The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1915. GERMANY'S DUPLICITY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 September 1915, Page 4

The Daily News. TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1915. GERMANY'S DUPLICITY.

There are few more incisive speakers | or writers than Mr. A. J. Balfour, the present First Lord of the Admiralty, and a particularly lucid account given [ by Jiim of Germany's designs for ac- ; quiring naval supremacy, as set forth in the cabled'message appearing in another column, is worthy of attention by c\orv British subject. It clearly shows that for many years Germany has been concentrating all hev resources on one object—world domination. llow great a fiasco her naval policy has proved is well known, but her cunning availed not a whit, for Britain adhered determinedly to her 'Three Tower'' standard knowing well that Germany could not be trusted. The result is that to day, Germany's fleet is a negligent factor, while Great Britain's navy has complete command of the sens. The history of Germany 'of recent years is one lonjr series of gross misre'pesentations and duplicity. It will be remembered that in 1899. the British Admiralty suggested that Kugland would be prepared to reduce her naval programme if the other Powers would follow suit. In the following year came Germany's answer, in which for the first time she proclaimed her policy of building a iieet against Britain—a direct challenge for the control of the seas, and it is signilieant that in all the reported terms of peace, Germany insists on what she calls "the freedom of t lie seas,'' by which we know that she means such freedom as will enable her to carry out her policy of domination. .She has never swerved from this alluring prospect, and has ever since built up her fleet aeenrdi i gly. For at least eight years I Britain tried to bring Germany to reason, bat the Kaiser met all advances with a decided refusal, although be feigned a friendliness towards Britain I hat was as shallow as it was possible lo be. A change in the occupancy of (he German Chancellorship in 1001), brought Ilerr von Bethmann llollweg to the front, and it was at once apparent that lie was adopting Bismarekiaii tactics. Hi* aim was to separate Britain from Frame and Russia, and he cunningly held out the hope of an agreement on the naval programme if Britain would undertake in effect to stand aside from any continental struggle. The trap was too apparent, although it was devised witli skill. Britain's hands would have been com- I ■pletely tied, for Germany would have taken every care that the letter of the

agreement should not bo infringed l>y her tlioug/li its spirit would lhave been torn to shreds. We know only too well what would have happened. Austria would have been made to act the part of the disturber of peace and Germany would have crushed France, Belgium and Russia, while Britain stood by. powerless and like a lamb in the shambles waiting her turn to be despatched. Thanks to Sir Edward Grey, wlio clearly saw the folds of ilie enveloping net, tile scheme failed. Then, foolishly, Germany showed her hand at Agadir, as well as her intent to break up the friendly understanding between England, France, and Russia, but the bluff would not work, and once more Germany tried io get by diplomacy what she failed to obtain by bluster. This time Herr IJollwcg and Lord Haldane liad a conference, but it all came round to the same starting point—Britain's neutrality in the event of Germany being at war, and there the matter ended, Britain naturally re/using to swallow such a thinly covered hook. We can well understand, in the light of recent events, how desperately anxious Germany was to distort r.ncl deliberately misrepresent the facts as stated. We can also understand how, in consequence of Britain's loyal adherence to her friends comprising the Entente, and thwarting Germany's evil scheme of world conquest, there should have sprung up a deep hatred for her by the Germans, wlio have been furnished only with the official wilful perversions of the truth. But the cause of justice and freedom must ever prevail.