New-York tribune., 1908-03-07

/ BE n IINER 3NI LOhD " EDHOCI II
Anglo-Gernan relations really appear 10 be
the sport of peculiarly peryerse and
malignant fate. Whenever they should be good
something occurs 10 make them al least du-
biouS Generally it is 4 1rife. but trifes
often mischievous: and there is eli the more
exasperation in the circumstance that the two
nations should be even in the least eStranged
because Of some little matter which really
ought not 10 have produced the slightest ripple
upon the international tide. The nervous sus-
capabilities of both nations have We suppose,
been wrought up 10 a tension which makes pos
sihle most disturbing agitation as the result
of even the slightest friction. Only little
while ago the German Emperor was visiting
England and utterng rhe most friendly senti-
menrs and the world was accepting with
grateful relief the assurance that all animosty
between the TWO nations had become thing
of the past And now comes the kaisers let
Ter 10 Lord Tweedmouth 10 turn everything
topSv-rurvv and TO rouse suspicion and antaso-
nism 10 a higher pitch than before
That letter may and we trust will prove 10
have been the most innocent thing in the
world. II is almost inconceivabIe that il should
have had any sinister design or have been
capable Of such interpretation-amos we say.
because there is Yet a possibility that the En-
uernr who al times is one of the NEST I'M
rr1lsire of men. IN Il moment OF humanitarian
exaIration wrote 10 the British peer a letter
,yhicD wa. absolutely well meant and ycr which
was susceptible Of Objectionable Interpretation.
But. however Innocent and benevolent the let
ter NAV have been. there is little doubt that the
fact that It Ms written al all viii seriously eN-
cite public sentiment and will to resrettabie
degree arouse in Great Britain popular sus-
picion If and resentment toward Germany. while
naturally enough there viii in return he pro
vohed a recrudesccnce Of ant1-EnGlish feeling in
Germany.
The circumstances could not have been more
Shre1dlv devised insure precisely such re
suit newly published book and various re-
view and newspaper articles have in the last
few weeks depicted German secret diplomacy
a busy in British colonies in South Africa and
elsewhere. conducting IN anti-British and Sep'-
ratiSt propaganda. Then an inclination was
manifested on the part Of the British govern
ment 10 reduce the naval estimates and 10 hold
in indefinite allowance the programme Of naval
eynansion. Thus a widespread feeling arose
that Germany intriguing against Great
Britain and that the British government was
disposed 10 sacrifice the feet for the sake OF
economy Finally. il was made known that
the German Emperor had been in correspond
pnca with the British Naval Minister on the
subject Of naval armameuts. What more easy
than Ia lump to the conclusion that the German
"a reduce its estimates and to desist from naval
avnsnsion? Lord TweedmOuth. il VIII be OBJ
served declares that the letter contained no
reference 10 the British naval estimates. but he
does not deny that il related 10 naval dHAlfs-
SI,ch conclusion is doubtless from one point
If view monstrouS. in its implied aspefsionS
upon the Fmppror's sincerity and upon Lord
1vaaImoutb'e loyalty. We cannot for mo-
rnenr S11npose that the former deliberately com
,yrftred so gross an offence against NredI
Britain or that the latter permitted any aleh
Influence 10 control his official action We shall
cxpecr Inc whole episode 10 bc satisfactorily
ezDlained on Monday next as promised but
there are many who Will regret that it was
-ho1,br necessary 10 wait until Monday before
making the explanation. as though there We're
.ompllcations which il would take time TO ad-
fus1 What j most serious. however. Is the
ropuIar suspicion and resentment which have
hp4n aroused which il is 10 be feared no OK
planation in the world can fully ana promptly
aIIay and in view of which 1t will be widely
regretted in both countries that the CORE
spondence ever occurred.