The morning call., 1891-11-28
CAPRIVI'S COMMENTS.
The German Prime Minister Reviews the
European Situation.

BERLIN, Nov. 27.-Chancellor Won Ca
privi was present at the session OF the
Reichstag this morning, and in speech re-
ferred to III rumors that he intended to
resign as ridiculous. Won Caprivi refuted
the reproaches uttered against the Govern
ment on account of It's so-called vacillat ting
policy. The Kaiser's journey to Russia had
established friendly intercourse between
the two monarchs, but no political matters
were discussed between them. The press
INDUCED in too much trumpeting in regard
TO the visit of the French fleet to Cronstait.
which engendered on the other side the wish
for more drumming The position of France
and Russia toward the Dreibund had not
changed. All that happened at Cronstad t
was that The existing condition had become
manifest There is no need for uneaSineSs,
as the Cars intentions are most pacific,
only care. must be taken to avoid clumsy
errors The Cars Government was in a
position to make its will prevail; its in-
creased confidence in the French consti-
tuted no danger to Germany.
ARMAMENT OF EUROPE.
Referring TO the state of tile general arma-
ment in Europe the Chancellor said this
would continue much longer, uninfuencPd
by the resolves adopted by the Peace Con-
gress. 1t was, however, a matter of salts
faction that the general readiness for war
Africa Germany still had long task to
fulfill. She had been obliged to have re-
course to the doubtful plan OF a lottery; but
Germany's possessions in Africa were ten
times moro important than those OF En-
gland, with which nation Germany had not
made bad bargain. He said the abolition
OF compulsory passports in Alsace-Lor-
raIne had been regarded as an act of weak
ness. but the continuance OF that system as
peTmanency was impossible. The as
I NrfVV, f1War IN,Tal 4
many was progressing surely. The best
connecting link was the army. After a few
generations the ReichsIand question would
be settled. There was no cause for un-
eaSness TN account of the army, although
| certain military pessimism had lately be-
come apparent The worlds habit of esti-
mating the worth of an army according to
| its numbers was wrong. Germany had
never before possessed so many capable
military leaders, and no other nation had
such chances for the next war.
GUARDING THE FRONTIERS.
Referring to the movements of the troops
| on the Russian and French frontiers, the
! Chancellor said Germany as well as Austria
| had IN this respect probably exceeded their
duty. Too much anxiety prevailed because
| Russia had dispatched an army CORDS TO
| place as near the German frontier as Cob
lentz was to the Russian frontier. The
| newspapers, moreover, ought to be better
| employed than in alarming their readers by
| publishing reports calculated TO interfere
| with commerce and damaging 10 the country.
The Chancellor, referring to his journey
to Russia with Emperor William, said he
knew that the interview between the two
EmperorS had given great satisfaction to
Russia. Nothing, he said, could shake his
conviction that the personal intentions of
the Gar were the most pacific in the world
NO existing Government" he said. 'has
sufficient military prepOnderance to induce
it TO provoke war with a light heart. The
stronger a Government is the more easily
will 1t avoid da" gerous mistakes. 1t is a
source of satisfaction to know that Russia
possesses this strength. France would not
have sought the Cronstadt meeting had she
doubted that Rqssibr"as strong enough to
be relied upon.