The press. TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1910. PEACE PROPOSALS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13741, 24 May 1910, Page 6

The press. TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1910. PEACE PROPOSALS.

Tho sad circumstances under which the German Emperor has just visited England should not praventEnglish peopio! from receiving with dno caution the report that while, in London his Majesty t-uggested to the French; Foreign Minister a great internatwriiil confederation ior peace. Any movement by G«r_i_ny should be esamined just as if the death of King Edward bad • not for the

moment brought England and Germany more closely together. If tho Kaiser wishes to show his sincerity as a peace-maker, he has to his hand a most effective means of doing so. He can cut down the naval estimates, which, in the opinion of a great many far-sighted people, are aimed directly at Great Britain. The situation is extremely simple. 'At the last Peace Conference Great Britain put forward certain disarmament proposals, which awakened no pacific responses in the breasts of the other Powers. Indeed, the only effect of the proposals was to weaken the respect in which the might of England was held abroad. Sinte then German official opinion has been shown to be unanimously opposed to any slackening in the naval race. So long, therefore, as Germany keeps turning out Dreadnoughts in feverish haste, Englishmen hove a norfect right to look with suspicion on any German peace proposals. A French writer, in a very timely article, points out that before the war of 1870, white Germany was making ready to crush

France, German agents wore carrying on an energetic campaign in France in f-ivcur of disarmament, with the result that some of the most eminent men of the day were deceived. Bismarck took the greatest trouble not only not to alarm Frajice, but to assure her that there was no menace across the Tthine. The writer asks Englishmen if they know that a month before the declaration of war the French Parliament grnvcT'y discussed the question of disarmament, and that it,was stated in the debate that there was "a general and ardent struggle"' in Germany to reduce the strength of tho Army. Everywhere in Germany disarmament was desired and demanded, and, it was argued, France should follow this example. History is indeed "the great"cst source of instruction that there "is." The .Kaiser may b_ perfectly honest in his reported desire to lessen tho terrible burden of armaments, but in the light of his country's actions in the past and in tho present, the English people cannot be blamed for requiring him to give tome tangible proof of his sincerity.