WHAT GERMANY WANTS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 181, 9 June 1916, Page 4 (Supplement)

WHAT GERMANY WANTS.

Speaking in the House of Commons in Feoruary, Mr. Asquith reaffirmed what is known as his Guildhall speech. Its provisions are familiar to everyone —restitution in full to Belgium and Serbia, adequate security for Franco agamst the menace of aggression, the establishment of the lights of the smaller nationalities 011 an unassailable foundation and the complete and linal destruction of the military domination of Prussia. With that statement of t.ho aims of the Allies may profitably bo compared the declaration of the German Impelial Chancellor in the Reichstag early 111 April, fuller details of which aro now to liana by mail. It must bo remembered that when Dr. Bethniann Hollweg 011 this occasion proco?ded to define the purposes Germany is fighting to attain, 110 must have had Mr. Asquith's historic declaration clearly in mind. The British Prime Minister in every definition 01 tho policy of the Allies has set in tlie forefront the restoration of independence and security to tho smaller nationalities. Herr Bethmann-Holuveg, on hi'.; side, professed to be concerned for tho small nationalities. As summarised by a London contemporary, "to Belgium in the west and Poland in the east ho offers, as a gift there is no declining, the protection and patronage cf Germany. As to the Balkans, Serbia and Albania arc in German occupation, and tho unspoken implication that there they will remain is obvious enough. For them too the one liopo lies in the Imperial defender of all small nations. In his references to both the Belgian and the Polish questions tho Chance'lor is studiously vague, but so far as Belgium is concerned the annexationists aro fully entitled to acclaim the speech as a capitulation to their demands. It is true that the Chancellor committed himself to nothing so crude as open annexation Belgium is merely to be secured from tho domination of France and Fngland. The Flemish tonguo and Flemish interests aro to be fostered, presumably at tiie expense of tho Walloons. "Things cannot bo what they wero before the war," but the new relationship to be estab'ished will be for tho mutual benefit of protector and protected. That is as explicit a declaration as has yet been pronounced by a competent authority in Germany. Hew Germans may interpret it we do not know. By every foreigner, above all by every Belgian, it can be neact only as the death-knell of Belgian independence. And as with Belgium so with Poland. Here again the Chancellor arrogates tho role of proiecior. Poland, and with it the Baltic provinces, rescued from Russian oppression, aro to bo assigned tiie part of a buffer State. The Polish problem? Germany and Austria, and they alone, will soive j it. It will not bo Germany's tlrst at- j tempt. Tiio fortunes of the Poles under the three Empires by which they aro partitioned has been various, but if Russia, as the Chancellor suggests, has chastised with whips, Germany has chastised, without relief or intermission. with scorpions. A promise of salvation held out by the tyrants of Posen ;s Dead Sea fruit indeed. If anything were needed to confirm the irreconcilable hostility of Poland V> tho Central Powers, it would be the prospect of seeing extended to Galuia and tho Grand Duchy the conditions that havo made the name nt Poscn anathema to every Polo." 111 the face of these declarations it has been truly said that it Dr. lie:»inianivH<;lLwieg represents the mure moderate of two contending schools of political opinion in Germany tho prospect of the emergence of sanity 111 the German Umpire : i.i indued remote. ;

WHAT IS ITI- - man walked into a uro. i r's -hop and handed to the assistant a paper containing some vvl ite powder. " I s;iv." he said, " what do you think tliat i,:- .Inst task' it, and tell rue your opinion." The grocer snnlled it, then touched it with his lotiifue. "Well, ! should say that was soda." "Thai's inst what I said." wa- th triumphant reply. " lint my vife said it was rat poison: you might trv it. He who has never had a calamity hefall him is unacquainted v. 'tl true