The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1911.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10783, 3 June 1911, Page 3

The Oamaru Mail. SATURDAY, JUNE 3, 1911.

President Tai-t'« proposal for arbitration in fKjriniuiciiw The Fate of the has not, (.hough Peace Proposals. lui.ck.Hl !>>• Ui<> <nthusiasm of (ho Hnglish churches and tlio approval of th<Socialists of Franco, mot with a good reception in- Germany. There it has been flouted with decisive and cynical refusal. The month through which that refusal came was the mouth of the Chancellor, but the spirit which dictated the same was the spirit of the Kaiser. We say so because the Kaiser has lately recovered the ground he lost in 1908 by the famous interview he accorded to the Daily Telegraph. The •outburst of criticism all over Germany was so great that the Kaiser was compelled to let Chancellor Bulow apologise for him, and promise never to do it again. The world persuaded itself that the Kaiser was reduced to the position of a constitutional limited monarch. The foreign press took its cue from the German, and a more abused man did not exist on the German side of the North Sea. The advanced politicians tried to obtain some constitutional guarantee, and motions were tabled for the introduction of bills limiting the prerogative, but they were not persevered with. A few months later came the great coup of 1909, I which, interfering at the decisive moment in the matter of the Austrian annexations in the Balkans, reduced the schemes of Russia and .Britain to nothing. T4ien the Kaiser made his celebrated Konigsberg speech, in which he said that speaking from the crowning place of thg Prussian kings he announced liis independence of public opinion and Parliament alike, taking his stand as a divinely ordained sovereign. There was a small attempt at a conflagration in the Reichstag, but that body passed a resolution of confidence which restored the Kaiser to the old position, showing how one strong stroke redeems all things. Accordingly that potentate on the first special show day—New Year's Day, 1911—gave the Berlin garrison the watchword "Konigsberg," and harangued it gaily on the virtues and independence of the head of the House of Hohenzollern. It is worth remembering that the Chancellor, who had apologised and promised reform in the name of the Kaiser, had. before this, discovered that resignation was the better part of statesmanship. He had sat through the furies of 1908 with folded arms and ended by apologising. His successor, Herr' Both man Holweg, oil the second occasion, had defended his august master very energetically. He is the owner of the mouth through which the Kaiser rejected the Taft proposal for the permanent peaceful settlement of all difficulties. It is, under the circumstances, nf almost vital interest to the rest of T'jiirope to bear ill mind that in conveying this refusal of liis chief, flic Chancellor took the opportunity of roundly declaring the valuelessness of all treaties, things to be observed so long as they are convenient, and fo be disregarded whenever they conflict with the wishes of signatories. There is, therefore, no further chance of Germany joining the league of peace suggested by President Taft in a manner worthy of the ruler of the greatest homogeneous Empire on the earth. Moreover, it is clear that, nothing is to be allowed to stand in the way of the mighty master of the disciplined hordes of Germany afloat and ashore. Treaties of the most formal cut are. for all their massiveness destined to be swept aside like chaff before the wind of an agitated mailed fist. Under the circumstances, it is well to understand that the suggestion of the American President is by no means.abandoned. On the contrary, the signs of its approaching signature arc growing on all sides. Apparently nothing can prevent its complete adoption. In that case the defensive alliance between the Englishspeaking peoples will be the dominating factor in European politics. It will then, after all, be the establishment of the permanent basis of peace. Unhappily it will be more expensive and complicated, and apparently less sure an outcome of a bad situation. But, so long as there is an outcome that is not through the gates of war mankind will have every reason to be thankful.

The nice scrupulousness of the Leader of the Opposition in refusing the pressing offers of the Prime constituents to afford 'them some of his peculiar.enlightenment on political questions elicited a roar of approval from the gallery, which is susceptible to emotion on the smallest provocation, and which often makes a noise because it does not know what else to do. Mr Massey declined, we may be sure, with reluctance; for such kindness as he received in the Awarua constituency increased his longing to place his best efforts at the disposal of the noble heritage enjoyed by Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Massey's keen discrimination enables him to appreciate nice distinctions; and, though to the ordinary mind speaking at Invercargill and Rivert-on is like bawling through _ the door leading _to Awarua, yet, it is, of course, nothing of the kind. However, Mr Massey's ..ive political conscience is quite clear because of his refined' refusal to coquette with Sir Joseph's constituents, though they "made eyes at him." We should say that Mr Massey's reeeptiou iu the South has been so delightful that it is better to be the Leader of the Opposition than Prime Minister — the only difference between the two positions otherwise being the emoluments, which he spurns as everybody knows.