ANGLO-GERMAN ENTENTE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8681, 14 March 1914, Page 7

ANGLO-GERMAN ENTENTE

PRINCE LICHNOWSKY ON LINKS OF COMMON INTERESTS.

LONDON, January 31. A banquet in honour of the German Emperor’s birthday was held at the Hotel Cecil last night, and was attended by a large number of German subjects in. England. The German Ambassador, Prince Lichnowsky, after proposing the toast of “The King and Queen” in felicitous terms, gave the toast of “The Kaiser.’* In his speech he remarked that the course of events during the past tear had dully warranted the hope which he felt justified in expressing a year ago, and dispelled the fears entertained on many sides for tho peaceful development of the life of the European nations. “Though,” he continued, “some of the problems are still awaiting solution, and some questions of importance to tho parties interested have not yet been settled, we may acknowledge with gratitude that the Powers have succeeded in re-establishing peace, and in giving proof that the grouping of tho various Powers docs not prevent their peaceful and friendly co-opera-tion, and that tho joint work which they have accomplished during the past year has drawn nearer together not only the individual Powers, but also existing groups. I am not here called upon to speak on British-German relations, but I think I am justified in saying that the policy of the two Governments in confronting with united action the questions that have sprung up, has been received with a full and heartfelt satisfaction by the majority of the British and German peoples. The impressive terms in which the Imperial Chancellor referred to our foreign relations a few weeks ago will still be fresh in your memory, and fonder it unnecessary for me to make further mention of those most gratifying conditions.” Continuing, he said that during his recent visit to some of the most important ceirtres of British trad© and manufactures he was enabled to convince himself of tho cordial feelingswhich their British fellow-citizens entertained towards them, and of the esteem in which his countrymen were held in these industrial centres. He still gratefully remembered the receptions given to him at Newcastle and Bradford, where the municipal authorities and the leading members of the commercial and industrial world vied with one another in welcoming the representative of a friendly and kindred nation. He not only witnessed a truly astounding development of all branches of industry and economic effort, hut was also able to satisfy himself as to the rich harvest yielded by the close co-operation of the commercial interests of the two countries, and of the fact that the ever-increasing; business relations between' Great Britain and Germany formed the best and most hopeful link between the two nations, as well as tho soundest bpsis of a permanent understanding. The yearly increasing trad© between th© two nations, and the common economic interest flowing in its train, far from separating them, as pessimists would have it. were, on th© contrary, ■ draviv iug them more closely together, and rendering each the most valuable and “indispensable customer of the other; He found again evidence of the fact that the sea united and did not separate. and that shipping formed the best bridge by means of which nations could meet in a friendly spirit.