BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12614, 17 November 1911, Page 5

BRITAIN AND GERMANY.

FULL STATEMENT PROMISED. CRITICISM OF FOREIGN OFFICE. (Press Assn. — By Telegraph.— Copyright.) LONDON, November 15. In the House of Commons Mr C. Goldman enquired for further light on Herr von Bethmann Hollweg's statement regarding Mr Lloyd George's speech and the sequel -thereto. Mr Asquith replied that the question covered so many matters of gravity and delicacy that Sir Edward Grey would make a full statement in the course of debate next week. The Star emphasises Mr A. Ponsonby's statement and argues that Lord Selborne is quite right in asking for definite information. He declares that the Foreign Office should be compelled to Jay all their cards on the table. He supports Mr Noel Buxton's and Mr Jowett's proposal for the establishment of a Foreign Affairs Committee. He contends that the permanent officials who run the Foreign Office largely run Sir Edward Grey. The Star adds: "The Foreign Office bureaucracy is anti-German, proRussian and anti-Nationalist, also opposing Persian and Turkish renascence. Unless Sir Edward Grey, is prepared to democratise the Foreign Office the country must find somebody else who can." [Lord Selborne said that England had a right to ask for an explanation in regard to what aspirations of Germany they. had tried to thwart.— During a debate at the" New Reform •'Club, Mr Porisonby, M.P. for Stirling Burghs; and others made statements indicating . that Britain was on the verge of war with Germany in September.]

(Received November 17, -10.10 a.rii.) LONDON, November 16. The Manchester Guardian cannot understand why Mr Asquith is unable to give,.' a plain answer yea or nay (to. Mr Goldman's tjuestion on, apparently simple matters of facts. It adds :" "Our foreign policy. has carried secrecy to extravagant lengths."/

BERLIN, November 16. '.'• Professor Schieriiann, in an article in | the Kreuz, Zeitung, says that Britain, i.b'y reason of her obligations under the J Franco-British-Moroccan agreement <>t' 1904, occupied v a position similar to Germany's: in a Bosnian- crisis. There had been no threats from the British Government, neither was Mr Lloyd George's speech instigated by the Cabinet. It did hot posse's the significance attached to it. Nevertheless it had occasioned ;great harm, and it was regretful that Britain had not corrected it.