The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-25
ENCL|SH-GERMAN RELATIONS BETTER Great Interest in Possible Anglo-German Entente AUSTRIAN INTRIGUE
Morganatic Wife of Ferdinand Cause Back of Recent Fight Against Count Aehrenthal-Turkish
 Politics Are Confused
By FREDERICK WERNER

ny Fttf1DEniSh - EhNISAhR
 Berlin, February 24.-tspecial)-There is no more interesting phenomenon on the political sky than growing belief among statesmen that an Anglo-German entente is by no means improbable in very near future and surely no political event could have more far reaching effect than an understanding between these countries whose race for naval supremacy during the last 10 years has cost the tax payers of both untold millions. The suggestion that the time had come to advocate bet ter understanding between England an1 Germany was first made in an English {, paper which is very close to the present English government, and it is therefore quite safe to suppose that the idea orig mated with the English prime minister. but 1t was well received In the German press with the exception of few jingo papers.
 The Post regards the English state ments as proof that more opportune moment than the present will never be offered to the German government to ks realize the intentions. suggested in the Congo agreement of forming a great Cen tral African colonial empire. At any rate, it says, such an attempt might be made. as the result would show how much practical value is to be attached to the English assurance of friendship. If Eng land is really. resolved and ready to fol- low up her many words with acts. adds the ci-deyant organ of the free conserva- tive party. the possibility of an under standing in respect of armaments might kk also be discussed, but. of course, not on the basis Of two to one naval strength. as the English wish, but only on the basis of three to two. ,n e8t45 e-
 The kreuz zeitnhe. which is the leading organ of the conservative party. does not doubt that the statements made in the English papers are well meant and should be fully appreciated. but 1t adds that some of these English papers adhere pertina- ciously to the view that Providence in- tended the English to be masters and the Germans to be Yservants. and declares that no understandipg is possible until the English recognize the fact that the two nations are on aIafooting of absolute equality.
 The Neueste Nscbrichten, which Is all ways ready to support the war party, nozes that the English are again twang- ing the harps of pface and waving green palm branches. The basis for an under standing suggested by the English radi- cal newspapers, put in plain language, is, 1t declares, that Germany shall restrict her naval construction in such a manner that she can at any time be defeated at sea by England. It sees no reason why 1t should not continue to describe all this Understanding sentimentalty" by the well known English word "can't."
 The announcement has repeatedly been made in the press that Count Aehrenthal, the deceased Austrian minister of foreign affairs, was resigning his position because of his failing health, but while the minis lpdolIbfedly a sick the reason of his proposed retirement. must be sought elsewhere At no court in Europe are. intrigues as frequent as at the court of old Emperor Francis Joseph, who is well aware of their existence and evil influence upon the politics of the country, but who in his high age lacks the firmness necessary 10 suppress them. The fight against Count Aehrenthal was indeed but another step in the game of intrigue which is being played in Austria by the two political fac tions-those who support the present con dition of things and those who support the Archduke Francis Ferdinand ana ms morganatic wife, the Duchess of Hohen- berg. This lady has never ceased to create trouble and strife from the mo- ment Francis Ferdinand took her as wife
 The situation is most extraordinary. In fact, it is one almost without precedent. The three ladies chiefly concerned are the Duchess Of Hohenberg. morganatic con sort. of Archduke Francis Ferdinand; the Countess d'Aehrenthal, and the German ambassador at Vienna. The net result of the o-pettieoat inlbroglio is that Count d'Aehrenthal had intimated to the joint Austrian and Hungarian parliament that he was about to resign because of "a failure of harmony; that is to say, grave differences in the very highest circles.
 This coming from statesman who was not only minister of foreign affairs. but .t- ~~t~ minister of the imperial house, the lat ter's most confidential adviser. therefore. and the custodian of all its family and state secrets-in, one word, the chief diEnitary of the court and of the empire-- can be interpreted to mean nothing else than there is every foundation for the report of pronounced differences between the Emperor Francis Joseph. and his nephew and next heir Arehduke Francis Ferdinand. reproached the Emperor for not having given more vigorous sup port to Germany last summer and autumn in her quarrel with France and Great Britain on the subject of Morocco Indeed, the Archduke went out of his way in September last to declare that Austria should stand shoulder with Germany in the affair.
 Emperor Francis Joseph. and above all, Count d'Aehrenthal, were of different opinion They disapproved of the pro- vocatye aggressive policy adopted by Germany towards France and England regarding Morocco, and. by direction of dAehrenthal. the Austrain ambassadors abroad refrained from giving Germany any diplomatic support The unfavora- ble opinions Of d'Aehrenthal regarding Germanys venture in the Moroccan con- troversy were shared, 1t is now known. by several of the on-Prussian sovereign rulers of Germany, who saw reason to embark upon a ruinous war with France and Great Britain on the subject of Morocco
 D Aehrentlials policy throughout. since he first became minister of foreign 'af- fairs, had been to restore the proper balance of relations between Berlin and Vienna. Tn the days of his predecessor. Count Golochowski. Austria was reduced to purely secondary role in the eyes of Europe. but on the appointment as for eign minister of Count d'Aehrenthal. he soon proceeded to show his entire inde- pendcnce of Berlin control by proclaim