J. FOSTER PHASER

Evening Star, Issue 14183, 7 October 1909, Page 6

J. FOSTER PHASER

‘THE BALANCE OP POWER.’ Mr J. Foster Fraser lectured last nighton ‘ The Balance of Power in Europe,’ and found himself faced by a thinking and a reading audience. Maybe it was not the best of his lectures, but it was well received. From the deliverance as given we take a few of tho more important remprks. Mr Fraser said that we have no right to criticise Germany for haring as strong a navy as she desires to have. Every nation had the duty of working out its own salvation in the way it deemed right. The duty of our people was to see that Germany did not threaten our supremacy by sea. . . . Alliances were only on paper, and could be, tom. Better twin such a paper alliance was the alliance that existed between Britons all over the world. Whilst being good Australians, good Canadians, and good New Zealanders, they held a much better position as factors of the British Empire. . . . The Old Country does not require any help from any outlying part of the Empire. What tbe thinking people of the Homeland wanted to seo was a recognition of tho fact that in contributing money or Dreadnoughts the Overseas Dominions were not so much helping the Old Connin' as helping themselves. To his mind the first cause of trouble that might arise between the nations was the Balkans question. The next possible cause of disturbance was the upheaval that would arise when Francis Joseph died. He (Mir,Fraser) placed third in the order of inflammable causes the rivalry between Germany and Britain. Russia’s influence upon the balance of power need not give much thought. Russia has no navy; her great army, though obedient, consisted largely of a mass of individuals lacking the personal touch to binjtl them together; anti the antlioritics knew that the revolutionary malcontents were not to he relied upon. . . . France, too, has bnt little influence in maintaining tlie balance of power. Something Like a canker was eating at_ tho heart of France and consuming her vitality. Almost the same remarks applied to Italy. Austria w:is dominated by Germany. Spain, Portugal, and Greece were quite out of it. Belgium, Holland, Denmark. Sweden, and Norway all had strong armies because they feared Ger many. As for Germany, Britain could noi face her on land, and it is our duty to see that Germany dare not face us on the sea. Germany’s new ships were apparently built to challenge our supremacy in waters near home. But there might Ik- another explanation. Tho Ivaiser might be building this navy in order to foster tho Imperialist idea and distract attention fiom interna! dissensions. At the same time it war- England’s duty to be prepared. The most interesting part of the lecture was that in which Mr Fraser dealt with a trip through Servia, Bulgaria, and Albania. He thinks that the chief cause of the trouble in those parts is religion, not race, and he plainly blames the Christians for much of the rioting that is reported. This evening Mr Fraser is to lecture at Invercargill In the Bums Hall to-morrow evening lie will give tlio first of three farewell lectures in Dunedin, taking for his subject ‘ America Up to Date.’ The remaining two lectures will bo given, also in Bums Hall, on Saturday afternoon and evening.