superiority for tlio British Fleet. ' Of course,- no l'owor which had, not already lost, hope in" itself and was despairing of.tho future could pnter into such ■ an, arrangement; Only dying people could assume the role imputed by, , . ''.'\'' • '.. •' ; , . In conclusion l the "Krouz Zeitung" 01presses the opinion "that a sincero. rapprochement between Germany arid England, whicli wonld eliminate a'l danger of a war- , ' like collision, 'would...increase confidence in peace without any cessation of armaments."