THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1909. BRITISH RELATIONS WITH GERMANY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14219, 16 November 1909, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1909. BRITISH RELATIONS WITH GERMANY.

The present strained relations between Britain and / Germanv are awaking anxiety in all thoughtful minds, and it is not surprising to hear the Church speaking out on the subject from within the borders of both' Empires. In our own Dominion one of the leading Churches, a Church closely related to the Protestant Church of Germany, indeed identical with the Reformed section of that Church, has just resolved in General Assembly to address a fraternal letter of greeting and appeal to the clerical representatives at Berlin of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches, asking them to use their most earnest endeavours to repress, in the interests of humanity, the present spirit of national animosity, and promising to follow a like course throughout this Dominion. New Zealand is a small country, but she has already not once nor twice given striking and picturesque evidence that *' she is more than geographically •at the gateways of the day; and we must hail this action of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand as in keening with the spirit of initiative which is becoming characteristic'of our young nationhood. Meanwhile the most potent moral forces have been astir in England and Germany for the promotion of a better mutual understanding. The most potent moral forces we, say advisedly, for we are not thinking of the impracticable dreams of those who deny the lawfulness of war, or who, disowning all national patriotism, aspire after a universal World-state —a Platonopolis. The moral movement we have in mind is independent of what statesmen may or may not determine concerning the building of battleships. Thus Dr. Burchard, OberBurgomeister of Hamburg, whose words carry the more weight when we note that he recently had the honour of entertaining the Emperor William, declared in' an address to the representatives of the Churches of Great Britain and Ireland, who visited Germany last June " How about the other great nations, which take good care that their fleets should be able to protect their coasts and colonies . . . The German fleet bears no aggressive character. . . We, at any rate, sin-

cerely wish to live with your country .on the best terms. imaginable, being quite aware of the fact that the relations between England and Germany are so complicated, so numerous, so loaded with economical and cultural interests of every . kind, that seriously to disturb them would be generally considered as a crime, and 4 would rouse the deeply-felt indignation of all straight-minded, sober, Christian people." And Dr. Burchard concluded thus, " speaking emphatically and with deep feeling:— "Thus thinks the German nation; thus think its representatives, the Reichstag thus thinks the Emperor.',' Another spokesman to like effect has appeared in none other than the most distinguished of living German theologians, Professor Adolph Harnack, of the University of Berlin, and the Dean of Westminster has publicly thanked Dr. Har.nack .for " his noble words." The solution of the difficulty which Dr. Harnack proposes is the develop? ment of a sense of mutual indispensability. He treats both Empires as young in relation to the vast new problems they have to solve, and liable to the defects of youth. One of these defects is the notion that the rivalry between the two peoples must ultimately, and necessarily lead to war. There is another and a better possibility, he maintains; and this is being gradually realised, and its general recognition is the real secret of peace and prosperity. What is required of each Empire alike Ts " such strengthening of its 1 own power in every domain, that it may appear, on the one hand, equal to its rival, but, on the other hand, indispensable to that rival." Mutual indispensability in commerce and culture —that -is the secret of peace among all civilised nations, and not least between Britain- and Germany.

The existing friction is due to the closer drawing together of the nations which facility of intercourse has promoted in our time. 'A surface' acquaintance formerly sufficed, but for that the day is past. A little knowledge is now a dangerous thing. The two nations must, get to know one another thoroughly. Emulation there must be, and ought to be, but strife should be unknown. Science, dispelling ignorance and misconception, will promote a mutual understanding and respect and a rivalry which shall be for the betterment of both and the general advance of civilisation. The Chauvinism, which regards its own people as the people, with whom wisdom must perish, and which sanctions haughty and offensive language, will be discredited. Mutual historical knowledge- will impart strength and modesty and hail in every fellow worker, to whatever nation he may belong, an ally and a friend. Dr. Harnack is 7 so open-minded as to admit that on the whole British civi-

ligation is still superior, to that of Germany. ( Our task is made easier than hers because of the more prominent part that religion plays in our public life. German Protestantism is individualistic. For this reason, however, the duty for the German people is all the plainer: they must so educate both the individual and the entire nation that a truly liberal spirit, political morality , and. maturity may become the absolutely essential elements of the national life of Germany and Britain—each nation should make itself strong, and in the fulness of its peaceful strength be indispensable to the other. It must be admitted by every open-minded man that Dr. Harnack's solution embodies a very noble ideal. Nor is the ideal at all obviously impracticable. And certainly • the endeavour to it in practice calls for the very same virtues which the most ardent champion of his own nationality could desirecontinual vigilance, eagerness to learn what the rival nation has to teach, and an exalted national ambition, and these tempered and ennobled by intelligent sympathy and due regard to the claims of cosmopolitanism as of nationalism. The application of this solution would allay■ the nervousness and fear of surprises which the prevailing ignorance and prejudice are rendering chronic, and would usher in a new era of unprecedented achievement . alike for Germany, Britain, and the world 'at large. ' , .