INTERNATIONAL FRICTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8101, 4 May 1906, Page 4

INTERNATIONAL FRICTION.

RUMOUR OF NEW GERMAN MOVE. . OMINOUS PREPARATIONS. London, March 10. At the present moment tlic barometer of international polities still points to " unsettled," with tin apparent downward tendency toward stormy." One of the causes is the attitude of Turkey. At the first blush one would bj disposed ta imagine that there could be hardly anything less probable than the intervention of Turkey as regards the question which lies almost exclusively between France and Germany. Nevertheless one or two incidents which have occurred lately have suggested a suspicion that the Porte may be in-

. .';li effect a friendly diversion in tie interests of Germany. There was lirst that little trouble on the Aden hinterland; more recently there has been friction in the neighbourhood oi Persia, and now a definite rumour has l'uuud currency that Germany is the real motive power in these matters. No demonstration is needed to any but the most superficial student of contemporary politics that the real struggle regarding the Moroccan question was between England and Germ my. Germany is simply worrying iranee because of France's friendship with England. On the other hand, were it not for the resolute backing by England, France would almost of necessity give way to Germany in this ease as she did with reference to M. l)clcassL\

But the latest report, which comes from a credible source, is that Germany, conscious of the disadvantage at which she would be placed had she to meet England and France in alliance, has been secretly urging the Porte, where her influence has long been almost supreme, to seize such an opportunity, should it occur, of asserting herself in Egypt. The rumored German suggestion is that in case England and France became commuted to war with Germany, ttie amt m should at once assert his rights as Suzerain over Egypt, and should promptly enforce them by sending a powerful army with orders to put an end to the existing regime, and establish his own authority in as direct a form as it exists in the nearer-at-hand portions of the Turkish Empire. Absurd is sueli an idea may seem at the first mou'eut, the fact has to be borne in mind that does constitute an iuiegnl pirt of the Ottoman Empire, and ilia the Khedive legally owes allegiance to tue Sultan as Suzerain. Throughout that Empire the Sultan has only to. say, " Sit pro ratione valuntas !" wituout giving any reasons whatever lo His own subjects.

In the second place Turkey slill possesses a largo and well-drilled ariuy. It would be easy for the Porlc to place 250,000 men into Egyptian territory ; it would be by no means e.is \ for England to send anything like an adequate force to oppose, ft were forced into war wij.li Germany, and Turkey were induced to take this step, there is little djubt that the effect would be seriously embarrassing from a military viewpoint. Although the ultimate outcome, assuming, as I hope we may, lint Eng land would be victorious in the J.u-gir war, would undoubtedly be lua: filmland with the aid of France would wrest Egypt altogether from Turkey, the immediate outlook would be a war of several years' duration, with disastrous consequences to progress and civilisation.