Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1912. THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 12 July 1912, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail FRIDAY, JULY 12, 1912. THE INTERNATIONAL SITUATION.

■.[. ■ ■■ —-r*BLACK storm clouds are hovering over Europe at the present time. In many quarters the international situation is very grave, yet on the other hand . it seems almost inconceivable that, in this so-called enlightened age, men could be prepared to precipitate Avar. , But it is obyio'us that statesmen and diplomatists have much .to occupy their attention' at present. There are international, difficulties that require settling, and decisive action may lead to trouble and complications of a, serious nature. The Persian and Chinese problems, forced . into prominence by recent revolutions and disorder, can .no . longer escapo notice. The conflict between Italy and Turkey regarding the possession of Tripoli still continues, and England and Gerrcany are still "fighting" strenuously for naval supremacy. All the questions mentioned are big, and are fraught with tremendous possibilities,. and there is obvious uneasiness in diplomatic circles.

The transfer of Baron M'arschall von Breberstein, German Ambassador at Constantinople ■~ to London is considered to be an event of some significance. Two .questions that have been asked are : Is it his mission to endeavour to promote a, better understanding between Great Britain and Germany in the interests of peace; or is it to endeavour to destroy the entente cordiale between Great Britain and France, in the interests of war? As is well known, Russia is supporting Italy in her war with Turkey, with the object of reopening the Dardanelles question, and also, it is stated, bringing forward the question of the partition of Turkey. As stated by a London correspondent, she has sought the co-opera-tion of her ally, France; but France cannot support cither proposal without alienating the friendship of Great Britain. The recent speech o'f the First Lord of tho Admiralty, Mr Winston Churchill, at the dinner of the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights, contained an announcement that the policy of concentrating the-British Fleet ip the

Home waters which has been rendered necessary by the rapid increase of Germany's naval strength, has naturally weakened her strength in the' Mediterranean and the' Far East. What increases the danger of this position is the fact that it has been brought about at a time when the naval strength of other Powers in the Mediterranean and the Far East has been greatly increased. * * * * As an outcome of the present disquieting situation, says the correspondent in question, a proposal has been n;ade that the entente cordiale between Great Britain and France should be converted into a formal alliance with definite duties and obligations duly set forth. Great Britain, it is further stated, would undertake the defence of the French co - asts in the -Channel and the Atlantic, and in return France would protect British interests in the Mediterranean. That in itself, the correspondent is careful to point out, would be a somewhat onesided bargain, for while British interests are threatened only sea, the existence of France as a nation is threatened almost solely by land. . Therefore, to equalise the bargain, Great Britain, it is argued, must be prepared. to assist France .with troops to resist; invasion. The military assistance offered by Great 'Britain would have to be of a very substantial kind, for if France were overborne by the enemy, the surrender of her fleet to the enemy would mean that the ships on which we relied for protection of British interests would be used to-destroy those interests. The proposal bristles ,with difficulties:, but most of them are the .British side. The .British. Territorial Army is scarcely more than sufficient for the defence of Home , territory from invasion, arid therefore before an alliance could be concluded Great Britain would have to undertake to raise .a large number of troops to be sent over to France in case of emergency. * * * , * At the request of Dr. Stein, a nuirber of representative Englishmen have contributed their opinions on AnglorGerman relations, and the prospects of improving them. . The most distinguished contribution on the English side comes from Mr. Balfour. His calm, matured state-, ment of the present position gives very little support to the prospect of an entente unless there is a change 'in Germany's naval policy. "There are two ways in which a hostile country can be crushed," .writes Mr. Balfour.' "It can be conquered, or it can be starved. If Germany were masters iji our home waters she could apply both'methods to' Britain: Were,-Britain ten times nraster in' the North Sea she. could apply neither method to Germany. Without a superior fleet Britain would no longer count as a Power. ' Without any fleet at all Germany would remain the greatest Power in Europe. It is therefore the mere instinct of self-pre-servation which obliges Englishmen not merely to take account of the growth in foreign navies, but anxiously to weigh the motives of those who build them. If they are built solely for purposes of defence, Britain would not.., indeed be thereby l-elieved of the duty of maintaining, the standard.of relative strength required for national safety; but she would have no ground for disquiet, still' less for an..ill-will. But does permany iriake it easy for Britain to take ' this view? The extcrnar facts of the situation appear to be as. follow : : —Tlie greatest military Power and the second greatest naval Po'wer in the world is adding both to her- army and to her navy. She • is increasing the strategic railways which lead to the Trontier States—not merely to frontier States which themselves possess; powerful armies, but to small States Which can have no desire bui to remain neutral if their . formidable should unhappily become belligerents. She is' in like manner modifying her naval arrangements so. as to make her" naval strength instantly effective."