The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1912. FRANCE AND GERMANY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1469, 18 June 1912, Page 4

The Dominion. TUESDAY, JUNE 18, 1912. FRANCE AND GERMANY.

French and English newspapers continue intent_ on devoting attention to the relations at present existing between France and Germany. M. Caillaux's irregular pourparlers with Germany created uneasiness in England and indignation in France. The latter circumstance is of first importance in considering what the attitude of French Ministers may be towards Germany on the one hand, and on the other, towards the Triple Entente. M. Caillaux was blamed, and rightly, for carrying on a secret political intrigue with his country's-rival and enemy, destined, if. pursued, to undermine and in

time destroy France's friendly understanding with Great Britain. But the future will probably reveal the fact that Germany, here again, was the aggressor, and that France's Finance Minister was merely insufficiently strong to resist influences emanating from the Wilhelmstrasse. That Germany has made many efforts to win France to her side can now be said to rank as a historic truth, Bismarck's Recollections, for example, brought to light the "confidential dealings" Gambetta had with an emissary of the German Chancellor. Correspondence between Count H. vox Donnersmarck and Bisjiarck, published some time ago, show the French statesman to have been the tool and the dupe of Germany. Then the aid of France was wanted' against Italy, and Bisjiarck desired at the same time to internally weaken tho Republic. A recent writer in the Quarterly Review has many interesting things to say illustrative of Bismarck's un-

derground methods. 'Concerning Gambetta he lias the following: '■While trying to deceive Bismarck he did all.the time unsuspectingly what the Chancellor wanted him to do. Gambetta contributed to establish tho colonial, anti-clerical, ultrapacific but internally divided Republic which Bismarck longed to see strike roots in France; and he did so with the happy light-heartedness ot perfect' innocence. Bismarck remains a model to the diplomats of Berlin, and the intriguing which he began within a few years of the Franco-German war, there are sound reasons for believing, remains to-day part of the fixed foreign policy of Germany. France's Ministries lack stability, seemingly in their foreign policy as in their tenure of office. But behind the Ministry, which may be reached and influenced by Germany, are tho French people whom Germany can neither reach nor influence. Public opinion in France is hostile to Germany, and while ,that opinion remains as it is, an amicable understanding, say, on the lines of tho Triple Entente between (lie two countries' stands altogether outside the region of the possible. ''Public opinion has always been the chief factor in France," writes Hilaire Beli.oc in his paper, The Eye-Wit-ness. _ Mr. Bfxloc, though somewhat erratic and flamboyant, is familiar with French national sentiment and realises the value which, at heart, the millions of France attach to the friendship of Groat Britain. .He writes of tlit* reappearance () f France's military power, pointing out that "no military excellence was of real avail to the French until the French themselves had grasped it. They did not fully grasp it- -tin; mass of the nation was not awake to it—until the crisis of last summer. Last summer for the first, time in the present generation of Iking men the whole Frcuch people desired war, challenged it, had they possess-

Ed a strong cxecutiye would 'have | waged it. iviid,. as ihey .mm" ewn-IH dently helipye, \WMi.ld: liiu*e wnged il, \ SUCCL'KKfll.i;l.Y'.'"'' \V!ISf fjiiVf! Polllidi v i!f« . and hope, to flip 'I'Veneli 'peoj*!*; )>«!,. the know'fcdgs jiuit th'iinl lWj.tit.iui was on the'i : r i s'i'd.iv--tiiaf all l.he jn-iglji-of the Br'ifi'sl.i Navy wo.njc-1 liis exerted on fheiii behalf, securing; at last the ioiig'-l.ofllvt'd-for "licraHplie.'' France lias .gi;eatpr mred v'{ iiritwh ; aid than Britain has uf asyrs.t.ah.ce; from the .%eneh iind now' j.t ■woirid. seem that the greaf 'body of f hij ■ French nation. Undersbuui and ii;p.= preciato the Value fp th.pm i"»f ;t'ii.j Triple Rntcitic t jSF, .llivNpijvt'A, early thi&;<ypivh, Wrote in.ilis Fhiqvir. that, in coiise'q.iien.ee (i.;f liiiiiiee's r-E* : emergence as. agfeatimiUtiiry Britain woiitld incline; ii). flip fii.tu.r,e to coniproiiiisd \yj:th Germany, That., to-day, se'e'nis- ..to. be. iiiei eliiuige of policy drp'aae'cT by' iErance,

Last mbn'tilrwlieii: .Ba.ron vpx. BieDEnsTEiN's*'fra'iis|of froriv tinojile tfl'-.'Loh.tjon,.' \\iii a<n ! hoi!haed.,.' the Frencli..;. ; p;e'bp'le. ;s:a'jv- ,'in the p'r.e:= sence of stlia'fr ; as|u.tci '.d.ijil.diiiat. *' ; i.n London ivvdaiigcr to . .'the Jfiilcikc with Englaiid.. lieassuring telegrams went;'' |rpm .lipnsTbri tp the French pap'e'.rsf coiifidpnce. 'being iv!'tj- : inately _ ei-pfijsseid/ tliaiti' '''{i-r'e'jili Bii--tain will frpiii iflio fS,. Irntr- ('H/v/&/ : /^"''. i :'The.i , n,i;r aftftiide: of the Frririfclri tp%rcls v .Gey-; many can'n;o't ; .fiilly. .be, ..uli.de.fsto.gd.: from forniiiT f.i;.6'ni; official bulletin^,'.;Mif if is liipt iyifji: ( often |vi stfitijigly vivid form, r jmp'iie : parfi'CAifaflyi v jn ■ articles an'cl;l)cijjikis 'of;it;i'jtyp : L:. iii the Corn It ill J/rvj7f/:0f(?;:fp"r? Aiigiist Jasf. yearonc .yisi'fed LtiftaiiiC: .tiiC previous yc'aryTcliriteS Ills enccs. is : spokeh. :tp: as she iW. the afternopii^siniC. ceeds: ''Hervhiisbaridj. '.she .jiiioiidly: informed rii6,^hsic!;-^Ijbp'ii..,a-.is'ottlieriVfyT France, a Her son had Arihiy,.' and her graiAlsoii: .*as :n;o'w Id has, nodding-iipr:ho>i;fl, i.n".:tlipi;cli> rectiou of3lctz--at ..fpg'ir' ment was :fhere;..; 'PHiKiprE waav;;a.t; present atyrpiiie'ioir : furilpiigiii .Ij.ii.fc I he remainediiiiiivvhis:''rifPn't '<ili;'i,.cl;iiy> ■ 'Why? Is^.JiGv"u6.t;^vt?ll'?'' :; l /iiske'ei..: 'Oh yes, MpiisieiiiS;;.b.iif;':.'the'..uiiif6rm'., Philippe b;;flfcjii!j7';aiid;dp ; e's::rjpC \yisii' to give The peasant jiii G ; ci'-' man. repiipdv;' iiV French. Did; : .he';;ndt'i;s'pcak.?.'G : he asked, aricl^the;lrepf^;Wa;si?-^ : K}s>. but only unclcr i.ccsiiip'ulsiliiiv^''.... "§& doubt the ;;bittcrnesi'.:of : iFrenclv within treme. It to isVifpuiitl i:in : varying degreesi/. : &f i.' .'intensity',: throughpiitiiSthej;. ileiigtivi breadth of ■Eraiic.e; ; ;|' ; Aucl ness, that the FrenchOpeo'ple|?t^:Ge™a^iy : ;:intl' ■■ the Germans,;i;isjiatfviiisupe'raliicVbfc' .■ stacle in tlie;;;Way;:: : pfs;an~/'/7)^y;o( :^-/, : ment bctwcciy;jFraiice7 ■' All the sigiistpf;.tiie''"tiiiicsVpp;ih'fc the_ Triple :/^i;/m/^iraualhin'g, ; niuclif. as it in at thelpreseiifc'{tiiu'e^ltsvprp^.'; visions arc/iiptJallSknpwh^'ibiifc :i&.'■ little mystery} ::iriay.f;b'ii'. ipecasibh's.:'. prove notif/iihlioneficial--. fo"'' ''.Great" : Britain. $C*i\£i-V''k. '"'■'" :' •,'■.'■'■ "r