The Dominion. FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1912. ENTENTE OR ALLIANCE?

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1460, 7 June 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1912. ENTENTE OR ALLIANCE?

The suggestion made by the Mornincj I'osl, that the lEntente between France and' Great Britain should become an alliance, is a singularly appropriate rejoinder to what appears to have been a somewhat dismal symposium in Xord and Mud on Germany's policy and Germany's fleet. To that symposium Mr._ A. J. Balfour's expression of opinion, judging by the brief cablegrams received on the subjcct, seems to have been, though dignified'and statesmanlike, entirely supererogatory. "The uneasiness wherewith the 'nation contemplates possible developments of German policy," he declared, "throws a shadow across England, irrespective of party or creeds. ' He contended, and rightly, that if Germany were paramount in British home waters she could conquer or starve Great Britain, whereas if the English were tenfold masters of the North Sea they would be unable to conquer or starve Germany. That explanation and defence of Great Britain's naval policy has been iterated and reiterated week by week, year after year, without the least'apparent impression being made upon the Kaiser, his Ministers, or the mass of the German people. Obviously semi-apologetic utterances such as these are pleasing to our Teutonic friends. Surely Great Britain's Ministers, statesmen, and other men of eminence are not to continue indefinitely exhibiting before the_ world this humble and contrite spirit. It would be well if many of England's public men would remember the terse rules of conduct laid down for himself by high-spirited Dr. Joavett, the famous Master of Balliol, namely, "never advise, never explain, never apologise—let them howl." Germany and her naval policy should be for a time ignored by speakers in Great Britain. All efforts made to make England's position clear have been viewed in Germany, with something very like contempt. No German of note and influence in recent years has indicated that in the smallestdegree lie lias been inlluenced by the frank and friendly overtures of England. Professor Dei.urcok's brusque, reply to Mr. Bai.fouis :uul his remarkable allegation that England had compelled Germany to build a fleet reveals the futility ol reasoning with Germany. Lord Haldaxk has been on another mission to Berlin: of an unofficial character, it has been _ explained, Great Britain's War Minister contributes to the Xord and h<id symposium, and, we are informed, en-

lnrges the peace argument, from- literary and philosophical traditions.' Those traditions .may provide .ai-gu ment of the most convincing .nature and, on the other hand, tlie.y nja.y not. Lord HaiMxe's 'theories,: we arc afraid, are too academic- -to appeal strongly to tli.e average German. However, lie wi'l-l have no.cause, to complain : his. i'pro'posit.icins premise to meet with no move success, than the prosaic and the pi:a,ctieii.L But those attempts ,a:!i tnipprovli.emcnt with Gerrtirvny' arc .not confined to the English. Every country proditces its social reformer of some variety or other, and even France is found provid'i'.ilg. ait advocate f.oi- ■, improving the relations be.tw/isn -that country and Germany. As f.ili" baeli,. as 1909 Bahon: d'F.stouhxli.i.ks dB Constant, ■member of the Senate of France, spoke in -the Prussian House of Lords, Berlin- on the theme : -'The Franco-German Uaiijirocbemi nt. a pre-requisite of the " -peace of the world." The Frc'n'pii -Baron's Ji/p'pe.a-r----ance in Berlin seeiiis to 'nave been even less fruitful of good: results than the many missions of 'tlie British Viscount. Tii. -f.tt.ge' of 'f-ijet's sitch: as these the objection's: raised- to. converting the Enlenir into an Alliance lose some of their force. The Manchester Liu or (lion deprecates; ,-iii alliance, deeming; it unwise Ho make the international situation more unstable and to greatly; extend the war area." This, we take it. is but another form .of- the old argument that a treaty of den-nct. betwixt Great Britain aiid Franco would be displeasing to. Ge.niia.ny, .would-'; serve only to call down upon France the wrath of the Fatherland, and. that when war iiisue;dfG,crmaiT troops would overrun; and co n quet not only France, but also Belgium and Holland. From what- M.' -Piciiox, the French' Foreign; said on that memorable .occasion in. the Chamber of. Deputies, there can lw no doubt that'beh'ind the /;'«/«*/<•_ is already a clear, and comprehensive scheme of mutual defence. Great Brita'inyjStos- Siifp:®* at. onestage of the Moroccan im!/ror/>in was prepared to land troops on the European coast Further, the British "after.,tlie- French navies In the. - event of war would have fought together. If. these.things could bo done tinder an IJiitcnte, what more cdurcl'liaye; b.pen ; .a'ccom-. plished under' an Alliaiice } Should hostilities ever,break out—and ihfty are. not likely'to.dp so while the Brir tish Navy is supreme —Germany, in planning her' .campaign, would be not greatly consiil--; eration whether . Great . .Britain . and Franee were bound together by an entente or an alliance. As for extending the area of thn war, German military strategists .have, never con-, cealed their plans of operation- 1 hat the crushing of Franca and theinvasion and annexation;, oi'' 'Belgium and Holland are .a.'necessary prelude, ; to "decisive operations against England." The 1 J aris The Times consiclcrsthe--. Knfnite much more effective as. a.' deterrent, than an alliance.Hyou.ld; t.P- i'xeejit upon the land force, which is.not available. A statement of this kind must carry little weight in view, of the fact that the full proyisionsv of "the; Entente have never been.published. After JI. Pichon's speech, iio <>no can believethat the Entente is:a mere friendly,: sympathetic understanding, and nor thing more Bi supenoi naval strength, in the eyes of France, doubtless suffices- -or alrnosfc suffices— to balance hacllstiThct ViitfeViorias; a military Power..iThe conferences at Biserta, Mr. Asqiith, Mr Churchill, and Lord Kitchener with- the Admiral commanding' the French naval' base, cannot be disriii&netl |;is- without, significance. Few-critics, are. found nowadays td-' ; dippara^e''- <^': i 3rii'isli 1 Fleet or the French Army. ■ Acknow-. . ledged aufchoViti ! esr'' ,; --!!?f!lifeyp;- that' France as a military Power is. atthe ' present time almost equal to ' Germany. The imme'diate. future, therefore, need be viewed w-itli no trepida-1 , tion. If Great-; Britain and-France desire to enter, into' a firm and for--1 mal alliance the world has yet to , learn that Germany can say them nay. : !