New-York tribune., 1909-03-14
THE MILK OF THE ooCoANUT.


In short. Germany agrees to Frances So
called -Tunihcation" of Morocco and completely
EfthdraEs from her former position. And vet
Emperor William and his leading statesmen and
diplomats are congratulating themselves over
the result Of the negotiations and do not make
auy attempt 70 conceal their extreme satisfac-
tior which has taken the form Of the bestowal
Of the highest orders upon the negotiators and
in q message Of felicitation from the Emperor
10 Prince Radolin, his ambassador at Paris,
eouched in terms OF the most enthusiastic ap-
probation
All this tends TO confirm the belief that the
Official version Of the agreement between Ger
many and France the subject OF MOROCCO
which has been printed in the newspapers on
both sides OF ths Atlantic, is as have men
toned above, merely the preamble Of a much
more important understanding between the two
countries: Of an understanding which puts an
end 10 the latent ennity which has existed ever
since the days OF Frederick the Great. and even
from stn more remote times. between the Teu-
tons and the GauIs. It means that the necessity
until now imposed upon the two governments
virtually TO bankrupt themselves in maintaining
ever increasing ornaments against each other
has come to an end. and that the probability Of
war between Germany and France. which has
been REGARDED as inevitable sooner or later ever
since the peace Of Versailles IN 1871 no longer
exists.
That the terms Of the secret clauses Of the
agreement should be withheld from the public
is only natural; for os its most important
features must necessarily be a virtual aban-
dcnment by France OF its determination to re-
conquer Alsace and Lorraine. No statesman
In Paris would venture openly to admit this
And yet the necessity Of relegating to oblivion
the Chsuvinist policy of ia revanche" appeals
10 every thoughtful Frenchnan of the present
Gay Prior to 1870 the people Of Alsace and
Lorraine were justly accounted as the least
loyal OF the provinces Of the French Empire
They were always a source Of trouble TO the
Partisan government, no matter what the char
scter Of the latter, and were essentially Ger
man In language and temperament To-day,
nss-ly forty years after the annexation Of the
tEo provinces by Germany, they are more
Teutonized than ever, and were they TO be re-
stored TO France they would be TO her a cause
of more embarrassment and trouble than be-
fore
Premier Clemenceau realizes that even under
the most favorable circumstances it would be
impossible TO recover the so-called Reichsland'
except at the cost of terrible war, which
would drain the resources of France TO the
point OF exhaustion and ruin. The provinces
are not worth, in his eyes, 20 France the oner-
sacrifices IN blood. treasury and injury
60 trade and industry which their acquisition
would entail. Many sensible Frenchmen quiet
ly admit this-but not for publication. Prime
Minister Clenenceau IS apparently bolder. and,
by binding his government 10 definite abandon
rnent OF Alsace and Lorraine 10 Germany and
to policy from which every idea Of Ia re-
Vanche' is eliminated. he has been able to OBJ
tain Tor his country very important conces-
slens from Germany elsewhere-concessions
that are bound TO prove OF immense political
sno economic value 10 France: first and fore
host among them. the virtual consent OF Ger
many 10 the conversion Of Morocco into a sort
o. French Egypt. France having thus at last
buried the hatchet, IL is possible 10 understand
Tie immense satisfaction Of Emperor William
and Of all those German statesmen and diplo-
mats who have been initiated into the mystic
Ties OF the recent agreement
a foolish controversy has arisen as to whom
ene credit really belongs in the affair, and
F1noe Bulow seems 10 have endeavored to
usurp II Cor himself. notably in a speech de-
Hereo the other day at Berlin, which cannot
pIt nave given offence TO the Emperor, and
mat vas, 10 say the least. questionable in
taste and in loyalty 10 that master TO whose