INTERNATIONAL GRAB.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1368, 20 February 1912, Page 5

INTERNATIONAL GRAB.

GERMAN SOCIALIST IN PROTEST.

REPLY BY FOREIGN MINISTER,

By Teleerapli—Press Aesociation'-Oopyrirtil Berlin, February 18. Herr Lcdcbonr, tho well-known Socialist politician, speaking in the Keichstag, said that while iu 1859 Mr. Gladstone successfully protested in Naples against King "Bombu's" (King Ferdinand 11, of the Two Sicilies) conduct of agreements, England was now entering with barbaric Russia to plunder I'ersia. The Russian Government, he declared, was also in communication with Germanv.

• Herr Ledebour, referring to the Agadir incident, added that the evidence, showed that Germany intended to lay hands on Morocco.

Herr von Kidcrlen-'Waechtcr, Minister for Foreign Affairs, emphatically repudiated Herr Ledebour's unprecedented charges against a great neighbouring friendly State. He declared that compensation outside of Morocco was expressly mentioned at the first Kissongen interview, and Herr Ivlass, president of tho Pan-German Union, was informed in June that Germany did not wish to share Morocco, i Herr von Kidcrlcn Waechter denied telling anyone that Germany wanted a part of Morocco, or to advising a propaganda with that object.

Tho Frankfurter Zoitung declares that negotiations between Herr von Bethmann,Hollweg (Imperial Chancellor) and Sir Edward Grey of a general character are progressing. ARMAMENTS AND PEACE. ...SPEECH BY SIR EDWARD GREY.... London, February 18. Sir Edward Grey, in tho course of a second speech at Manchester, said: "Wo intend to preserve unimpaired our special relationships and friendships. Nothing therein is contemplated of nn aggressive policy towards or precludes goodwill to any. Wherever a suspicion or mistrust exists-we aro ready to clear it away. No nation ougjit to be offended if Great Britain maintained a proper margin of naval strength to meet any probable or likely combination, otherwise we risk being struck down in our own house without the power to resist it. The risk from which some nations protect themselves with large armies is one'to which they ought easily understand we cannot allow ourselves to be exposed."