The Daily News MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7. THE PEACE OF EUROPE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 217, 7 September 1908, Page 2

The Daily News MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 7. THE PEACE OF EUROPE.

The other day we published a unci notice oi a truly characteristic speech delivered by the German JSiuperor at a bivmjiiet at fctra-sbuig. The. subject ' of his imperial Majesty's discourse was the preservation ui the peace oi tne world, lluui which iiardlv anything could be more important. I't is quite true, as svenis to be raierred, thoug'h in a different seii.-e, tluit the peace of the world is w-liully dependent upon , Germany; and, notwithstanding "incitements and ealumnies provoked by envious and ill-disposed peioons,' through Germany, lh? peace of the world rests upon too solid a lobulation to be easily upset. The lirm security for peace, so the German Emperor assures us, rests in tile lir-L place upon the conscience of the princes and statesmen who know and n-vl t'luit tlicy arc responsible to God. and rn the . Second place to the people themselves, "Finally"—and this is the modestly lovely part of it—"peace is insured by Germany's power 011 sea and land; by the German people in arms; by their proud and manly discipline; a-.nl their love of the honor oi their country's armed forces. Germany is determined to maintain llkmu at tlieiv high level without menace to outers, to develop them as her own interests demand, favoring and injuring none." There is a ijuami old KaglisU saying tluit "Fine words butter ao

parsnips.'' The pressure of the expenditure 0,1 armaments by sea and land is a terrible burden upon the Herman people, and notwithstanding the "ipse dixit" of the Emperor they do constitute "a. menace" to the peace of the world. Outside of Germany, there is not a mind capable of giving tlioug.Ht to the subject that is not conscious of tlie fact that, if the power winch England possess on the sea were in the iiands of the Genuau potentate, there is no State that would be free from German domination, and an effort would be immediately made to Germanise the wiliole surface of tile globe.

The day following the publication of this liigh-falutin' speech was marked by the revelation of an attempt to "steal a march," aibout as contemptibly mean a trick as it is possible for any Government to perpetrate; ana uns must have been consummated almost immediately prior to the delivery of the speech. Generally English newspapers are very high-toned in their characterisations, but beneath their liigii and carefullji measured phraseology it is not dillicult to read w'liat is" really meant, and in this matter the whole English and French press are agreed. By Europe, definitely continued by the Treaty of Algec-iras, Morocco has been committed to the caiv of France and Spain. So long as the European rights acquired were respected, it was matter of little concern to European Governments who the individual might be who lilled the position of Sultan; but, naturally, a kind of tacit support was given to the Sultan actually ia power. When, by the recent great victurv of Mulai IJafid it was rendered perfectly clear that the authority of Sultan Aziz was for ever destroyed, it became tile duty of Trance and Spain to come fo an understanding with the new rmei. This, however, is not a tiling that can be accomplished in a day; as a matter of the commonest courtesy, time must be allowed to the new Sultan to shape his administration, and, in any ease, there was no cause for immediate, hurry, lint, apparently, from the very moment that the rivalry between the contestants for the sultana,to wa- decided, oil rushes German to attempt to button-hole" the new power anu secure, if possible, a, foremost piaee in his councils. The honorable part played by Germany immediately prior 10 the signing of the Treaty of Algeciras has not y-et been forgotten, and now the world is afforded another high-ton-ed example! If Germany could succeed in reducing Mulai liafid to the position of her mere creature it is not dijlieul.t to conceive how the "solid peace of tile world." now, of course, due to Germany, would be all'ectcd. lit this matter tlie conduct of German}' luis been more tilau unfriendly; it has been mean. If in the private relations of life any man were to be guilty of such conduct honest men everywhere would unhesitatingly characterise him as a sneak.

Of c nii'Se, there are excuses; there always are excuses; they are carefully 'thought out beforehand; they arc kept ready as a sort of "fall-back.'. The lirst excuse put forward was thai "Dr. VaSsel was sent at the, urgent reijniet of Herman claimants to settle outstanding Herman claims," so aliiruii'd the (Jcrinuu ollicial version. me second ollicial exi-uSe i, that "Dr. \ ussel went to Fez solely to look after his house and personal interests." Neither excuse is accepted by anvbody, which is complimentary to "(jlurinany's ollicial organs. Then the North tierman Gazette claims that tiermany suggested to tile French foreign Otliee the_ immediate recognition of .Mulai,' Hatid; ill reply tlie French Foreign Oflice admits the fact, the Minister of l'orciga Affairs aflirming that iie acknowledged the communication witli tile remark: "The step is unusual, and, in the circumstances, inexplicable.'' they are not "inexplicable." They ■ire quite consistent with the usual meddlesome, bouncing inference of a Power that, if not declaiming about its mailed first,' is busily engaged in assuring the world that 'its arms by Sea and land are an ample sceuritv for the maintenance of friendly relations. There is "110 menace"' about i.enuan methods. Not at all. Only liei constant irritations are. enough lo try tlie patience of nations of saints. Of course, the whole incident will be allowed to pass, but, like a great number ol Other trials, it is worlliv of being kept in remembrance so lliat it may be placed alongside of the trouble which is going io happen next. And j that 1 rouble may possibly result differently.