THIRTY PFENNIGS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXVII, Issue LXXVII, 1 August 1918, Page 2

THIRTY PFENNIGS.

SEQUEL

, TO THE LICHNOWSKY REVELATIONS.

PAMPHLET PUBLISHED IX

GERMANY—WHY ?

The revelations of Prince Lichnowsky, German Ambassador to Great Britain before the outbreak of the war, have been published broadcast throughout the Empire and neutral and Allied countries for the enlightenment of the public mind as to the responsibility for the war. The Morning Post, in an editorial article headed "Thirty Pfennigs," draws attention to a curious sequel and what, in its opinion, is the significance of the sequel. It says:

"The ingenious Professor Gilbert Murray has set us thinking ever what he regards as an insoluble problem. We all know that Prince Lichnowsky's 'Revelations' are being circulated broadcast in this country. You can get them for a sixpence, with an introduction by the Professor, who is at no pains to conceal his opinion of their value as a vindication of the innocence of Viscount Grey and the Asquith Administration of what is usually called 'plotting the war.' But here comes the problem. These revelations are also being circulated in Germany, by the permission of the German Government, as a pamphlet at 30. pfennigs. It is certain that the German Government never do anything without a motive. Then how is it that this pamphlet should be considered not only good propaganda in England, but good propaganda in Germany? What reason then can there be?—for there must be a reason. We have heard it suggested that the Germans desired above allthings to sec Viscount Grey and Mr Asquith back in power in this country, because they think they can squeeze Free Trade out- of the one and foreign

concessions out of the' other' Therefore they may have conspired with Prince Lichnowsky to place these two ex-Ministers in a light so amiable that the British people "would immediately forgive them everything.

"We reject this explanation as farfetched. There is a simpler and more probable hypothesis. The German people have a traditional awe and fear of England, derived from the times when England was mistress of the world. This sentiment is naturally depressing to the German nation and the German Army, and so the German Government desire to show the German people that the British Government are a mean, poor-spirited, truckling, fawning lot, ready to give their coats off their backs in order to propitiate the German Government, and the German people have therefore nothing to fear from England. Mr Lloyd George's recent speech, in which he suggested that he did not want to hurt a hair of the German's head, was no doubt very useful in "conveying this impression, for the German —not unnaturally—interprets any such attitude as the result of fear. But still more valuable are these 'Revelations' of the late German Ambassador, for they display a British Government ready to make almost any concession to win the friendship of Germany. According to Prince Lichnowsky, the British Government were willing to hand over to Germany not only the whole of Angola, but also the valuable islands of San Thome and Principe and the northern part of Mozambique. This is said to be a development of Mr Balfour's secret agreement with Count Hatzfeld, which, if it is true, shows how far back the rot goes; but this latest development of a shameful policy would have left almost nothing of the I Portuguese African Empire—except t Delagoa Bay—out of the sphere of German influence. Further, Sir Edward Grey was willing 'to include the Congo State in the agreement, which would have given us (Germany) the right of pre-emption ..and enabled us to penetrate it economically.' And Sir Edward Grey, according to the Prince, was as eager to make concessions to Germany in' Asia as in Africa. He proposed to let the Germans continue the railway as far as Basra, whereas Bagdad up to that time had been the terminus of the German system. Germany was to be given navigation rights on the Tigris and the Shatt-cl-Arab and in the harbor works at Basra.

"Now Viscount Grey has made no comment upon this charge that he proposed a wholesale surrender of British rights in Africa and the Persian Gulf. We would publicly ask him, therefore, if these allegations are true, and, further, were our ancient Ally Portugal and our good friend Belgium consulted about these concessions? Again, were the Governments of the Union of South Africa and of Rhodesia asked for their views on these proposals, which would have cut Africa in I two from east to west with a broad band of German territory, and made for ever impossible the Cape to Cairo Railway? Was the Government of India consulted as to the surrender of the Persian Gulf? Were France and Russia, our friends and neighbors in Africa and Asia Minor, consulted? These matters are for Viscount Grey ai:d Mr Ai-qmth to explain. The public will note that the concessions are alleged to have been proposed without I a word said about the German Fleet. Prince Lichnowsky made a rule nover to mention it, and his tact is said to | have delighted our Foreign Minister. It was—if these allegations are true — a return to Ethel red the Unready's policy of the Danegeld, and while it was proceeding the Germans were making enormous strides in the economic sphere. The extent of these strides is not fully disclosed in Lord Balfour of Burleigh's report. The tropical produce of the British Empire was being taken over by Hamburg. The ores of Australia were also monopolised by Frankfort. The great German eloc-

trical combines were more welcome in the British Empire than British firms. The German forge masters were deliberately following a policy of undermining our independence in shipbuilding. Economic surrenders and political surrenders w Tent hand in hand. In these circumstances we are not surprised that the German Government underrated the strength and courage of England, and now seek to bring the German people—and the world—to share their scorn of the British Government."