Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-27
ANGLO GERMAN RELATIONS.

the Austrian press to propose an Anglo
German agreement 1t urges a change in
the British attitude toward the Bagdad
railway and other German interests in the
near east which would tend to facilitate
such an agreement. The question is what
could Germany offer In exchange for such
a contamination? The answer to that
question Is not difficult. England will not
lend penny to further the interests OIL
the Bagdad railway or other German in
terests unless she may obtain prepon-
derating control therein. This may not
appear clear to the young people in Mr.
Asduith's cabinet but II is fair to assume
that It is clear to the older men. as it is
to those elsewhere who understand
Britain's policy.
The author of an article in the Fort
nightly Review for September entitled:
why Not An Anglo-German Entente?'
cites M. Leopold Mabilleau in L'Opinion
Of Paris. who has been favored by many
hours of intimate association with the
kaiser. NJ. Mabilleau sums up his impress
sions as follows: ITO develop the ma
the nation by commerce. industry. science
and art. 1t is of this the emperor dreams.
and not of conquests." He cites the EN-
peror as saying to him: What can Ger
many gain by a rupture of peace In
which she has striven to fortify and
strengthen herself since thirty seven
years? If she maintains a fleet and an
army as powerful as possible. 1t is to keep
her pOSltlOn III tle WOTlu anu ueltllu ilci
traffic and influence on land and sea.
That is all!''
The London Nation. in connection with
the subject of ornaments, refers to recent
scares. First, ii was the Brazilian
Dreadnoughts which were constructed to
be transferred to Germany, and then
again to Japan Now Germany is build
ing homogeneous squadrons on lines OF
her own and would not care to purchase
Dreadnoughts for manifest reasons AS
or q hot
at home very much cheaper than she
could purchase them in Europe. The
latest scare is that the congress OF Ar
gentine has voted eleven million dollars
for ornaments. which includes three
Dreadnoughts. The Daily Mail and the
Daily Chronicle assert that Argentina
and Brazil are quarreling about Uruguay.
Brazil. Argentina. Chile and Peru have
no fear of England and France. but there
is an uneasy feeling about Germany as
new naval and colonizing power, and
though little is ever said on the subject,
correspondent in the Nation Uondon) as
serts that there Is lurking jealousy of
the United States. a fear not so much of
aggression as of patronizing protection
with dictation as its consequence, which
was curiously indicated in the case Of
Brazil"
The British press generally treat the
Anglo-German situation as follows: The
British public fears eventual German ag-
gression. The German public fears Brit
ish naval attack. Germany army Is
strong for offense or defense upon two
fronts. and her navy Is being strengthened
for defense on a third front. England
has q powerful navy. but no army worth
the name. A British writer declares that
In the opinion of many prudent and
thoughtful friends of England on the con-
tinent peace will always be precarious as
long as England has no army
4
Mr.. Hyndman Is chairman of the Social
Democratic Federation. the most ad-
vanced and respect
opinion OF able body of social
NJ un,du lists in England. He
has recently written
in the Clarion the following resume of the
situation as 1t appears to him:
There is not the slightest doubt" he
says, that Germany, under the leader
ship of Prussia, Is steadily making ready,
at heavy cost, which the German empire
at present can i'll afford, for a crucial
naval engagement in the North sea, fol-
lowed by an invasion of this country. This
is perfectly well known to all our leading
politicians. and conclusive evidence Of the
truth of this statement Is on record in
the war Office and at the admiralty.
Everything Is being got ready with that
detail for which the Germans have been
famous in military matters for nearly
half a century. In regard to the naval
preparations no concealment whatever is
attempted. Within six years from date, 1t
Is openly admitted on both sides of the
North sea, that the German fleet design
ed and built specially for this one object,
will be in a condition, If we allow things
to take their course. to challenge our own
navy in home waters. and very possibly
win. German naval officers avowedly
look forward to the day of the great en-
gagement, and drink their toasts in the
presence of foreign guests to their own
success in the approaching encounter
Germans proclaim that England is the
enemy"
The National Review refers to Mr.
Haldane as a 'chancey barrister' who
has been allowed TO play the devil with
have been reduced to 10000 men and
the militia disposed Of The nation in
arms" which attained the imposing fig
ure Of 100000 men In Mr.. Haldane's first
vision and was finally fixed at 100000,
never materialized.
England. says the Review lies within
days journey of the mightiest accumu-
lation of amphibious
Inc rover power ever controlled
If 9ermanv by one man, who
could at almost any
moment launch an overwhelming mill
tary and naval armada against a practi-
cally undefended country.
Lord Cromer's deliberate and solemn
reminder to his majesty's ministers In
the house Of lords July 20 is cited to
accentuate the peril which, according to
the Review, confronts England. The Re
view finally sums up the present situa-
ton OF Anglo-German relations:
AS result Of all their maneuyerins
and intriguing in 1908, the so-called mis-
tresS of the seas to whom naval suprem |
acy is not Wanton weapon of aggres- |
sion 1t would be to Germany. hut a !
condition Of national existence and indie
pendence. lays down two ships of the |
Dreadnought type to Germany's four. |
and 1t Is officially admitted by our so |
called statesmen that on present pro-
gram. In the year 1912, Germany will |
nave thirteen ships of the Dreadnought
type and England will have twelve.
The German government 1t is charged |
mas been encouraged by the criminal
utterances of the two chief Adventures |
In the cabinet" |
Any further diminution of the scantv
regular army would convince France |
that she was backing the wrong horse
In linking her fortunes to q country
without an army.
II is held to be good policy in England |
Tor the time being to maintain the leoend
OF friendly Germany" and this n is |
hoped 10 DO with the assistance of that |
portion Of the British press which
dances to the piping Of Potsdam'