The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-25
GERMANY WORKING ONLY ID GAIN TIME Arbitration Treaty Will
 Never Be Signed A DIPLOMATIC COUP Was China's Recent Loan Transae- tion-Belgian Educational Bill
 Is Likely to Cause
 Trouble
A DIPLOMATIC COUP
By FREpERIcK WERNER

Fly FREDERICK WERNER
 Berlin. June Special. )--Puollc opinion in Germany. which Is strongly in favor of arbitration treaties with all the powers as a forerunner 10 gen eraI disarmament. forced the German gove1 nment to adopt what might at
 first glimpse look like very favor
 able attitude toward President Tatt
 arbitration proposals. and there was
 general rejoicing here when the hrst semi official telegram from Washing
 ton announced that Germany was "Hl- ing 10 negotiate l am able 10 state
 on absolutely reliable information that
 the Kaiser's government has no such
 intention, but Is simply trying to gain
 time. In reality the German reply 10 l Washington simply stated that the German government, as a matter or | international courtesy, was willing 10 examine the draft containing the Amer ican proposals Now the draft is here but it is quite certain that the Ger man foreign department will take plenty of time to examine it and as for negotiatons-well, I am almost willing to wager my life that there never will be any or at least that they will be nothing but mere sham and and pretense.
 The truth Is Germany has no serious intention of tying her hands by any such treaty. Ever since the first Hague conference she has adopted the a'ti- turde of asserting her agreement with the principle nf arbitration, but has consistently prevented a practical ap- plication of il by her tsNert.e device of raising objections of detail and in voking technicalities. She wants, how ever. not to be left out of the discus sion as in that case her enemies would say that she does not sincerely desire to make war Impossible; but she nat uraily fears that if she committed her self to arbitra tion her predomlnance and prestige Tn Eurore would suffer sensible diminution Her military con- ditions alone almost forbid her join ing a league of arbitration, for if she were sincere she would be expected to reduce her army and navy and to that she will not perhaps cannot, consent. Her growing influence in the world, too largely depends on her land and sea forces.
 China has scored a goodlv success in diplomacy. In order to satisfy her fnan- cial needs she borrowed a million taels recently and accepted the money from four powers: Great Britain, the United States, France and Germany. In this transaction Russia had no hand or part. The loan was raised partly for the unifi- cation of the currency, which is per haps the most pressing need of the mo- mont, and partly for the purpose of developing industrial Manchura. The regular pa yment of interest is guaran-
 
 dues of Manchuria. The other provinces guarantee 1t only with their excise duty on salt.
 Thus the principal sources of revenue in Manchuria are, so to say, pawned to the international syndicate of the four powers, which henceforth will possess well defined and real interests in north ern and southern Manchuria, Russians complain that China might have pledged the revenues of other provinces, but cunningly preferred to give these of Man churia in crder that the four states who thus become her creditors may have a lever for action should China be at tackled by Russia or Japan. This is master stroke of diplomacy. The Novoye Nremya writes that while if was in favor of rejecting MT. knoXs proposal to neu- tralize Manchuria by means of interna- tional railroads over year ago, it now recommends the Czar's government to make the best of the new situation which would have the effect of bringing For the effect of this financial trans action will, if it holds, be virtually iden- tical with the political effect aimed at by the naturalization scheme.
 Serious trouble is likely to occur in Belgium ownig to the government de- cision to pass an education bill which is regarded as unconstitutional and which would have the effect of bringing many children into the clerical schools.
 The liberals and socialists have de- cided to oppose the passing of the bill by every legal means An ardent propa- ganda has been started throughout the country and meetings of 10000 and 20,00O people arc held in all the large towns where the leaders of the opposition are encourages &in their attitude by enthus- iastic crowds.
 The government. which has only ma jority of six, is greatly annoyed. as the passing of the measure is now very doubtful, and if it is not passed by the end of the session M. Schollaert will have to resign and general election will take place. in which case the cleri- cal majority will be shattered.
 Belgian committee has now been formed under the presidency of General De feusch to organize great centenary festivities on the field of Waterloo in 1915, Ii is intended to COT rstruct another monument, which will be of black mar ble. Every nation that took part in the battle will be represe lted by a bronze figure, and all the bones and other souvenirs of the historic struggle will be collected and placed in the monu- ment.
 The idea of erecting peace monument on the battlefield of .,aterloo has been abandoned. Fetes of an international character will be organized by an inter national committee for the year 1915.
 A remarkable decision has been given In the Rome court of justice according to which cardinals, though not holding grand officials of state and cannot therefore be cited to appear personally as witnesss before judicial courts un- less the minister of justice himself should deem their presence so indis- pensable as to issue a summons on his own initiative and rsponsibilitv
 The decision in question is based upon the provisions of the royal decree of lS6S, which establishes that cardinals take precedence of knights of the supreme or der of the AnnunZiata. hence according to the interpretation of the judges they are. if not placed on an equal looting with royal princes. at least considered above the simple dignity of great officers of state
 This decision is in consequence of a criminal trial which is in progress in Rome arising out of public accusations