The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-13
TREATY WITH GERMANY
COMMENT OF LONDON PRESS ON
THE COVENANT.
Papers which Have Supported the Gov
ernment Dislike the Agreement
while the OppOsitiOn Press
COmmends It

London, July lathe announcement
that arbitration treaty between Ger
many and Great Britain was signed
yesterday by Foreign Minister Lands
downe and Count olff-Metternich. the
German Ambassador, completed a not
altogether surprise to the English press
and public. 1t was against Just such
q treaty that The Spectator and other
power organs urged the government,
prior to King Edwards visit to En-
peror William at Kiei.
BY the papers which echoed that
warning the news of the signing of the
arbitration is swallowed either with
palpably dislike or. with ill-concealed
disappointment. The only whole soul
ed appreciation comes, curiously
enough. from opposition papers. The
Daily News the governments most bit
ter opponent warmly congratulates
King Edward upon his latest achieve
ment. The Liberal Daily Chronicle,
The Morning Leader follow suit, while
such q staunch mouthpiece Of the gov
eminent as The Daily Telegraph de-
votes half Of its editorial on this sub
ject to expression of the belief that the
Anglo-German treaty cannot compare
In Importance with the convention con-
cluded with France.
A similar method OF evading criticism
is pursued by The Standard, but The
Morning Post frankly deserts the Gov
eminent. characterixing Lord Lans-
downe's latest diplomatic stroke as a
policy OF unsettled convictions and OF
promiscuous amiability."
The Daily Mail and other papers ac-
centuate the fact that the agreement
Is very limited in scope and deals with
minor matters.
The Daily Mail says that there is
no indication whatever on the part of
Germany OF such an amicable dispo-
sition as exhibited by France" and
adds that IL only the German naval
program were adopted. then both Gov
ernments could agree upon the ar
rangement."
An especial point is given to the edi-
torial stress upon the priority of the
Anglo French agreement by the fact
that at almost the same moment when
Lord Lansdowne and Count Wolfe
Metternich were signing the document
at the foreign office. M. Cambon. the
French Ambassador to Great Britain,
was laying the last stone OF the new
pier at Folkjestone. There the French
Ambassador made q speech which ~
given great publicity and in which he
declared he was commenting on the
good fellowship and friendship of the
two nations created by the Anglo
French treaty. These expressions arc
used with much effect in the editorials
of the Government organs In order to
Offset the fear. not expresser except by
The Morning Post that the French pub
lie ma entertain, in view of the pres
ent development, grave doubts of Brit
ish sincerity in the recent Cambon-
Lansdowne treaty.
The Daily Telegraph undoubtedly
yoicing official opinion here says. Bis
marck's principle Of Tojours en- We
dette will remain an unnecessary mot
to at wilhelmstrasse, but 1t must re-
main the vital idea under all circum-
stances of our own admiralty. But
every person of common sense must
rejoice in the elimination of petty
friction from the diplomatic intercourse
of Great Britain and any other great
power We should desire above all
things a similar arrangement with our
kindred-the United States--and there
is pothing in the world to prevent an
identical agreement with Russia"
In support of its criticism The
Morning Post says that those who well
coined the Anglo French treaty as a
masterstroke laid stress on the fact
that 1t left Germany isolated. Now
an agreement with Germany and the
presence of a German squadron at Ply
mouth are proofs that Germany is not
isolated"
The Standard, while not taking the
treaty as an outcome of King Edwards
visit to KEEL. says 1t is an appropriate
sequel to that meeting.
With a few such sentences The
Standard proceeds to dilate on the sta
bility and advantages of the Anglo
French entente.
The Times somewhat strangely
makes no comment on the Anglo-Ger-
man treaty.