GERMAN POLICY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 156, 26 March 1908, Page 7

GERMAN POLICY.

BULOW ON TDB LETTER. PRESS COMPARISONS RESENTED. MACEDONIA. THE SULTAN CHAMPIONED. by TELEarurn—press association—copyright. (Rec. March 25, 9.49 p.m.) Berlin, March 25. In the courso of a policy speech on foreign affairs, the Chancellor, Prince Bulow, made unsympathetic referenco to' . Sir Edward Grey's soheme for dealing with Macedonia, as jeopardising tho Sultan's sovereignty. Ho gave reasoSs for anticipating that the Concert of tho Powers would bo maintained. Prince Bulow referred at great length to tho Kaiser's private political letter to Lord Twoedmouth (First Lord of the Admiralty), and emphasised that it was a friendly and frank one such as one sailor might write to another. The Chancellor declaimed that each country was entitled to fix its own standard of national defence. He resented the action of a section of the British Press in talking of "the German danger," when tho British Navy was several times stronger than the German. ' He paid a tribute to the manner in which the British Parliament had dealt with the Kaiser's letter incident. It was a letter such as might have been signed by every sincere friond of good relations between Gormany and Britain.

THE KAISER ON TOUR. . TO MEET THE.KING OF ITALY. (Rec. March 25, 10 p.m.) i Berlin, March 25. Tho Kaiser and tho Kaiserin are proceeding to Corfu (one of the lonian Islands, off the coast of Albania, in the Mediterranean)., They will moet the King of Italy at Venice to-day. . . INTERNATIONAL JEALOUSIES. The arguments of the German Chancellor were anticipated by the British Foreign Secretary , (Sir Edward Grey) in the speech in which he'propounded his scheme. Ho proposes that tho gendarmerie, which has been ineffective for the purpose of maintaining order, shall b'o strengthened and mado into a potent instrument. At tho same time, Sir Edward ■ Grey stated expressly that Britain was prepared to relinquish tho gendarmerie schemo if a better were suggested. ■ He proposes the appointment as GovernorGeneral of Macedonia, of a Christian or ' n Mohammedan, of a' capacity and character known to the Powers, and irremovable for a term of years. Such ,a Governor-General should be given a free hand to secure effective administration. • '

With regard to the point, now raised by Prince .Bulow, as to the Sultan's sovereignty, Sir ;Edward Grey is; reported as saying: that "if tho • appointment wore accompanied -by a reduction of Turkish troops, a collective guarantee should be ■ given that Turkey's dominions, would not bo interfered , with fiom outside." 1 . ■ . .'

Prince Bulow says he anticipates' l that the Concert of tho Powers will be maintained. Sir Edward. Grey did not doubt that it would be, but fears (as did ? Mr.'Gladstone, many 'years ago) that tho Concert will reniaiii ipi>ctivo through lack of motive power, and, .tnorcfore, a, passive, barrier to refornv instead of an active good. "The danger," said Sir. LYvard Grey, * was not that tho : Powers were likely to quarrel, but that the Concert would peiish for lack of vitality and failure to , 'op a condition of affairs, in Macedonia,', which, if' neglected; might precipitate a-catastrn.ihe." ; The German Chancollor,, it seems, Ims not propounded any ,schemo :of his oini. Germany has repudiated the. suggestion jimt she instigated' Austria to.securcrtfrom U:e-. Sultan the Noviba'zhr Railway concessions, thereby reviving Russo-Austrian'jealousy, witlr a tendency'to cause dissont and deadlock in the Concert. No doubt to easo the situatioh, Biitain, without committing herself, has professed a benevolent-.neutrality to'-'all' railway schtu.es; with the stipulation thatj she. will iisot purport any of these schemes '.actively until the I'oitc agrees to an effective scheme of inform. . All these events show that international contentions, by . which the< Sultan has always profited, are as acute as ever. Sir E. Grey's scheme will probably fail to be accepted oy Germany- and Austria; . A London cablo message, of March 12, stated"The • proposal ' has created a sensation •in Austria, ■ wis we it is believed Sir E. Grey has already secured tho support of Russia and France, and p.obably Italy." . A mcssago to-day announces that the Kaiser will interview the King-of Italy, and then go, on. to Corfu.. . *