Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-30
FRANCE AND GERMANY
Ill Feeling Between Nations
Growing Stronger.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
PARIS, December 3O-OnIy year or so
ago no Partisan journal would have
dreamed of publishing a series of articles
instituting comparisons between the French
and German armies in the eventuality of
war between the two nations. But all this
his been changed by the drift of events. and
General Langlois, while refuting In the
Temps NJ de Lanessan's very pessimistic
arguments, prefaces his remarks by giving
the explanat ton. The Emperor Williams
striking war trumpet call has. he points
out, received the instinct of seif-preserva-
tion-the idea of a terrible war to the knife
which # does not seek, but which may be
imposed on it in the mind of the French
nation. The general has little difficulty in
showing that things are not as bad as NJ.
de Lenessan's dark pen has pictured them.
The infantry along the eastern frontier is
not greatly inferior to the German as re-
CARDS numbers. while the cavalry and ar
tillery are quite as strong as the correspond.
ing arms across the border. In almost all
the mobilization operations France is on
par with Germany. and it is a mistake to
affirm that the work of concentration would
be hampered. The real inferioritf or
France, he concludes, consists in the low
ness of her birthrate compared with the
prolific German The German army can
always be superior In numbers to he
French which however can compensate
for this drawback by suppleuess.
Acrimony of the Press.
The increasing acrimony of the Franco
German press controversy carried on by
some of the Leading journalists in Paris and
Berlin is far too grave and significant a
sign of the times to be allowed to pass I'M
noticed. The latest attacks on the French
nation contained in the Lokal Anzeiger and
~, .tfl,
ably account for the attitude of the French
press.
NJ. Clemenccau says in the Aurore:
There is no way of living at peace with
William il for single moment Possess
ing everything that might be expected to
satisfy an ambition above the average, he
needs still more, though exactly what no.
body can tell While willing to be feared
he wishes TO be loved, and complains mat
wicked people at whom he constantly
brandshes his saber do not love him as
much as he would like to be loved. Moth
ing is so dangerous as this mania of re-
crimina ton, sword IN hand. Systematically
developed by an ohedfent press. sooner or
later people grow tired of being harassed
by abuse and by threats of WHICH no one
can discern the cause. The psychological
moment inevitably comes when exhausted
patience gives way to anger and when 1t Is
felt that anything is preferable to a peace
so deploTably agitated. | do not know
whether William ii and the newspapers
whose movements he controls, like those
OF his regiments, have determined TO bring
us to that point but it is certain that
across the Rhine people have never taken
much trouble TO make themselves IN
toerable.'
Referring to the yelled threats of the Ber-
liner Tageblatt NJ. Clemenceau continues:
I'VE shall, however, preserve our COM
posture We shall not tremble with fear at
the brutal attacks which only deserve a
shrug of the shoulders. They are greatly
mistaken if they believe that they will
shake the frmness of the French govern
ment by strong language. M Rouvler
ought to realize that his too conceivable de-
sire to make concessions Is being abused,
and that there must necessarily be limit
TO those concessions. AS to William IL, II
he simply intends to test the state OF
French public opinion one of his agents
will do well to tell him that he must not
carry his meuacing diplomacy too far. and
that we shall do our duty to ourselves with
or without his permission
Anglo-German Alliance.
Meanwhile it is perhaps interesting to
state that the movement i'll favor of an
Anglo-German IMPROVEMENT which isbe-
ing discussed both in England and Germany
il not disturbing the peace of mind of the
people Of France. In the first place the
French who are at present admittedly
about the most pacific nation on the con-
tInent would contemplate with the grav-
est apprehension for themselves anything
like strained situation between England
fundamental principles of French foreign
policy as inaugurated by NJ. Delcasse and
continued by NJ. Rouvier can testify that
Its primary Object Is to promote the gem
eral peace of the world The art of play
ing one power against another so dexter
ously pracuced by certain diplomacy IS
conspicuous by its absence from that of
France. Therefore the prospect Of seeing,
# not a rapprochement at all events a
return to a normal state of feeling between
the English and German nations involves
nothing which inspires the French with the
slightest concern. Moreover. they display
the greatest confidence in the good sense
and loyalty of the English people.
There appears not the falntest sign here
that the Anglo-German entente cordiale
might lose anything of its popularity by
any pro-Germau propaganda. But, be this
as 1t may, there is little doubt but that the
bitterest feeling obtains against Germany
as nation-nOt because the French natur-
ally hold a hatred toward any nation on
the globe, but because of the German en-
peror's attacks on the French nation. One
leading FrenChmen said that If an nglo-
German entente could only keep the Ger
man emperor quiet he would be in favor of
an nglo-German entente, or any other
kind Of an entente.
The Abyssinian Question.
With regard to Prince Buelow's reference
TO a possible new subject of disagreement
among the powers, q careful survey of the
diplomatic situation suggests that the
chancellor probably alludes to Abyssinia.
Germany intends to station q representa-
tive there. and there has been a fierce
struggle going on for control of the rail-
roads of Abyssinia, the ruler preferring to
have the railroads remain international in
plan and scope. Negotiations have been
going for some time between England
France and Italy on questions of common
concern which, as a matter of fact, had
economic rather than political objects in
view They have been jealousy watched
lFsf114 aud DIT, L,
has Abyssinia on his mind there IS evil
IDENTIFY some intention on the part of Ger
many 10 claim the same right to intervene
there that she has done in Morocco. There
are. In fact. well-informed diplomat fists