BRITAIN & GERMANY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1614, 4 December 1912, Page 4

BRITAIN & GERMANY.

THE NEW AMBASSADOR. SPECIAL INTERVIEW. TIIE NAVAL QUESTION. Prince Lichnowslty, who arrived in Merlin on October 18, for conferences with liio Chancellor nud tho Foreign Secretary, wns kind enough to discuss his appointment with ino at considerable length (says tho Berlin correspondent of tho London "Daily Telegraph"). The new Ambassador, who preferred to talk English, in which, with a little practice, ho will converse with perfect case and fluency, spoko with'convincing frankness and openness, and a completo absence of diplomatic reticences and reservations. Anyono privileged to listen to his conversation must at onco get the impression that ho is a highly cultured man, open-minded in his outlook on life, magnanimous in his sentiments, thoroughly sinccro and honest in his opinions. Ho made iy> prctcnco at dissembling the pleasure which his ap. pointmont had caused him or tho optimism with which ho regards his prospects of solving tho Anglo-German problem. The subfitonoe of his opening remarks was as follows:— "As you know, I retired from the diplomatic service! some years ago after my marriage, and since then I have lived principally on uiy estates in Prussian and Austrian Silesia. The administration of my property provided mo with plenty of occupation; and I really prefer a country life. However, I was for many reasons delighted with my appointment to tho London Embassy. In the first place, it is the most important and interesting of our diplomatic missions, and I am particularly glad to have so good an opportunity of contributing to the improvement of Anglo-German relationships, an object towards the attainment of which I have already exerted. myself in the press. 'ivv''.., Sympathy with Britain. ' "Apart from this,- there is the personal side of the matter, and I have tlie very pleasantest recollection of my sojourn m England at the time when I was commencing my diplomatic career at the Embassy in London. I have the greatest personal admiration for any sympathy with vour country. English society, English ways of life, and English sport all appeal very strongly to me, and I made many good friends in England, with whom I have never ceased to keep in "touch. "As far as my political mission is concerned, I go to England filled with the spirit of conciliation, indeed, I. might say cordial friendship. In my opinion there has been a great-deal of exaggeration in the discussion of Anglo-German relationships. Far too miich excitement and temper has been imported into the consideration of tho question. I prefer to •look at these things from a oalm, philosophic point of view. Looked at in this way, they do not . appear half so terrible. The idea that irreconcilable antagonism exists between German and England, and that only war can. decido their conflict of interests, is absurd, absolutely absurd. Certainly rivalry, both political and commercial, does and must exist bstween the two countries,' but is ridiculous to suppose that it must culminate in an appeal to arms. One of my principal tasks will be to awaken a feeling of confidence in the English poonlo and cure them of the strange superstition that Germany has designs against thoir country. No one in a responsible position here has ever dreamt of such a thing.as an invasion of England. There are. of course, hot-liea<led Chauvinists, with wild schemes in every country, and here, as elsewhere, 'peccatur intra - muros et extra;' But neither the Government nor the vast mass of the p;ople has ever dreamt of such a thing,"

Obstacles to Reconciliation.:, At this point I ventured to suggest that the naval question was the only real obstacle to reconciliation between the two countries, that ; Germany had actually changed the balance of power on the sea to her own advantage, and that exaotly .in proportion as her maritime risk diminished that of Great Britain increased. I also pointed out that tho express objeot of the Navy Bill of 1900 was to create a "risk" for Great Britain which previously did not exist. To this the Prinoe replied: "X must demur to your statement that tho Gorman fleet has been the only cause of dissension. Even if it had not existed there would still have been the commercial rivalry. The naval question is a very delicate one, and I must have time to study it • thoroughly before I can pronounce a final opinion on it. We must, of course, have a navy, and it will naturally grow as our oversea trade and ioreisn interests increase. It is exceedingly difficult .to say precisely at what point 0110 is to stop building, but my own feeling is that the British fleet is so overwhelmingly superior in strength that it is impossible to imagine you ever bavin" anything to fear from it. Moreover, without having exact figures in my nead at the moment, I am inclined tp think that thero lias roally been no substantial change in the naval relationship of the two countries in recent years."

Feeling of the Nations.; . The Prince here earnestly put the question whether antipathy to Germany in England was really so very strong as nail been represented. The only possiblo reply was that since the Morocco settlement there had been repeated manifestations of a.desire to come totems amicably with Germany in all sorts of, different quarters in England, that larliainent and the press, as. well as great political, associations, Chambers of Commerce, and leading municipalities had all given expression to this sentiment, but that these overtures had met ■ with practically ;io response m this country. The Ambassador seemed much surprised to hear this view, expressed a doubt whether it fairly represented the facts of the situation, and inquired what causa could bo assigned for the supposed Anglophobia in Germany. On it being suggested that the belief of the German people that it had be«n defrauded of what ft considered its rights in Morocco fay. the intervention of Groat Britain h*}" Riven rise to this feeling, ho replied that that was only one section of the population. "If," ho ooutinued, "the Govefnroent had attempted to get a foothold in Morocco, it would have been just as hotly denounced for embarking on a policy ot risky and expensive adventure. Tho Government is always wronj; in some people « eyes, whatever it does.'

"Britanophile." From his further remarks it seemed fair to infer that the Prince regards slorocco as a question which lias been finally and definitely settled, and the memories of which should not be allowed to enter into present political calculations. ' In conclusion, ho remarked that he intended in his new post to be "Britanophile" so far as such an attitude was consistent with his duties as representative of the interests of the German Emigre, and that he hoped to have the support of the leading journals of both countries in his efforts to place Anglo-Gorman relationships on a more amicable footing. He did not, of course, expect, he said, to find at onoe a full and eternal settlement of the problem which had been set him, but ho "hoped it would bo possible to dispose one by .one of the nuestions pending between the two countries, and so gradually approach the goal of his wishes.