GERMANY AND ENGLAND.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 16, 14 October 1907, Page 6

GERMANY AND ENGLAND.

The very remarkable article in which the London "Times" has called Upon Prince von Bulow to show cause why he should not still be regarded a? an enemy of Great Britain- is certain to have a profound influence iipon Gerr: man opinion. As we. snowed in a rer cent article, the current of Western diplomacy has been; setting strongly .tpr wards a better understanding ; between the nations, and there tiae been a general biirying of the . hatchets wliieh have long menaced the peace of Eur rope. A structure pf treaties and en? tentes has been steadily built up against ' the • risks of war, largely the personal activity of King Edward, and if wants now' only the keystone of the arch in the shape' of a genuine understanding between Great Britain and.Germany. During August a meeting between King Edward and his nephew' of Germany was followed by the announcement that the Emperor would visit England in November, and the result,' as the " Spectator " puts it, was that "the nations watch-, ing and tlieir newspapers sa,w symptoms of friendliness, arid ceased to'gird at each other, .as they had been doing, as if the, expression of suspicion under insulting forms were the most obvious : of duties." There was,' indeed,,' a slackening of the tension between the peoples/ and a general fall in*'the stocks, as it were, of the Anglophobes in Germany, and ■ the Teutophobes:' in Meet Street. -Now, when-the' visit of tHe Emperor.: is only three or ..four weeks distant, the "Tjmes , " ; article, loaded with distrust and asperitv., conies as a bolt from the blue. Jt is suggested that Germany's anxiety to cultivate Britain's goodwill is as s,inr cere 4s Wβ understand the Vicar, of Bray's loyalty, miist been, ofiginr ating as it does from a feeling, that it is μnwise to seek a quarrel with a country possessing such potent assets as an Anglq-French entente, an AngloRussian agreement, and a naval position' beyond the reach of challenge.:

The " Times" has not minced matters, and it bitingly reminds the British public that Prince von Billow's smooth words, about "the establishr ment of cordial relations" dp not; square with his passive encouragement of the wildest Chauvinist Anglqphobjss.: an Germany,' and, further, that Germany at The Hague and in Morocco has not been exactly a friendly Power. The Teutophile Press in England has hastened to assure Germany .that the "■ mischievous" article in tte ■" Times'' does not represent the views of the British Government, but no amount , of reassurance will quench the hostility and resentment which the great London journal must have re-lighted. Although the "Times"- may have.made more difficult the already difficiilt task pf arranging away the bitterest ill-feel-ing that ever disturbed, modern Western diplomacy, it ..'must be admitted that its' plain-spoken article is none the less wholesome for its unpleasantness. It is inconceivable, .that the " Times " should deliberately -choose for its business-the nurturing 1 of an Anglo-German feud. What is most probable' is that the " Times. "■'cqiir sidered that the best service to a good national understanding' was a, plain and dramatic pronouncement of British disgust at the tortuous and treacherous methods qf the Willemsirasse. Whether the Gerinan Chancellor will do as he is ; expected, and conclude that only transparent honesty could so hate duplicity, is quite another matter. The keystone of the aroh is clearly not to be too confidently expected.