GERMAN MENACE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1273, 27 May 1912, Page 2

GERMAN MENACE.

VIEWS OF MR BALFOUR

PREPAEATIONS FOU WAR

(Press Assn.— By Telegraph.— Copyright.)

LONDON, May" 25. In tlie Magazine Nordunhsuds symposium, j\Ll- Balfour, after «a tribute acknowledging the world's debt to Germany's genius and learning, says that if recent years have produced a changed feeling it is not due to national prejudice, but to a series of facts which cannot be lightly treated or calmly ignored. The first was the Ccernuux Navy Bill. If Englishmen were sure that the German fleet was only to be used, for defence they <Md not care how large it was. Britain wasi wholly dependent on sea-borne supplies, and there were two ways whereby, a hostile nation could bo epiahed. It could be conquered or starved. If Germany were master of our home waters she coulcl apply both methods to Britain, but were Britain ten times master of the North. Sea she would be unable to apply either method to. Germany. Without a superior" fleet Britain ' cdtiid not ' count liA'a Power, whereas -without any fleet Germany would remain the greatest Power . m Europe. Therefore tdie •instindt ll'of:'S:elfpreaeryatdon obliged the \ English not merely^ to take into account." the growth of foreign navies, but to arisio'Ji&ly wfeign. the motives of those building them.. Germany" was increasing both her army and na-vy and her strategic -railways to the frontier^ states, and it -was ednceivable thait this might bs done to render ha? against attaiok;. "Unfortunately," Mr: Balfour proceeds, '$9! mere analysis of German preparations'for •war will show 1 the pur-poses wherefore they ai*e designed, as the preparations are just as formidable for aggression as defence. The "danger lies, m the coexistence of a marvellous , instrument of warfare^ with the assiduous advocacy of a policy of; territorial expansion 'which, it. seems, impossible to reconcile with., tne peace of the world or the rights of the nation. All countries hindering, thougih m self-defence, this ideal, are regarded as hostile, and a war* or -threats ane denied the natural and' fitting method to accomplish the ideals. " : ' \ , "Let German students assume that Germany should be endowed' at the ookt of other nations " with, overseas dominions proportionate to,. her greatness m Europe, but db not" let them "ask Englishmen to approve. We" are too •"surely convinced , of the perils that such, a policy — were it successful — would' bring upon ourselves as well as others." He was afraid that the Germans widely held the conviction 4ihat Britain istands m their country's tight' tha£' Englishmen 'desire to thwart her natural development and are jealoUs of ' her legitimate growth. "Of these crimes," he proceeds, "we are unconscious. I do not believe that Germany and Britain' are predestined to be enemies. * Germany has taught liluiNSJpeV ttbch, and can teach Europe yet that the organising: of a« military may >be, used m- .the int&resijs ."of -peace aa , effectively / as Un. tKose of wai*; that the appetite, for dor mination belongs to ah outworn phase of patriotism; that the furtl^erance of civilisation wherefore she labored 1 must be the .joint.w ork for; Tmany peoples. If she is "prepared to' lead" 'on' 'these' lines, she will firid the world [prepared to follow-, i but if 'her ' policy is- determined by national' ambitions- of a different type she must* not foe surprised if other countries 'watch" the growth of aggressive Powteri^ with "uhdlsgxiised 'alarm', and consider means for meeting a common danger."

The Kreuz Zei.tung regrets Mr Balfour's opinion of- Gtenriany, and says that he is' 'influenced by ¥rerich Chaxv vinist/ views, t ■ ■springing 1 -* froni hatred of Germany, which -^were- hardily to be expected from ia gehtleman ' Of his standing. ; "Hence we • must conclude that Conservatives like Mr Balfour' view German conditions and motives through French -spectacles, and are unwilling to make; any ''concession to the - German standpoint." • .