THE KING IN GERMANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12608, 24 June 1904, Page 4

THE KING IN GERMANY.

IK'. ■ «ff» "■.••» -.1 'V i, y ,•;,•:. \~{:jJ&, ;•:•;> ...;■;.. s:*:,; :^>'';': i' '-* '.■iV'.-s;:.-'!;: i Although not as loudly heralded as t the how historic visit paid by King : Edward to Italy find France such satisfactory i diplomatic results : —-his present visit to the Kaiser may be not less important. It is entirely the fault of Germany that there should have been any change in"'"the amicable relations so. long existing between London and Berlin, end that such strained relations as those between Berlin and Washington should have arisen. That Britain, America and Germany are commercial rivals of one another goes without Baying, but the overweening pretensions of the Kaiser and the ; bombast of the German people-— ■ made egotistical by their victories over Denmark, Austria arid France, have imported into commercial rivalry a bitter national feeling. As a result, Germany has become Jas lonely in the world as a spoiled child is at school, and has practically : lost her once dominant position in the councils of Continental Europe. Either this or ill-health, possibly » both, ,* has : toned - down the rhetoric • ; of the Kaiser, ■■ At the same time the German press has been abandon- ;■ ing its inimical tone. It is therefore not improbable that Germany and its Emperor may now be disposed to a more friendly attitude towards us, and we may hear later of good results accruing from King Edward's visit. ,; For though we are not likely to forget quickly the way in which Germany libelled us 5 and slandered j us, when she thought us in difficulties, or the presumptuous insolence with wHich she thought to dictate : a commercial policy to free British colonies, neither can we forget that we have more in common with her than we have with any non-Teutonic nation. If she would % devotei her surplus energies to driving Russia back to the steppes, and to re-estab-lishing the old Teutonic dominance all along the Baltic, instead of interfering overseas with the English- \ speaking peoples, there would more hope for her policy and more friendship for her in the world.