The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1913. EUROPE AND TURKEY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 51, 1 March 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1913. EUROPE AND TURKEY.

The attitude of Great Britain particularly and of the Great Powers generally towards Turkey and the belligerents, is discussed in the “Quarterly Review” in an interesting article. The reviewer held that everything pointed, at the time of writing, to an understanding between London and Berlin regarding the difficulties caused by the Balkan crisis. If at this crisis, says the contributor, Britain occupied her old position of splendid isolation, the balance of power, and with it the peace of Europe might bo more easily maintained. In some measure it may almost be said that Britain at least temporarily has reoccupied that position. It is pointed out that a crushing defeat of Germany and Austria on the one hand, or of France and Russia on the other, would be equally opposed to the interests of Britain, and also of the world at large. Either result would he an appalling menace to the British Empire. According to this view, Britain should add her weight to the weaker side until the original balance is restored, if such a restoration is at all possible. With the conflicting interests this does not appear likely if one may judge by the tone of the recent messages regarding the reported decision of the Powers. POPULARITY. The London correspondent of tiro Sydney “Telegraph” writing on what makes for popularity, remarks that England resents her Dominions growing up, and says further, the popular oversea statesman is the Seddou or Borden who talks all day of the Mother Country and the grand old flag, and who brands such things as the local navy idea as unpatriotic. And when it comes to local independence, Australia is the worst offender 'of all, and consequently Australia is the least popular of the Dominions, and Australian politicians the least liked, of British overseas leaders. Certainly the Canadian Liberals, led by Sir Wilfrid Laurier, now run the Australians a very close second. Every business man who gives half an hour's study to the geographical disposition of Canada, and the United States, confesses that reciprocal trade is economically inevitable between tli'o two countries. The Canadian north-west fanners. w h..-.u the maiv.-i'y are

foreigners, cannot possibly refuse to trade with the groat and growing American markets lying a few hundred miles to the south. To haul wheat thousands of miles to the seaboard for shipment to England, when it can be sold a comparatively short distance away in a rich and friendly country, is utterly opposed to all the principles of British freetrade. Sir Wilfrid Lanrier, in proposing reciprocity with the United States, was but removing a barriei 1 artificially created. Those people who feared that Canada’s identity was about to be submerged into the American Republic should travel through the Dominion and learn the strength of the splendid spirit of young nationhood which strikes you as soon as you cross the American frontier. Air Borden, however, with his Union Jack carried the day

against the common sense arrangement, and succeeded in continuing for a little while at least the artificial trade restrictions between the two North American nations. And as a reward Mr Borden to-day stands in the position occupied a few years ago; by Mr Seddon. Sir Joseph Ward, who, by tho way, i»at present in London, strove heroically to win English approval, but from Mr Seddon to Sir Joseph Ward was a big slump in personality, and instead of public approval Sir Joseph won a baronetcy, which appears to have brought about his downfall in New Zealand.