Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-11
GERMANY AND FRANCE
Latter Charged With Disturbing
Formers Relations with England
The Mission of Prince Henry, OF
Prus.in,to Austrin-Tho Kicchsiag
Debate on tho Nova, Biil-mucb
Diplomacy.


Berlin. Feb. 10.-An official of the Ger
man Foreign Office, who was question
ed to-day by the correspondent OF the
Associated Press regarding the utter
ances Of Duke Johann Albrecht, the re-
gent Of the Grand Duchy Of Mecklen-
burg-Schwerin, to French newspaper
man. said:
1T Is true Duke Albreoht received
the Eclalr representative, but the lat
ter evidently greatly exaggerated the
Dukes utterances. The French are do
Ing everything possible to disturb the
friendly relations between Germany and
England. After Faehoda, Frances
most reasonable policy would have been
10 establish an understanding with
england in regard to the colonial ques-
ton but instead of this the Paris Cab
met seeks every opportunity to create
enemies for England. If NJ. Delcasse
thinks 1t to Frances advantage to sys-
tematicaily agitate against England
NE can do SO, but he must not try to
rupture Anglo German friendship"
PREMIER HENRY.
Referring to the visit of Prince
Henry, of Prussia. the foreign official
said:
The Immediate object Is to present
himself to Emperor Francis Joseph as
an Austrian ViceAdmiral, to which
rank he was recently nominated. Z
nolltlcal purpose may be assigned to
the visit, as Germany wishes to show
that all recent attempts to shake the
Dreibund have been fruitless. The
Driebund's enemies in Paris and st. Pc
tersburg must be shown that all the re-
ftTrNn y, L..
many emphasizes this by Prince Hen
rvs visit first to Gernany's ally"
THE NAVAL BILL.
The Reichstag debate OH the Naval
bill, and the question "Will 1t pass?"
overshadow everything just now. But
the queer fact deserves recording that
the much-heard-of enthusiasm and So
eallad=hurEah= stimmung= seems to have
suddenly oozed away as the naked
facts confronted the speakers for both
the Government and the opposition.
lntrinsically the best speech so far
made was that of the Secretary OF the
Interior. Count Won Posadowisky-W Web
ner, who made strong case in favor
of the contention that the nation will
not need new taxation after doubling
the navy. He also proved that after
passing the bill Germany protects her
merchant marine with one ton of navy
against seven and a half tons of mer-
chant ship. while the United States
proportion is five, Italy's three to one,
and Russia's and Frances in even less.
He also made strong point in insist
ing that the Bundesrath passed the
bill at both readings unanimously
The absence and probable death of
DR.. Lieber, the Centrlst leader lessons
the chances of the bill, as DR.. I.ieber
would have acted as n mediator be-
tween the government and the Centre.
| There is nobody tit to take his place
| as chief Of the Centre.
FRENCH DIPLOMACY.
Count Won Bueow, the Minister OF
| Foreign Affairs, and the Emperor still
take care to vigorously destroy the i'm
preston in England and elsewhere that
| Germany at any time means to join in
| steps calling on Great Britain to halt
in South Africa. This impression has
| been cunningly nurSed and fostered by
! French diplomacy and in the French
| press, and Count Won Buelow believes
1t has been for the purpose of project
| ing Great Britain into an openly hostile
attitude to Germany. This purpose
| may now be considered to have failed.
| The whole German semi official press
| during the week has published facts
showing that Germany wishes to re-
| main n friend with both Russia and
France and with Great Britain.
THE GRIP.
| Influenza has attained an enormous
spread throughout Germany. In Ber-
lin there is hardly one family without
sufferers.
LABOR TROUBLES.
The coal strike is gradually extending
In Germany The Halle and LeipsiS
districts are also affected. Daily comes
the news that large factories have
| closed because of lack of coal.
The Society of German Tool Manu-
facturers has resolved not to attend
the Russian Machinery Exposition, and
that movement Ia now considered to
have miscarried,