BRITAIN ALERT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1234, 16 September 1911, Page 5

BRITAIN ALERT.

STARTLING REPORTS CURRENT.

EXTRAORDINARY GERMAN

DEMANDS,

FIRM FRENCH REPLY.

By Telegraph-Press Assiociation-OopyrisUt (Boc. September 15, 11.40 p.m.)

London, September 15.

"Tho Times" states that various startling reports aro current at tho naval and military stations, but are without substantial foundations.

Tho fleets are at their usual autumn stations, but, nevertheless, the authorities are fully alivo to the exigencies of the international situation, and are neglecting no necessary precautions.

LION'S SHARE IN MOROCCO,

EEMAEKABLE PROPOSALS. (Eec. September 15, 10.30 p.m.)

London, September 15,

Keuter's agency reports that the optimism in Berlin regarding Morocco causes amazement to those knowing the contents of the German Note to France. It is stated that Germany not only asks for participation to the extent of 30 per cent, in connection with railways and other transport enterprises, but more than twice thirty per' cent, in special districts where Gorman interests aro of a special character, such as the Sus Province, inland from Agadir. Tho proposals contain so many restrictions that' they leave France with only heavy obligations to bear. THE FRENCH REPLY. ECONOMIC EQUALITY OFFERED. Paris, September 14. The reply dispatched by Franco to Berlin regarding the Moroccan question is conciliatory, but hrm. Tho newspaper "Le Temps" recapitulating the terms of tho desired regime, states that' France will undertake the task of consolidating the Sultan of Morocco's military and financial resources, the Sultan furnishing diplomatic, administrative, and financial guarantees. Tho Sultan will retain eiclusivo control of t'ho public service and enterprises, tho Powers being placed on an equal economic footing, secured by a system of open tenders for publie works and contracts for supply. "Lo Matin" declares that Germany has done immense service in bringing about almost unprecedented unanimity among Frenchmen. The forecast of the French reply has been favourably received by tho press. A fresh sot-back on' the Bourse is attributed to continued withdrawals of French capital, not to anxiety regarding tho negotiations. ■

GERMAN SOCIALIST VIEW. ' THBi SPANDAU GOLD RESERVE. Berlin, September 14. Edit Bebel, tho 'Socialist leader, at a Socialist Congress advocated equality of trade in Morocco. The social democrats, he said, would do their utmost to prevent war. He ridiculcd tho idea that' they would organiso a 6triko in the event of war, (Kec. September 15,. 9.15 p!m.) ■ .Ki iii ;i• >v•. Berlin, 'Septeiiibsr 15. Ilerr Bebel pointed out that mobilisation would cost Germany 45 to 50 million marks • (.£2,350,000 to .£2,500,000) daily, wliilo there was only a gold reserve of 120 million marks (.£6,000,000) in tho Julius Tower at Spandau. He rejoiced to see tho run on the Savings Banks. If war came tho. Socialists would utilise tho political and economic 'crisis to stir up the people to abolish the rale of capitalism. MINERS ON WAR. OUTSPOKEN GERMAN DELEGATE. At tho International Miners' Congress in London at tho end of July, Mr. Thomas Burt, H.P., moved a resolution on universal peace which expressed the Congress's opinion that all disputes amongst nations should be settled by conciliation or arbitration. One and all, ho said, they hated war and militarism, not only because of tho horrors and inhumanity which were associated with it, not only becauso of tho heavy and intolerable burdens that it threw upon the peoples of tho world, but also becauso of the barriers it raised in tho way of tho great social reforms they wanted for tho peoples of tho world.

Who Decides? Herr Hue, a member oi' the German Reichstag, speaking 'in support of the resolution, said that somo days before an eminent British statesman made a spccch at tho Mansion House. He was not -willing to criticise the words of llr. Lloyd-George, neither was bo going to say that nations might not come into'the position whero an appeal to arms could be tlio only solution. He desired to ask who was it that decided when the honour of a nation was at stake? Who was it who declared when the vital interest of iho nation was at stake? Was it the great mass of tho British, German, or .French people? No, it was tho governing class. It was tho diplomats wjio decided when the vital interests of a nation were at stake, and tho people who had to pay. (Cheers.) When they asked for money for social legislation in the German lleichstag the Government said they could not afford it; they had to spend so much on armaments. In the last twenty years Germany had increased its debt by 250 millions by its expenditure on armaments. These debts pressed down upon the standard of living. Theso jlcbts taxed tho food "of tho poorest of their people. Tho "Gains" of War. And even to tlie victorious nation, what were tho victories of war? Look at Japan. After the victory of the war with Eussia the cost of living in Japan .went up and the people wero wor?o off than before tho war. Look at the Transvaal war; England was victorious, but tho coal export duty was put on to iind additional money for, the war, and tho wages of- miners went down to tho tuno of 157 million marks. That showed how» the British miner suffered directly for the victories of war. The British Empire had won many victories, and if they went through London, the centre of its Empire, they would seo great wealth piled up. But they would also see mora misery than perhaps anywhere in tho world. Tho German delegates wlio had walked through the streets of London had seen riches piled up everywhere, but they had also seen tho most pitiable sights, the greatest misery they had ever seen. That showed that flic victories of war did not lead to tho prosperity of the people. If tho diplomats who alw.jvs began theso quarrels could bo banished tor a time, they might find nations settling] their differences quietly by means of arbitration and conciliation. He hoped tho time would eomo when that International Congress, not only by words but by deeds, would show its detestation of war.

M. Quentin (France) «aid the Agadir incident threatened the peace of tho world, aud.it was evident that by now the Treaty of Algericas had been torn into shreds. That International Congress ought to prepare itself to prevent war by considering tho stoppage of the production of coat when a war broko out. Tho resolution was carried.