ANGLO-GERMAN RELATIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 194, 14 February 1912, Page 5

ANGLO-GERMAN RELATIONS.

MR. CHURCHILL'S CANDOUR.

J HATSER THE IRE OF GERMANS,

By Cable —Prew Association —Copyright Berlin, February 12. The discussion about Mr. Churchill and Lord Haldane continues.

The Nueste Nachrichten says that Germany is grateful for Mr. Churchill's candour at the moment when his colleague was among them with his claws in velvet gloves. The Conservative Kreuz Zeitung states that no one in Germany now doubts what the British Government means by an understanding with Germany. It means the latter's official recognition of British claims to be the arbiter of the world.

The Lokalanzeiger says that Lord Haldane doubtless came in full agreement with his colleagues with the firm intention of achieving something in the shape of an entente. There had certainly been no question of mutual limitations of military and naval armament. The Lokalanzeiger agrees that England needs a superior fleet, but states that Mr. Churchill's declaration -that the German fleet is a luxury discloses It regrettable ignorance of Germany's requirements. The Cologne Gazette says doubtless Lord Haldane's impressions will alter Vr Churchill's conceptions. The yorwaertß states that Mr. Churehfll'a speech is a plain answer to the forthcoming increase in the naval programme.

THE MIRAGE OF DISARMAMENT.

Pans, February 12

The Bcho de Paris is afraid that the Jhifriiah Radicals may again let themselves be tricked by the mirage of dissrmament.

, LORD HALDANE CONFERS WITH CABINET.

j THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT.

Received 13, 11 pjn. London, February 13.

Lord Haldane conferred with Mr. Asfnith, Mr. Harcourt, Mr. Churchill and Mr. Lloyd George, and afterwards met Cabinet officially.

It in admitted in London that the description of Lord Haldane's visit as private is misleading, though he was not in a position to commit the Government.

Mr. Asquith requested him to go to Berlin to discuss certain matters should opportunity occur.

DEMOCRACY WANT PEACE. Received 14, 12.40 a.m. London, February 13. Mr. Simon, K.C., at Waltham-Stow, ■aid that while the democracy rejoiced at the good undewtanding with France, they will not be prepared to tolerate the idea involved in the unfriendly feelings towards Germany. If the democracy were determined to get its view carried •nt there would be good feeling between Britain and Germany.

GERMANY'S WANTS.

iPROFESSOK DELBBUCK'S INDICTMENT.

THE DOG IN THE MANGER. LAND HUNGER!

London, December 89. The best statement so far of Germany's case against England comes from * distinguished German publicist, Professor Hans Delbruck, who is regarded, the Berlin correspondent of the Daily Mail says, as not only a thoroughly represestative but also a very sane exponent of the German view. Besides being Professor of History at the University of Berlin, he is editor of the Preussische Jahrbucher, a leading review.

And Professor Delbruck is thoroughly melancholy as to the prospect of avoiding war with England. "I begin to think war cannot be averted," he says to the Daily Mail. "We know now that England deliberately planned to faH on us without formal declaration of war last summer. We know now how Hear we were to the realisation of a British Admiral's grim prophecy that the Germans would wake up some morning to find that they had once had 4 fleet.' The nation is so outraged •ver that revelation that the next Reichstag may be asked to pass a law permitting us to treat as pirates the prisoners of any enemy who begins hostilities under those wanton cihcumstances —to shoot or hang them at sight 1 Morocco proved to the hilt, if further j>roof were necessary, that England is oiir inveterate enemy. In the face of such a peril there is only one alternative —more Dreadnoughts. We realise that * heavy or sudden increase of our fleet would probably be considered a casus beli England. But people think we must risk that. We cannot and will not ever again tolerate such malicious interference with legitimate German aspirations as Britain's intervention in our negotiations with France over Morocco." WHAT GERMANY WANTS. The question as to what will satisfy the aspirations of Germany has been asked over and over again. Many have replied, ''Colonies.'' Others of equal weight have definitely denied that colonies are required; and Professor Delbruck takes their view. He says, "Markets." As to command of the sea, Professor Delbruck says. "We do not dispute England's right to be supreme at sea. We recognise that her insular character and her fur-flung Imperial ramifications make it imperative for Britain to rule the wave.. 1, my-"lf. .-lioulil consider Gemini intere-t- at sea perfeetIv secure if fie proportion of British naval preponderance to were in the ratio of tto «':;r ruv,:i tacticians vrou:.i j'-okiWy n< t !..• with a le<-s iliwv t!:••• ■■ to two. l»ut they <lif li ii -e. k t<» <>r displace Brita';: at - We in-i-i only upon sufli a !'••( { as skin c-nn>m md the respeet of tie- s:ipp-ni.- i!e<-t." If-ivjnir conceded the pc.'n! viiirh Britain regards as vi';>!. Profv-w })>";rn:-?; n-.v.-a;«ks tha-t Brit.'.in s'en: ! rna;- •!<• the point that Germany r",":ud- as vital, by making an end <.f her <uitn ding and traditional political !io~ti'i.v to Germany."' As I'm eili' f policy the professor instances the Baghrailway. Britain consistently refused to entertain Germany's proposals for co-operation or association in financing the undertajcing. "Your standpoint is simply blind, unyielding opposition—the dog-in-the-manger attitude in its

most virulent form." In the case of Walfiseh Bay, again, though it is of no lise to Britain, she refuses every overture on Germany's part to secure it. "It remains a thorn in our side. You are simply constitutionally unable to smile upon Germany's ambition to expand, even to that infinitesimal degree," The Professor claims that German diplomatic representatives all over the world are constantly meeting with the opposition of their British colleagues. "They are so accustomed to it that they reckon on it in advance. They know intuitively that hostility to Germany is the kevnote of British foreign policy." WANTED-A SQUARE DEAL.

What Germany asks is a complete change in this attitude of England, or. in the words of Mr. Roosevelt, '9. square deal.' And Professor Delbruck claims that if England thinks the friendship of Germany is worth having it is for her to make a step in that direction. The prevalent English theory that Germany is "land hungry" the professor describes as a myth. This is proved by the fact that while German emigration has fallen to 25,000 a year hundreds of thousands of artisans migrate into Germany each year. What Germany wants is not territory but markets. "France, diametrically unlike Great Britain, slams the trade door in the face of foreigners in all her colonial possessions." It was to avert that in Morocco that Germany made her stand. There is no territory in Europe, in Asia, or in the Americas that Germany covets, but there is in Africa. "I am thinking," says the professor, bv way of explanation. '"of what seems to me the inevitable eventual collapse <>i Portuguese power iii Africa, and a division of the Republic's possessions there between England and Germany. There would have been such a division long ago, I doubt not, but there again British

repugnance to the idea of German expansion has intervened to our disadvantage." Coaling Stations the professor regards with contempt as graveyards for subsidies in peace and vulnerable' outposts in war. Tic holds the opinion that a war, even if Germany were successful, could bring her 110 advantages. It would simply ine.m that in six months all Europe would be leagued against her as it was against Napoleon one hundred years ago. A SUMMARY.

" Let me summarise what I have said," Professor Delbruek concludes: " The abandonment of unworthy suspicions, the acknowledgment of our right to grow and to participate in shaping the world's destinies; the expression of an honest desire to reach an understanding; formal diplomatic steps in that direction; simultaneous withdrawal of arbitrary opposition to legitimate German political aspirations—those are the things we mean by an exhibition of British friendship in positive you have no inclination to meet us on that ground, if your interests rather point to a perpetuation of the anything-to-beat-Germany policy, so let it be. The Armageddon which must then, some day, ensue will not be of our making." This statement, though it has rather startled Germans by its outspokenness, has been generally approved in Germany.