THE INVASION SCARE

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1514, 7 March 1901, Page 45

THE INVASION SCARE

The invasion scare, which not long ago afflicted Great Britain has now, it would seem, caught hold of Belgium. In both eases, says the London correspondent of the <( S.A. Register/" France plays the role of the reputed aggressor, and, to tell the truth, there is much more feasibility in the idea of an attempted conquest of the continental than of the insular Power. The fact is, that early in the week the report reached Paris that the Belgium Council of Military Defence had had under consideration an alleged proposal bv Gen. ZurlincTen submitted in 1897 to the Higher Council of War of his country to proceed with the annexation of France’s northern neighbour. Of course, the general was at once asked to say whether there was any foundation for the statement, and he contented himself with giving an evasive reply, but whether be took that course to puzzle the quidnuncs or because he could not honestly deny the soft impeachment it is impossible to say. The Paris correspondent who gives currency to the story hatched in Brussels remarks : —“I am inclined to attach no importance to the rumour, though I hear on many sides that there may be, and is probably, something in it.” In any case, that such reports should be in circulation testifies trumpet-tongued to the prevalence of a spirit of international unrest and suspicion, and proves that the peace convention held at the instance of the Russian Czar has been more provocative of distrust than of confidence and mutual amity among the States which were parties to it.