The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY FEBRUARY 21 1907. ENTENTE-ENGLTSH OR GERMAN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3754, 21 February 1907, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. THURSDAY FEBRUARY 21 1907. ENTENTE-ENGLTSH OR GERMAN.

ft, t _ ' " . This is the title of an extremely interesting article in the “ Nineteenth Century ” by M. Alfred Naquet, There, is some division of opinion in France as to whether the nation’s interests would be better served by , an entente with Germany' than-By one with' England . There lean - intelligible. bond of sympathy between the French Socialists .and the German Social Democrats.; The socialistic moyement in Europe prided itself oh resting upon an international basis. There are other groups of Frenchmen who think that the balance of advantage would-be found in a political friendship, with Germany, M. Naquet allows a representative of that side : to put his case with all the strength of the available argument. The chances of a European war, particularly as it would concern France, Germany, and Great Britain, are discussed as perhaps the most important 'phase of the question. As between the two possible alliances, M, Naquet’contends lor the English one, as in the event Of war : holding out ' the dess probability of defeat, as best harmonising with France’s democratic, sentiment, as assuring to France ■ , ; ,j i; , ■

after.a successful.,war the more advantageous position, and as in time of peace being the more favourable to France’s economic development. “ The victory of the British fleet (over a Continental combination), would carry with it the destruction of our navy, the bombardment of our ports, the loss of our colonies -—of our, shipping and export. On the other supposition, that of. the defeat of the British, should we not find ourselves, m a worse plight ? : By fuming’ England, her best customer, France would ruin herself. Neither Germany nor Russia can absorb annually the 1500 millions r of French products which Great Britain buys from her. There is no. industrial’ competiton between Thetwo countries—one is the complement of the other,”Fqrther, M. Naquet argues that if France were :: allied with Germany she would ultimately- become the mere vassal -of the two northern empires.- - She held her •own at Algeciras because Great Britain; : wa's her, friend. And if continued to be a' .ilggnarchy-she would look with disfavodf dh''republicanism iti France, whereas Engl? nd is a crowned republip,. Finally, an AnglorFrench Entente rj makes, for, , the world’s, peace" article pays a jugh’ tribute to King Edward as a peacev- y-i - -v -