FROM THE INSIDE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 253, 4 December 1914, Page 4 (Supplement)

FROM THE INSIDE.

THE NATION OF SELF-WORSHIP

PRINCE VON BULOW AS PRIEST AND PROPHET.

One of the remarkable books which the student of German aims and policy has earmarked for back reference in the present crisis is Prince Bernhard von Bulow's "Imperial Germany," of which a special cheap edition has now been published (Cased London). Viewed in the light of recent events, it is of the same family as Bernhardi's book, a sort of polite diplomatio complement to the avowed championship of Force. Already both are ranking as ominous landmarks in the storv of Germany's downfall. Th o arrogance of the German outlook stares us in the face on the cx-lm-l>crial Chancellor's very first page ••Germany," he says, "is the youngest of tho Great Powers of Europe, the homo novns who. having sprung up very recently, has forced Ins way by his superior capacity into the circle of tho older nations." • , Of course, Prince von Bulow s touch is infinitely subtler that that of the ■war-worshipping general. He assures ns that th.ere is absolutely no ground for the fear which the building of the German navy has aroused—the fear, namely, that with the rise of German power at sea the German love of battle will bo awakened; he asserts that of all the nations of the world the Germans are the people, that have most rarely set out to attack and conquer; he declares that never in the course of history has any Power possessing such superior military strength as the Germans served the cause of peace in an equal measure; he ask s us to believe that the German has always been peace-loving; and he adds with characteristic German appropriation of credit, that peace has primarily been reserved because other nations feared a repulse in the event of their attacking Germany.

GERMANY'S NAVY AND GREAT BRITAIN.

It is true that there were many in England who inclined to take a similar view of Germany, but events have proved their confidence to have been totally misplaced. To-day it is plain to the world that " the strength of German armaments" has l>een accumulating to tho point when Germany believed she was able to fight France and Russia and then to take Britain on. Her vision concentrated on the worship of her own strength, Germany was vain enough to believe that the moment had arrived when the world lay at her feet. "Germany strikes when Germany's hour has struck. She has proved those to be right who regarded that as her timehonoured policy. Reading between the lines of the following where Prince von Bulow discuss:*, relations with England, the preparat on for Gor many's hour can be noted:—" We desire amicable and even friendly relations with England, but we are not afraid of hostile ones. . .We confront England to-day, -supported as we are by a navy which demands respect, in a very different manner from fifteen years ago. when it was a question of avoiding any conflict with England as long as possible, till we had built our fleet. At that time our foreign policy was to a certain extent regulated by the question of ar maments: it had to be carried on under abnormal conditions. To-day the norma, state of affairs is restored; our armaments are at the service of our policy. The change in favour of Germany oi the proportionate strength of tho two countries has relieved our foreign policy with regard to England of ft great bur den. We need no longer take such care to prevent England from injuring qui safety and wounding our dignity; with our own unaided strength wo are able. as i»meet for Germans, to defend on i dignity and our interests against Eng land at sea, as we have for centuries de fended them against the Continental Powers on land. " NATIONAL NECESSITY."

And the attitude of France is thus set forth after an acknowledgment thai resentment against Genriany might wel, lx) allied the soul of French policy:"We must always endeavour to pro servo polite, calm, and peaeelu relations with France. But beyond thai wo should not pursue any will-o -the wisp delusions, otherwise we may nice. with the fate of the astronomer in -s; Fontaine, who. while gazing at tin stars, fell into the pit which lav at he feet, but which he had not seen. H< this case the pit is called Le trou ties Vasges'.'' Prince von Bulow adds will, reference to the war of I*7o-71 that "it France Miere is no coinprcheiis on oi tho fact that what seems to them 11 u brutal severity of a conqueror was really a. matter of personal uecesMty to u» Germans." ~ , , , The note o[ utter seliishiies s abou. German policy is odious. This remark of Prince von Bulow is precisely tin light in which Germany desires Belgium affile present moment to see her late. The Prince von Bulow s ol tho hour an doubtless deploring the fact that what seems to the Bclgans - the brutal se verity of the conqueror is really •' matter of national necessity to us Germans!"' There is hardly a thought ol anything beyond taking care of them selves, furthering their own interests. ITALY AND GERMANY.

The same trait is found in Prince von Union■ b reference to Turkey. "We "aye carefully cultivated good relations with Turkey and Islam, especially since tm journey to the East undertaken iy oui Emperor and Empress. These relations are not of a sentimental nature, tor the continued existence of Turkey serves our interest from the industrial military, and political points of view." On the' other hand, Germany s relations with Italy, wo aro grave ly told, "are regarded by '•■• from the sentimental and by the Italian,, From Hie common-sense point of view." This is U.« minimis, especially in view of the lollowing -" venture into prophecy:—" Italy ami Gerinanv are so obviously interdepend ont that they are always hound to uute. This interdependence is dm' to manv and weighty consderatuiis; the absece of all rvalry between the. nations tho memory of, tut: struggle in tbe Teutoburger Wald and the Battle nf Legnanio ha s grown faint with tune —thq absence of any disturbing c.enc-*> the similarity of their historic! development, and the common dang-r., which might threaten them in like nianHt Al. the end of thi s war German diplomatists will have compiled a lon- led „f "things that went wrong in I i.-ii calculations. "Tim problem ol nmd-m German international politic,, Prince von Bulow. "to secure a 1,., i., „ :. lion for our position as a broni I ■■> ~„ fl- whole awv bt consider. ■ ...... ii iiflT' dh "^• at ,! tout,Jil ' u