FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 6451, 24 February 1908, Page 9

FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

GERMANY’S RKHKHVK AS TO MOROCCO.

REMOVAL OF THE STANDING.

During tho debate on tho German Budget in the Reichstag, Baron von Sheinbabon, Prussian Minister of Finance, compared tho burden of debt m Germany with that of other groat Powers. In tho gpoed of piling up debK ho said, Germany had surpassed all other Stall’s. From 1831 until ICO 1 Germany's debt had risen from 2.V>.0C0,0C0 marks (£1.2,750,000) to 3.410,000,000 marba (£120,800.0K* It had, therefore, in a period during which Franco had contracted no debts* increased nearly tenfold. By 1007 the doht had reached the figure of four milliards of marks (£200.000,000). The Minister then discussed tho various qnostionn of taxation. If the Government, ho said, proposed a moderate increase in tho tobacco tax, this tax would still fall far short of that imposed in other .States. There was, in his opinion, little prosper*t of n military exemption tax, which when rnoro closely examined, lost all advantages. Wore snich a tax to produce anything rt would be nothing but an Imperial Income Tax or Property Tax in disguise. ITMfm BFIBhITi FRACR ODNFIORIJNCMCS. Herr Bohol, the Socialist leader, said tho financial position of the Empire was os had as possible. The Secretary of State ought to investigate the causes of the immorux* in exprynditu ro. Tho orponditnro on the army and tic navy was increasing enormously; go much so that thov bad to ash where would they eo(; the TM.oney from incase 1 aF war. The result of Mm fird £/•;•<.. > wen (hat 11m military ex- • ponditnre of (ho great. Power; »>erc;.--(vl by thousands of millions, F| was remarkable that at the. last Pear-'* Conference, despite (he deep, rat ions made by the Imperial Ohaneellnr in M*' l . Reiclrstac. Baron Mnrschall took part; in tho debate on di ■armament. 1

The spoalcnr then went on fo refer to the meetings between T’rinccq wml Min Inst venr. After every meeting it wn.i declared that peace war. more assured Minn ever. The remit of tbo Peace Conference had b«en Mint an increase in wnr-hinr had been announced by the Prili'di and the American Pre c s. Tt was on the t v i| Tne day ttmt the Oormnn Emperor Wf l iVipfl;nr Histt- fbe German Navy Pill nnneered. Tbo Peneo Conference war nothing but a comedy.

PefemdnfC to internal policy. TTerr Hobo] declared tlmt Pr ; r>r*n von Pillow's assertion that tbe Camarilla did not mcist was incorrect, and then went on to expatiate on tbe Moltlre-TTa.rdrm trial, orbin'? that a clean swoon should bo matio of tbo conditions revealed by it. An improvement? could on , y he brought about through nothing being bushed np. Tim police, be <mid. were, afraid of thn mimes of di'dinrmi-hed gentlemen, and of princes of reigning bonnet being mentioned. A WARNING TO OFPTDNDm^.

Gon. von Einem, Minister of War, replying with reference to the MoltkeHardon proceedings, declared that ho was afraid of no eon min I which could affect the army. If further tn’nTs brought fresh cnlprita to the flock, they miKfc he removed no that tho army might bo purified. Such men never ho officers. If smell a man with pach tendencies was nerving in the irmy. He (the Minister of War) would take that opportunity to say to him then and there: "Take your disohanro. Take yourself off. for .von (in not heloncr to ns. M If such .a man was sought, whatsoever his rank, he must bo onnfhihitod. (Oheers.) Prince von Billow said: “Since 1 last spoke in this place on the subject of Morocco, fresh disorder* have arisen in that cerrntrv which have nn especially serious diameter at Osa .Blanca. It is possible that these untoward events would not have occurred had the police force provided for in the Algecinw Act been in working order in June. As thing* were, there was nothing for the French and Spanish Governments to do but to take stopn in self-defence. A STRICT RFPfRRVK AS TO MOROCCO.

fc T gratefully nelmowlodrro that both the Spanish and French Governments notified ns in good time of their contemplated action. That wo oheuld place no obstacles in tlie wny of this action wa-s a matter of course, it is equally obvious that that action did not affect the responsibility of the other Powers. Consequently there devolves upon tm the duty of observing nn attitude of strict reserve, and T c 1 1 n 11 eroordingly not disou-s the details of the ©rents at Causa Blanca. rm this occasion.

""Unhappily that action also involved damage to Gorman interests, and in anticipation of the subsequent approval of tho House it was decided to assign a suln of Cl. 4 ?,500 from Imperial funds as a first urgent grant in aid for tho Germans who had sustained losses. (Cheers.)

,I VV hat wfll bo tho further course nf oyentft in Morocco T am rot in a. position to toll tho TTouso to-day. In any case, we shall watch developments with calm reserve, trusting in the loyalty of tho French Government. The Act of Algcciras will form the basis of the more tranquil and pea re fn I conditions which will, it is to bo hoped, soon bo restored, war rumours Rrarcui/Eo. Prince Bulqtv then ridicnlod the notion that Germany was on the verso of going to war in 1904 about Morocco, when the Kaiser and the French President did not moot. It was childish to boliovo that war could arise between two great civilised nations in any other way than about a question which affecta the vital interests of those countries. (Cheers on the Right and Reft.) Regarding tho reform of the administration of justice in Macedonia, Prince Bnlow declared, amid applause, that ho looked to tho sagacity which Germany had so often shown in difficult situations for tho satisfactory settlement of this question. BETTER ANGRO-GKRMAN RELATIDNS.

Dealing next with tho Emperor's risit to England, ho expressed, amid applause from all parts of the House, tho thanks of Germany for the brilliant reception accorded to tho Emperor anc: Empress by tho British royal family and people. Tho Imperial Chancellor dealt at considerable length with the tuccessful efforts of largo sections of

the population on both sides to restore tho old friendly relations between Great! Britain and Gonminy. An historical survey /if the last ion years would show : that tho temporary estrangement oi tho two nation; had been nothing but a huge misunderstanding.—Reuter. ■. i