FRANCE AND GERMANY.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 550, 15 March 1913, Page 5

FRANCE AND GERMANY.

PROVOCATIVE COMMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association— Oopyrifilit Berlin, Thursday. The Berliner Tageblatt states that it does not concur in the opinion expressed by the Cologne Gaettte that France is Germany's danger zone. It says that the Paris newspapers are not altogether blameless for the deterioration of the Franco-German relations. The Neueste Nachrichten declares chat the Cologne Gazette's article is only the echo of chauvenistic France.

The Nord Deutsche Gazette strongly rebukes the Cologne Gazette and other alarmist papers for their articles. THE FEARLESS LAMB. Paris, Thur3day. The Temps, in commenting on the Cologne Gazette's article, invites the German Press to reconcile the conflicting declarations that the new armaments are due to the new situation in the Balkans, and to the desire of France for revenge.

• The paper adds that it is the old story of the wolf and the lamb, with the difference that now the lamb is in no fear of being devoured. Arrogant Germany is no longer confronted with isolated France or isolated Russia. They are now perfectly allied. The measures that are being taken by France, the Temps says, are no threat. If there be threat, it is on Germany's part.

WHAT ENGLAND WOULD DO,

IF WAR BROKE OUT. Paris, Thursday. The Libre Parole' says that Mr Winston Churchill recently informed the French Government that Birtain would remain neutral in a war of French revenge, but would overwhelm tbtj German fleet if France were attacked.

The Temps, in commenting upon the statement of Mr Asquith that Britain is under no obligation to send an armed force to operate in Europe, remarks that if France cannot count upon the active co-operation of Britain, spontaneously offered in 1905, 1908, and 1911, that is an additional reason for augmenting the French forces.

M. Jean Jaures, a well-known Socialist member of Parliament, suggests that as France and Germany do not intend to take up a policy of aggressiveness, an entente might be arranged between France. England and Germany. This, he says, would be a guarantee of the peace of the world. The German Government has issued a Note dissociating itself from the violent press campaign against France.

The Note declares that the proposed army increase is not directed against the Republic, but that it is inspired by a desire to be ready for any attack. Meanwhile the polemics continue to rage in Paris and Berlin.