ENGLAND AND GERMANY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 20, 24 January 1913, Page 4

ENGLAND AND GERMANY

.. WORKIN^^HAND^IN HAND; r SOLID COOPERATIONS (From Our Own Correspondent.) LONDON* 6th December. Sd far as one can judge, tfie cooperation of Germany and England has apparently relieved the tension in the Near East and .brought a settlement in view. Germany has declared her intention of supporting Austria, in the event of a third Power attacking her, and Russia has now announced that she will not be dragged into a war for Servia. And so Prince Lichnowsky, the new German Ambassador, comes to London under favourable omens. Speaking as the guest of the Royal Society on Saturday night" he said : "Of all bonds "that unite nations none are stronger than intellectual sympathy, and nothing is more apt to promote a real and lasting understanding between nations than the common struggle against darkness, ignorance, and misery. lam happy to be able to state that from time immemorial a close connection has existed between the intellectual leaders of our two great countries. Carlyle's book on Frederick tin* Great is a standard work, unrivalled, and of the works of all foreign historians the most popular in Germany. Hume was the predecessor of Kant and Schopenhauer, and I do not believe that in any country in the world are Shakefepeare and Byron more fully appreciated or deeply understood than in Germany. I am confident that this close intellectual connection will in the future as in the past be a*powerful help to the efforts of all those who work for the establishment ,ct good ' understanding and harmony between our two kindred people. Most luckily I can avail myself of this opportunity of stating that nevcf between England and Germany have there been more 1 intimate and more sincere relations than at present. Both countries are •working side by side in the same cause of maintaining European peace. It will always be my most anxious desire further to develop this auspicious beginning of my career in England, to the benefit, I hope, of both nations. CORDIALITY IN THE REICHSTAG. A debate in the Reichstag, following the German Chancellor' 3 declaration that Germany would support Austria, ended with a remarkable demonstration in favour of Britain. A Stidaliet member, Herr Ledebour, having accused ihe Government of fomenting a, quarrel with Great Britain, Herr Yon Kiderlen-Waechter, the Foreign Minister, replied with warmth : ".These utterances give me a welcome opportunity of declaring that during the Whole of the recent crisis our relationships, to England in particular, have been specially confidential. (Loud cries of 'Hear, hear,' and 'Bravo!'). A frank and absolutely trustful • exchange of views between London and ourselves during all phases of this crisis has riot only evoked a gratifying intimacy in our relationships, but has rendered good service to the understanding of all the Powers. I should like to express de- . finite confidence that it will' contimie to do this." (Loud applause, and Socialist shouts of. "What about natfal armament'©?"). Or. Spahn, the Centre Leader, wlio waff the next speaker, said there Could b# no better news than that England .and Germany were co-operating to promote peace in the Balkans. Both the Secretary of State and their Ambassador in London had expressed them«olve& in this ssnse, and that filled them with hope and delight. Herr Brissermann (National Liberal) «aid his party, too, was desirous of good relations to England, and thankfully recognised what the two Ambassadors hud done in this respect. Thtte should,however, be no jprecipitatiqn. A< quiet,

waiting policy was more in place. An agreement as to armamente would only lead to a fresh and embittered quarrel as to which of the two .States had kept to its terms.