THE SHADOW OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1224, 5 September 1911, Page 7

THE SHADOW OF WAR

OUTLOOK MORE HOPEFUL, GERMAN PRESS STILL GRAVE IN TONE. SINISTER ACTIVITY. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright (Rec. September 5, 6.15 a.m.) London, September L Tho. .newspaper correspondents agreo that a more hopeful spirit prevails in Berlin regarding tho Moroccan negotiations. Tho chief point presenting difficulties relates to safeguarding German industry in Morocco. • Tho "Daily Telegraph's" correspondent at Tangier reports that three thousand French soldiers from Casablanca havo been ordered to occupy Marrakesh. GERMAN PRESS GRAVE. THE DANGER CONFRONTING GERMANY. (Rec. September 5, 0.15 a.m.) Berlin, September 4. The newspapers are full of articles written mostly in the gravest tone, and dwelling on the danger which after forty-ono years again confronts Germany on Sedan Day. The "Norddeutsclier Zeitung" asks whether in view of the gravity of tho outlook all has been done to ensure that the high posts in the army aro adequately filled. The journal points out that General Sir J. D. French., of the British Army, has been inspecting the French frontier defences, and that relations witli Great Britain are severely strained. The concentrating of the fleet in the Baltic for reviews and manoeuvres is deprecated, as not a single battleship is left in tho North Sea. SOCIALISTS AND PEACE. BERLIN DEMONSTRATION. (Rec. September 5, 0.15 a.m.) Berlin, September i. A erowd numbering a hundred thousand persons, including women and children, obeyed tho summons of the Social Democratic leaders to demonstrate" at Treptow Park against the warlike agitation over Morocco, and for peace between tho peoples. Ten platforms were utilised, the speakers being Reichstag deputies or candidates. ' The utmost order prevailed. BRITAIN, FRANCE, AND RUSSIA. POWERS ACTING IN CONCERT. Paris, September 3. M. do Selves, French Minister for Foreign Affairs, received Sir Francis Bertie (British Ambassador in Paris) and M. Isvolsky (Russian Ambassador). The paper "Lo Temps" states that tho interviews between them showed an entiro community of views between tho three Cabinets. RESERVISTS RECALLED. GERMANS HURRY HOME FROM LONDON. London, September 3. A number of German reservists in Loudon havo been ordered to Tejoin the colours, somo within twenty-four hours. It is stated that the short notice given is ' intended to test tho elt'ectivcness of tho resorve for rapid mobilisation. ACTIVITY IN BELGIUM. FRONTIER FOIITS STRENGTHENED. (Rec. September i, 11.10 p.m.) Brussels, September 4. There is much activity in military circles and the defences on the Meuso have been strengthened. The forts at Liege and Namur aro being supplied with ammunition and food as in wartime. SPAIN AND MOROCCO. DIFFERENCES WITH FRANCE. Madrid, September 3. Replying to the French criticisms alleging the inopportunenoss of Spain's intention to occupy lfri, southward of Agadir, under tlio Hispano-Moroccau. Treaty of 18C0, it is 6emi-officially explained that tho subject was discussed threo years ago, and that Spain's resolve is due to Morocco's non-fulfilment of a defmito promise in respect to "Spain's rights. PRAYERS FOR PEACE. (Rec. September i, 9.10 p.m.) j London, September i. Tho Bishop of Winchester (Dr. Talbot), in preaching to tho members of the British Association at i'ortsea, asked t'he people to pray that the peace of Europe might be preserved at this' very critical time. I SOCIALIST ADVICE. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, September i. At a meeting of tho Socialist party tonight it was decided by resolution to forward the following telegram to the Prime Minister:—"Tho Christchurch branch of ,tho New Zealand Socialist party urges tho Prime Minister and the Government to ignore tho scaremongers of Europe regarding the Morocco trouble, and advises them not to repeat the Dreadnought mistake nor in any way to commit this Dominion without first consulting the people.—Cooke (secretary)." HAS MOROCCO ANY RIGHTS? INTERESTING FRENCH VIEWS. Tho "Matin," of Paris, which showed extraordinary information during the crisis on July 21, published the following from its London correspondent:— "On Saturday tho 'Matin' announced that Sir Francis Bertie, the British Ambassador iu Paris, was received by M. Caillnux, the Premier, and that the interview, was about important affairs. Sir Francis liertie arrived on Sunday ovoning in London. From information which I have received from the best informed sources, tho chief reason why tho Ambassador has come to confer with his Government is this:— "Germany has demanded from France in the course of the conversation at Berlin that tho section of the French Congo should be cedfd to her which stretches from tho Sanga to the coast. Franco retaining only the hinterland. This demand has evoked a general indignation in England, and justly so, because the dangers that would result to British interests in Africa from such an immense German colonial expansion in Central Africa, aro realised. "Ought France to Tosist any and every German demand in this region? Or could she, if tho conversations at Berlin should still converge in that direction, admit up to a certain point a rectification of tho frontier of the- German Cameroons? "This is, I am assured, tho question which Sir Francis Bertie has put before his Government. And, according to my , information, the point of view of tho British Cabinet is as follows:— "France must be left free tn find eomo other ground in which to arrange a definitive agreement with Germany on the I Moroccan question. But if this wound is

more easily to l)e foimd on tho frontier of tho Cicrmnn Cameroon?, Orcnt. llriliiin would not oppose- it on conditions thai tlio cession was a reasonable one, and Hint Trance retained a very largo portion of the const, if not the entiro coast, nnd Hint the Belgian Congo should at no point adjoin tlio German Cameroons." Writing on tho evo of his departure from Lisbon to South America, but wilhuut knowledge of tho latest developments, SI. Jaures, in tho "ilumanitc," did not disguise : his belief that a return to tho Algecirns settlement is the only wav out. "But," ho added ironically, "to talk in this business of right, of loyalty, of respect for treaties is to stamp oneself a simpleton and incompetent, and I hesitate wretchedly; I have not sufficient heroism to brave ridicule." "Wo arc told," he said, "that tho diplomacy of France and Germany arc in agreement on certain general lim'.s—that is to say, as far as ono can penct.rato these awful and august obscurities—on tho basis of tlie compensations to bo accorded to Germany in return for tho free hand that. France claims in Morocco. I do not ask in this regard—-What, then becomes of Morocco herself? What account is taken of Morocco's rights, of tho guarantees which international treaties have given her, after we have violated these treaties by paying a sort of price for her? What becomes of the security of the peoples? What becomes of international good faith? . . i . Theso compromises (he concluded) that are dominated and ruled by no sense of right are not easy to conclude." The last phrase has a ring of prophecy.