ANGLO-GERMAN RELATIONS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 88, 2 June 1911, Page 6

ANGLO-GERMAN RELATIONS.

OBJECT OF GERMANY’S NAVY. There arrived in Melbourne last week on his third vh.it co Australia a German merchant, Mr. Georg Broeg, of Nuremberg, who is possessed wicii ail ardent desire io improve AnglcGoriuan relations and to dissipate misconceptions in the minds ot Australians as to tiro “real” object of the expansion of the German navy. Mr. Broeg represents Count Cast ell, who is the principal partner in the famous pjncil-mahing lirm of Faber. His previous visits have bred in him a warm affection for Australians and the Commonwealth, and, dining Ids stay in his own connti y in 1910 lie manifested Ids interest in Australasia by lecturing at Nuremberg, Berlin, Chemnitz, and many othoi German centres upon the beauties of and progress in .the'•■country. The visitor said mat ho had visited every British colony, and Australia, as a place for aspiring emigrants, stood in a class alone. Jlo expressed tho opinion that' Australia should offer assisted passages to German fanners and labourers, who .have had a hard struggle at home in the face of heavy- taxation. In after life Ids home would he in Australia. . Asked whether that would be Melbourne or Sydney, ho replied, “Well, Melbourne is my sister, but Sydney is my sweetheart.” Mr. Broeg is anxious to devise some means by wide a Australians may be convinced of Germany’s goodwill towards them. “I noui.l like to see removed from the minds of all Australians and Britishers,” he remarked, “tho atmosphere of suspicion in which they approach the reasons for Germany’s naval expansion. I know it is dial cult io overcome deep-rooted prejudice,'but 1 think something might be ctono in this land to support the work of tho influential committees in London-and Berlin, which have boon foi mod lb promote better relations between , the two great peoples. i would - that Australians would try to realise that our navy is not aimed at the British Navy at all. Our trade lias been enormously increased during. the last century —particularly with foreign countries and the British colonies. Our navy is to protect that trade and the commercial fleet of about 5000 ships which now trade with all parts of the world. The idea of. war with England is simply not favoured by us. It is an absolute impassibility for us; yet it is hard to convince my Australian friends of that. Wc are only building our navy for protection, not aggression, just as you arc beginning to build your Australian navy for protection, not aggicssion.'’ *