WHAT THE GERMAN WORLD MOVEMENT STOOD FOR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15719, 21 September 1914, Page 6

WHAT THE GERMAN WORLD MOVEMENT STOOD FOR.

MR. ASQUITH REVIEWS THE SITUATION.

BRITAIN AFTER SIX WEEKS OF THE WAR.

("Received September 20, 5 40 p.m.)

London, September 19.

Britain had no direct concern in Austria's quarrel with Servia, said the Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, addressing a recruiting meeting in Edinburgh. A settlement was actually in sight when Germany deliberately made war. It was a well-founded belief of the leaders of German thought that domination would carry with it the supremacy of German culture and the German spirit, and that the best thing that could happen the world was the spread of German culture and the German spirit. The Kaiser's armies were now missionaries of this movement in Belgium and France. That which was specifically the German world movement of the last 30 years had been a side development of the doctrine of the supreme ultimate progression of human affairs from material force. In pursuance of this doctrine, Germany believed that treaties were only pieces of parchment. All talk about the rights of the weak and the obligations of the strong had proved to be only nauseating cant.

This purblind philosophy led the Raiser into grave miscalculations regarding the British Empire. After six weeks of war full supplies of food and raw material were reaching our shores. Our industries, with one or two exceptions, had maintained their activities. Unemployment, so far, was not seriously in excess of the average, the monetary situation had improved, and every effort was being made to re-establish foreign exchange.

Meanwhile Britain's supremacy at sea was not seriously questioned. Our fleet was still patiently waiting to try conclusions with the Germans, and our army had revived the most glorious records of the past. It was equally splendid in retirement and in advance. Sir John French and his gallant officers and men would long bo remembered. .