The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1912. INTERNATIONAL AMITY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 32, 6 February 1912, Page 4

The Auckland Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News and The Echo.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1912. INTERNATIONAL AMITY.

tor **e cause that Biote asawtonoe, For the wrong thmt neede retiatottoe, For the fvtvre in the dimUmce, And the good that toe eon do.

Mr. Lloyd George, whose >peech during the Morocco crisis gave warning of an impending international war of almost unprecedented destruotiveness, has made his appearance as an apostle of peace. In a speech at the City liberal Club he declared his -hclief that the time is favourable for a ihetter understanding between Germany, France, Russia and Britain, and indicated that by the removal of international jealousies and fears Cue vast expenditure on armaments might be reduced and the money thus saved be made available for the nork of social reform. It is a lamentable truth that recent efforts to brin# about a. better understanding between Britain I and Germany have utterly failed, and I that the ruinous naval expenditure of 1 the pa-st will probably >l>o exceeded during the current year. IL is estimated that the nations of Europe now spend £000,000,000 annually on armaments. The best European statecraft may well be concentrated upon measures of relief from this intolerable Imrden. Such, an achievement would, indeed, mark our epoch with a unique distinction. There appears, however, to be little hope of obtaining an assurance of international submission to Courts of Arbitration at a time when we ;tre unable to settle even minor industrial disputes without resorting to the mutually damaging and unreasoning measures of war.

International harmony Ls not to be attained merely by the expression of pious hopes, or the 't\.terance of carefully phra«ed altruistic sentiments. It must be based upon a fair recognition of the economic conditions of the Great Powers, upon wh >n the maintenance of the world's peac depends. And as a first step to an abatement of the ruinous naval rivalry (between Bri tain and Germany, which most nearly concerns us. we mint take into consideration the need for new outlets imposed upon Germany bv a growth of population amounting to about a million *otils every year. Kor -everal years past the rapid expansion of German industry and trade has absorbed the greater part of the surplus, but this cannot continue for ever. Outlets for manufactures and commercial enterprise most be I'ouiiu, and we can hiirdiy bra.me the German people for wishing to secure for the Fautwrland the fruits of their own labour. The deeire for new lands to develop is one which the sons of Britain leaet of all can deprecate. And while we are justified in holding firmly to the possessions that are already ours, we may reasonably assist Germany jn the attainment of any legitimate ambition.

The -concession in Africa made by France to <Jennany as conrpenflßtion for withdrawing territorial claims in -Mo rocco, represents one method for the promotion of international amity that will go much further than friendly platitudes by statesmen. This concession gave <i-crmany a land urea equal to nearly two-thirds of Fran?*, with access to the Rivers Congo and tTbajiglui. and also an outlet on the coast by mean* of a narrow etrip of territory extending from her new possession through French territory to the At-la-ntie. German Congoland now ruin down to the vast and valuable Congo territory of Belgium, and towards the border of Portuguese West Africa. The interests of civilisation and of the native people Would be advanced if both these misgoverned countries were j brought under German administration, j Moreover, there are many elevated ureas of land included within the territories mentioned wilß-h are suitable far European settlement. The scramble for Africa, has hitherto done little fur the central regions of the Dark Continent, and there is work enough there for the operations of all the ("Jreat Powers, in well-defined spheres nf action, without coming into confli'-t. The development of Africa oiler.- one outlet for that restless ambition which so often imperils the jrood understanding that forms the foundation of European peace.

While it is desirable that Britain shall recognise the reasonable claims of (Jermany, she is entitled to ask, in return, n full acknowledgment of the needs imposed l>y her own national condition?. And first among these stands out right .to Naval Supremacy as indispensable to our existence as an Empire. Whatever test we may apply to this problem of sea power, the imperative duty imposed on Britain for maintaining an invincible flee? ia demonstrated. Two or three comparisons will niake this evident. Germany's extensive frontiers, bordering those of military nations, have compelled her to create a vast aim)', numbering !,7ii0,000 men, including reserves, and 1,500,000 men, partly trained, who conld be called upon for service. No one questions the wisdom of German policy in thus safeguarding tho country ng<vinst invasion. But tho coastal frontiers and commerce, which Germany h;is to defend, are small in proportion to those of Britain. The coastline of the British kmpire extends over 'lo,ooo miles, being ten times that of Germany; ten times that of Italy; five times that of Franca; two and a haif times that of the Unitad States or Russia. The territory to bs

guarded covers about one-third of the earth's surface, and the popolation nnmbers 400j000,000. British shipping represents 4&7 per cent of the world's mercantile fleets; British oceanborne trade etands in the proportion of £2.100,000,000 to Germany's £400,000.000. In ships and cargoes, the British people have on the ocean at any time wealth representing nearly £300.000,000 compared with the £BO,000,000 of German quipping afloat. Britain makes no pretensions to military supremacv, and freedom from the invasion of her widespread territories; the protection of the food supplies of the Homeland, and the preservation of this vast commerce from destruction !by hostile warship?, are wholly de- ! pendent upon the Navy. The two- ! Power basis ie really heknv the standUrd of insurance whi-jih thffle gigantic I interests wonJd justify the nation m i sustaining. Until, therefore, these two •great nations, which have so much in icommon in racial origin, religion, and '< ciivilisstion. come to a clear and friendlv agreement upon matters so indisj p'eneaWe to their well-beinjr, we can have little hope of the prevention of i those popular outburstu of national •animosity which have so often imperilled the peace of the world in the past. But it is surely not too much to beEevc that an honest and earnest effort, on the part of the statesmen who hold tire destinies of both countries in their keeping would result in an international a.areement which contains an ,afcsunurce of so much good to their i people.