BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 139, 8 December 1911, Page 8

BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

GERMAN CHANCELLOR'S SPEECH. STATE MUST NOT BE SCRATCHED BY PENCIL OF MISTRUST. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Berlin, December 6. In the course of his speech in the Reichstag, in reply to Sir Edward Grey's recent statement, 11 crr von BethmannHolweg defended secret discussions as a method of ensuring the success of international negotiations. It was noticeable that the Chancellor was silent regarding British obligations of honor towards France. He contended that the Anglo-French treaty of 11)04 was the initial error, leading the Germans to Algeciras and finally to Agadir in defence of their economic interests, with the determination not to be pushed aside. If the ultimate consequence was th* supposed or real readiness for war on the part of Britain, ttnd a state of political alcoholism in the world, he maintained that Germany was not responsible. He added that if friendship was destined to be inscribed upon the clean slate that liad been spoken of between Britain and Germany, it, must not be scratched in the hard pencil of mistrust. , He appealed to Germany to show neither depression nor chauvinistic pride, but with clear vision quietly to solve in un- > broken unity great national questions. Herr Bebel (Socialist) declared that [ the despatch of the Panther to Agadir . was a menace and warning to France. . He added that Britain was justified in the action she took. The spokesmen of other parties advocated prudence and a fiim policy. The closure of the debate was agreed to. A resolution of the Centre Party, providing that alterations in respect of colonial territory could only occur through a decree of the Reichstag, was unanimously adopted. The session of the Reichstag has closed, CLOSING THE INCIDENT. SIR EDWARD GREY SPEAKS. London, December 0. Sir Edward Grey, speaking at Plymouth, said that if the .Moroccan depression was passing, the diplomatic barometer, should begin to rise. It was not desirable to tap it every five minutes. It was better to have a few weeks' diplomatic repose. Mr.. Snowden, M.P., writing in the Christian, Commonwealth, says that a i better understanding with Germany is ' impossible while Sir Edward Grey remains at the head of the Foreign Office. An unfounded suspicion fills Sir Edward Grey's niind and influences all his actions. Few English newspapers comment on Herr Bethmann-llollweg's reply to Sir Edward Grey. A general desire is ex J pressed to close the incident.