The sun., 1906-01-07
FRANCE IS NOT SEEKING WAR.
BUT HAS MADE READY FOR A
POSSIBLE GERMAN ATTACK.
Strained Relations Cause Anxiety In Europe
Coming Conference on Morocco
Oners Fatally Easy Chance to Make
r. Trouble-Our Action Plcases France.
sp,etal Gable Dispatches to THE SUN.


Oners Fatally Easy Chance to Make
Special Cable Dispatches to THE SUN.
LONDON. Jan. 6.-AnXiety over the
strained relations between France and
Germany still prevails, and in some quarters
amounts to positive alarm. 1t is pointed
out that the quiet mobilization and general
military activity throughout France for
the last seven months has put the country
on full war footing. Meanwhile, German
preparations have not been lacking. 1t is
argued by some that in the present situa-
ton France is as much to be feared as Ger
many with regard to the danger of breach
Of the peace.
Two views are taken of the German
attitude. Many accept the declaration Of
Count Won Tatten bach Askold the former
special German representative at Fez, that
Emperor William is in genuinely con-
ciliatory mood, that he is heartily sick of
Moroccan affairs and that he desires only
10 see the end of the imbroglo. 1t is further
explained that he was misled by Chancellor
Won Buelow. and now sees that the accept
snce Of the Anglo-French entente was
Inevitable
NJ Clemenceau sets forth the other view
with great force. He argues that it is idle
to hang on the lips of the German Emperor
to know il on this or that day he will be in a
good humor. The German policy has al
wavs consisted of alterations Of kindly
and threatening utterances, and one means
lust as much as the other. Germany, he
SAYS, will carry things as far against France
as she is permitted, and it is frances busi-
ness to see that such permission is wanting
He anticipates as a result of the conference
that an unsatisfactory patched up peace
will be obtained by compromise after Ger
many has gone as far as she dares in threat
ening war, and he urges his countrymen to
show stiff back from the start.
There is much in the situation which
opposes the belligerent view. 1t is quite
true that the French Government has been
sraining every nerve to prepare for
German attack since the almost open
threats of war in the early summer These
preparations, however, have had a purely
defensive object. No Gov ernment. in
deed. could have done less under the cir
cumstances and every effort has been made
to avoid the possibility of the charge that
France was animated by aggressive mo-
tiyes The whole crisis has been of Ger
'
the present moment has been one Of simple
prudence.
1t is true also that French national feel
Ing harbors considerable resentment against
Germany for her provocative and chal
enging attitude during the past year.
This could /scarcely have been otherwise
many self-respectingc country. The French
press within a few days has been perhaps
,,,I i,-
treat ment of the kaiser's reputed peace
utterances but it is alto ogether wrong to
assume that there is any general desire
in France to try conclusions at arms with
Germany.
The French Government understands
perfectly that any aggressive move on
their part leading to war would cost the
support of Great Britain, without whose
aid they could not hope successfully TO
resist the Kaiser's fleet and army There
Is therefore little reason to fear the Sue
cess of German plan, if such plan exists, |
to provoke the French into furnishing a
plausible casus bei,
II is to a certain extent true, as the Spec |
tqtor remarks to-day, that the coming con-
ference offers fatally easy chance forany
PARTIES thereto to make war. The task Of
thwarting any such intention ought not to
be beyond the power of the representatives |
Of the peaceful members Of that confer I
ence.
PARIS, Jan. e-The Echo &c Paris con-
Eders that the arrival of the American
squadron in the Mediterranean will be sig
mfcant, as proving that the United States
means to play a certain part at the inter-
national Moroccan conference. 1t adds
Assuming that their sentiments are de-
cdedly favorable to us, we hal! the despatch
Of the American squadron as a happy
event
BERLIN, Jan. cit is learned semi-of-
fcially that the German white book on the
Moroccan question, which is to be pub
hshed by way of reply to the French yell
low book on the same subject, will contain
little or nothing sensational, All such ma
erial has, by orders of Chancellor Won
Buelow, been carefully excluded from it
In view of the approaching Moroccan con-
ference, The documents given are only
rlch as tend to rectlfy or supplement the
French yellow book from the point at which
the pacific turn in the French policy
cured when Premier Rouvier took charge
Of the negotiations after the retirement Of
Minister Delcasse. All the omitted matter,
such as the correspondence with the Sui
tan Of Morocco, has already been conf
dentially communicated to France.
DAY or REST TOR DOCTORS.