THE WAR PERIL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1635, 31 December 1912, Page 5

THE WAR PERIL.

GERMANY AND EUROPE, IN 1913. A STARTLING PREDICTION. Telceranli—Press Association—Oonyrieht London, December 29. Mr. Frederic Harrison, in a remarkable article in "The English Beview," predicts that the whole international system will be recast in 1913.. Peril lies in the German desire for expansion. Ninety per cent, of the Germans' desire is for peace if German interests are not affected. The Kaiser, ho says, is honestly doing his best to remove his neighbours' apprehensions until some crisis compels him to speak. Meanwhile the predominant 10 per cent, bred for war is pushing its countrymen to a course from which, war is almost an inevitable consequence. Mr. Harrison contends that Turkey's collapse and the Balkan kingdoms' aggrandisement was a fatal set-back to PanGerman ideals. Nothing outside Europe is now open to Germany; but Europe is open, and it is inevitable that Germany will seek expansion there. England's peril must be met by a predominant fleet. An immense and continuous naval increase is a matter of life and death to us. Mr. Harrison advocates a .£150,000,000 war loan, of which amount ;8100,000,000 should bo forthwith spent on the Navy and .£50,000,000 on, the Army. - It is essential to concentrate our Empire, to withdraw from the Mediterranean, including Gibraltar, and certainly give up Egypt and the Afrioan Empire to the. southward. Mr. Frederic Harrison, the well-known publicist, is now in hi 9 eighties, but he has retained to a remarkable degree his., mental vigour and literary vitality, and his views, if they do not always convince, invariably interest the reader. As historian and jurist, Mr. Harrison has been a (prolific writer. Amongst his worksmany -of which aro accepted as standard authorities—are the "Annals of an Old Manor House," "Byzantine History," "Nicephorus," and the "Meaning of History." Amongst his various appointments 'he was Professor of Jurisprudence and International Law to the Inns of Court.