OFFER OF FRIENDSHIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15975, 21 July 1915, Page 8

OFFER OF FRIENDSHIP.

BRITAIN AND GERMANY. PEACE-TIME NEGOTIATIONS. WHERE THEY BROKE DOWN. (Received July 20, #30 p.m.') Amsterdam, July 19. The semi-official Berlin newspaper, the Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, details the negotiations for an Anglo-German rapprochement in 1912, wherein Lord Haldane was prominent. The German Government desired a reciprocal treaty of neutrality. Germany's first formula ran: "Should one of the contracting parties be engaged in war the other shall adopt at least a benevolent neutrality and shall exert every effort to localise the conflict."' Britain considered that this proposal went too far. and made the counter-proposal: "Britain shall make .no unprovoked attack upon Germany, and shall refrain from an aggressive policy." adding the declaration that, an attack upon Germany formed the object of no treaty ; nor was it the aim of any combination to which Britain belonged, nor would Britain be a party to any such agreement. Germany considered that these assurances already existed in the relations between civilised States, and as a counter-proposal put forward the following formula:— "Should one of the contracting parties be involved in war, and it cannot be said that that Power is the aggressor, then the other shall observe at least a benevolent neutrality and shall strive to localise the conflict." Sir E. Grey reiterated his offer of a promise not to participate in an unprovoked attack.

Germany finally made further negotiations dependent upon assent to the following clause:—"Britain will naturally preserve a benevolentneutrality in the event of war being forced upon Germany."

Sir E. Grey declined the formula, fearing it would endanger existing friendly relations between Britain and other Powers.