GERMANY AND BRITAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 183, 9 January 1912, Page 7

GERMANY AND BRITAIN.

A RECENT DEBATE IN THE REICHSTAG. • " WHEN GERMANY DESIRES TO EX- ' PAND IN THE WORLD." Speaking in the Reichstag on November 8, the Imperial Chancellor stated that if Germany were to have a strong policy she must maintain her'strength on the Continent of Europe, That was impossible if she dissipated her strength in holding distant positions. He placed it, in fact, to the credit of German policy that they had not run after territory in Morocco. (Laud laughter). The charge of weakness came from wider circles than those which demanded territory in Morocco. He did not mean only those who during the summer demanded war outright. There were such people, though their numbers were smaller than their vocabularies. There were others. Those others wanted a "preventive war" against France, or against England, or against both at once. They all knew what Bismarck thought about preventive wars. He had said that he would never advise a war on the ground that it would be inevitable later on. He could not see into the hand of Providence, and regarded even victorious wars as a peril which they must strive to avert. These were still the principles of the German Government. Nobody could know whether Germany might have to fight some day, but it was his duty to avoid any war which was not required by German honor. ("Hear, hear" on the.Left). The Conservative leader, Herr von Heydebrand, dealt very bitterly' with the treaties which put France in complete mastery in Morocco, while Germany received compensation of the most questionable value from every point of view. He proceeded: "Is it not true that an Ambassador at a European Court expressed himself about us in a way which brought a flush of shame to our cheeks? That cannot simply be wiped out. Like a flash in the night, all that showed the German people where its real enemy is to be found. The German people now know who it is that wants to hold universal sway when Germany desires to expand in the world. The German people will know how to give a German answer. (Loud cheers). I do not know what answer the German Government gave. It is the rulers who have to decide, but we expect them to be inspired by «, feeling for the honor of the German people. I here declare that we Germans are reatfy to make the necessary sacrifices." (Loud cheers and uproar, the Socialists crying,. "Yes, out of the pockets of the working classes!"). Herr von Heydebrand concluded with what seems to be intended as a formal announcement that the Conservatives will, if the Government pursues a "forward policy," abandon their opposition to death duties, and "sacrifice the fortunes of the propertied classes on the altar of the Fatherland."