BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 106, 31 October 1908, Page 13

BRITISH AND FOREIGN NEWS.

SPECTATOR SUMMARY, (For week ending Saturday sth Sept.) FRANCE AND GERMANY. Unexpected and regrettable friction has heen re-introduced into the relations of France and Germany. On Tuesday the semi-official North German Gazette announced that the German Government had informed the signatories of the Algeciras Act that, "in view of the new situation in Morocco, they feel themselves bound to point out that the speedy recognition of Mulai Hand would be in the interest of the ultimate pacification of Morocco." At the same time, it became known that the German Consul at Fez, Dr. Vassel, had returned there from Tangier without having informed nis colleagues of his intention. It is strange and disappointing that Germany did not reflect upon the construction which would inevitably be put upon her acts, and the bitterness they would cause in Europe. It is thoughtlessness like this which makes the peace of Europe iusecure, and which is an odd commentary upon the admirable words of the German Emperor recorded olse where. GERMAN OPINION 1 . A common explanation of Germany's intervention is that the Government wish to divert attention from Home politics, or that they 'are making a flourish to impress the forward school, which has long and notoriously grumbled at the "weak" ending of German foreign policy at the Algeciras Conference. We trust that the acts of Germany in the next few weeks will not compel us to accept any explanation so cynical. But even Germans themselves are capable of thinking very badly mdeed of the latest move of their Government, as may be seen from the comments of the Frankfurter Zeitung. We cannot do better than quote from this Unsparing criticisni '" — "* fc wou^ be extraordinary if •Germany, .T ho nlasn 1 as been at , such P ains to bring aboJ 1 a sene^ agreement among all the PoweZ 5 ™^ regard to Morocco, should suda^ 1 / sacrifice this misunderstanding at the . risk °* letting loose all the difficulties ■w; tn which tlie Morocco question throat- ■ ens the maintenance of peace iii Europe. A proceeding of this kind would be all the moi'6 conspicuous in view of the fact that at StraSbwrg only a few days ago Fhe Emperor William proclaimed that peace was assured. We cannot believe in the existence of afljr dangers of this character. We would prefer to assume that the action .of the German Government represents another of those sudden impulses of German policy which make a terrific noise, but afterwards vanish and leave not a track behind. The only harm they do is that German policy has once more shown itself to be incalculable, untrustworthy, and, therefore", disturbing. But this, unfortunately, is harirl enough. The Pan-German journals, of couros, are jubilant. 'At last a German deed, instead of words,' they cry, and noisily applaud. When upon one occasion that great orator Mirabeau found that 'his remarks were being greeted with cheers from an unexpected quarter, he suddenly stopped and asked : 'Have I been saying something silly? 1 The noisy approval of the German Chauvinists ought to load the German Government to ask itself a similar question." THE* PEACE-LOVING KAISER. Speaking at a banquet ,_at Strasburg on Sunday last, the German Emperor said :—"I: — "I rejoice to be able to express to you my deepest conviction that the peace of Europe is not in danger. It rests on too solid foundations to be easily upset by the incitements and calumnies provoked by envious and ill-dis-posed individuals. Proud of the manly discipline and love of honour of her armed forces, Germany is determined to keep them on their high level without menace to others, and to develop them as her own interests demand, favouring none, injuring none." We record these words with much satisfaction. We have never questioned the Emperor's personal desire for peace, but it is none the less recessary to read his words in the light of the events which are now making all Europe anxious. Incidentally, we may remark that it is a curious perversity which makes Germany follow up her complaints of isolation by conspicuously isolating herself from the rest of Europe of her own accord. SOME SECRET HISTORY. The old reports which ascribed the outbreak of the Russo-Japanese war to the Yalu timber enterprise are revived and confirmed in an article in the current number 'of M'Clure's Magazine, based on passages in General Kuropatkin's suppressed memoirs. According to this narrative, the Korean timber concession came in 1902 into the hands of Bezobrazoff, a speculator who established an extraordinary influence over the Tsar, and induced him and several of the Grand Dukes to join his company. General Kuropatkin opposed the scheme from the outset, and especially condemned the association of officers with it as likely to prejudice a good understanding with Japan, which he personally favoured. For a while his representations were effective, the removal of Russian troops from Manchuria had actually begun, and the Tsar was apparently alive to the dangers involved in Bezobrazoff's schemes. General Kuropatkin was sent to Japan in the summer of 190?, and on his return reported to the Tsar that "if he did not put an end to the uncertain state of affairs in Manchuria and to the adventurous activity of Bezobrazoff in Korea, we must expect a rupture with Japan." But in the end Bezobrazoff's appeals to the cupidity of the Grand Dukes and courtiers triumphed. Admiial Alexeisff, his persistent supporter, was appointed Viceroy in the Far Epst; General Kuropatkin resigned in Ax-f-'st, 1903 : n.n<i though as late as November 25th he still continued to urge on the Tsar the restoration of Port Arthur and Kwang-tung to China, and the military evacuation of Manchuria, his \iews "unfortunately were not approved," relations with Japan were broken off on January 25th, 1904, and war began a few days later. HALTING JUSTICE. The annual meeting of the Irish Unionist Alliance was held on Friday veek in Dublin. Mr. J. H. Campbell, M.P., in a \igorous speech, noted that in the year 1907 only five persons had been made amenable for three hundred and seventy-two agrarian outrages ; only thirty i-ei»ons had been made amenable for three hundred' and forty-nine cases of malicious injury ; in not a single one of a hundred and tour cases of boycotting had the Government made any attempt to bring to justice any one of those responsible for intimidation : and finally, though three hundred and fifty-one persons had been prosecuted for cattle-driving, in only one oasa had a conviction been seemed. The blame foi all this was not to be laid on the police and juries ; the Chief Secretary, and the Chief Secretary alone, was re aponsibla,