The Daily News THURSDAY, APRIL 1. EUROPE'S ARMED ARBITER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 57, 1 April 1909, Page 2

The Daily News THURSDAY, APRIL 1. EUROPE'S ARMED ARBITER.

Germany's coup do etat in the Balkans but adds a'notlier grievance to the scor for which Europe will some day call her to account, and her peculiar diplomatic methods, as shown by her treatment of Russia, provides all the justilication needed by critics of the British Government in urging that the British navy must on no account be allowed to

fall to a level that will warrant Germany in throwing down the gauntlet. The Kaiser and his right-hand adviser and mouthpiece, Prince 13ulow, have too often demonstrated the insincerity of their peace protestations by the undisguised threats tliey have held over the heads of contiguous Powers with whom tiiey were not in agreement. German diplomacy, however, has never attempted anything so audacious as compelling llussia, practically at the point of the bayouct, to ignominioiisly withdraw her moral support from the Balkan States:. The force of numbers and the weight of arms gained the day for Germany, but it cannot be expected that Russia -will humbly accept a humiliation fraught with such grave consequences to her power and prestige in Europe. As the ■position stands, Germany mis openly delied the Powers, for by her action she has condoned, indeed insisted on, the breaking of one of the most important treaties in Europe, the Treaty of JSerlh. How can those who pose as apologists for Germany, who cannot see danger in her feverish militarism, reconcile their

irotestatioiis of her paeilic intent with .his llagraut breach of international lonesty"? The breach of treaty rights nut the injustice done to uie weaker I'owers of Europe are unparalleled for rross audacity in recent times. First of 'ill Austria, with a callous disregard-for the Berlin' Treaty, annexes Bosnia and

Herzegovina without asking the approval of the signatories to the treaty. Britain, France and Russia immediately

et it be known that the annexation of the territory was illegal anil would not he recognised until a conference of the Powers concerned Had given their consent. They accordingly gave tneir moral support to Turkey and Servia, with whom British and Russian inllu-

cucc was paramount. Germany, after a period of quibbling, marking time, during which she was secretly with Austria completing her plans and preparing for an emergency, declared the Austrian steal was not nil infringement of treaty

rights, and liermany triumphed, as the London papers state, " by sheer weight of arms," and "hy holding a pistol at Russia's head." It should now lie fairly deal- that the annexation was not a riskv speculation on the part of Austria', and there is little doubt that it was only decided on (titer German support was assured, hi this there is plainly evident the march of the Teuton Cons'tiuitinoplewards, heralding the day when the disintegration, if unchecked, of Turkey will be complete. The troubles of the Balkans are not yet over, for not without an immense struggle will Russia abandon her traditional guardianship jif the Van-Slavonic, races. Mean.time Arman prestige is at a premium | in Europe, but such a boom is not seldom succeeded by a disastrous slump. (Icrmanv has taught not only Russia, but llvitain, a lesson that is not likely to be forgotten—that, as ever, might is' right in all'airs international.; Despite the vapourings of Peace Societies, Disarmament Leagues, and International Arbitration advocates, the object lesson of the past few days is I,hi obvious to be ignored: preparedness for war is the safest diplomacy and the

niirest guarantee against embroilment in hostilities. What Germany has just succeeded in accomplishing by the weight of her armed battalions she would not hesitate In attempt to-morrow with her navy if she felt herself equal to the task of "making good" on water as on land.

A PIECE OF IMPERTINENCE. Mr. Thomas Taylor, M.P. for Christchurch North, is an extraordinary character, lie, is endowed with considerable mental giftb and unllinching courage. lie is also endowed with inordinate vanity and love of the limelight, lailings which iu the past have not infrequently seriously injured liiin in the eyes of the rightthinking people of t'ho colony. The "voucher incident" and his vindictive personal attack on the late Premier and his family will be remembered in this connection, an will their aftermath—his rejection at the poll by a huge majority of electors. The lesson has evidently been waited on him. For now we lind him taking a course in connection with New Zealand's jfil't of a. battleship i* Brilai* that for sheer presumption and execrable taste almost take one's breath away. Mr. Taylor has sent this cablegram to the Premier of Britain:— "Cabinet's oiler of a Dreadnought wan made without the consultation oi Parliament, or people. There i.s au increasing feeling that the oiler was unconstitutional and an unfortunate interference in British party politics. J. believe Parliament would gladly increase the naval subsidy -T. E. Taylor, M.P. for Christelmrcii •North. We do not know what the ''Mors of Christchurch Xorth think, oi thi, h,gh-l,audc,l and injudicious eon<l»et, but they would he a singular lot if they failed to record their obfection and o •.,,,,,. . ll¥( „ slm . over ms l'".e of impertinence „„ the part of «•.,• representative. Mr. Taylor is en- ■ I'd to hi* own opinion in regard to eorredness of the Government's po ,| ~l nth e manner of making the ; I"" I ™'* opportunity •i, ! ls r r ts to e™ wnt to - his and feelings 0)1 the. nmttert t s sheer presumption on l,i, pai . t . ume Ills own narrow, iieUifnmrfr.. ™«* to the British PiWni ', fc '""" vuoiigh for Mm to h-iv, i when Ik. ..... i J fIIVC {lo »° XO ■«.':':;,:;y«<?*■•*», il ivould ,|,, f o „ Li,?' '<"' t'»e oiler, f nectary,;" etn,| y»' o "*''- '"-M- tbe'v,o t r , ISt ' oUool ~,r,,,,t - «- IM m,r, • And thu f "» '""lely measured: 5 CVCn "PP'OSi-