The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1906. ANOTHER WAR CLOUD.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12870, 4 January 1906, Page 4

The Timaru Herald THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1906. ANOTHER WAR CLOUD.

Tbc news from Berlin with regard Jo tie forthcoming conference about tbc control of Morocco is decidedly ominous. The German Press, which is doubtless reflecting the mind of the Kaiser, seems to foe paving die way for the failure of the gathering. Indeed it would hardly be too much v» | say that there 5* every indication on u-.e part <*f Germany to provoke a. rupture w:*.!i France over this question of From the first there has been very lin: excuse for the Emperor"*; intrusion in iLt affair. The whole trade of Germany with Morocco U inconsiderable, and in any casw it is not prejudiced by the reforms which: France was preparing to carry oat in the ShereeSan Empire under the terms of her agreement with Britain. France was only anxious that the Saltan should strengthen his country by remedying abuses, and what she proposed was intended for the benefit of the whole world. From her position itf the south of the Mediterranean, and from her long frontier line between Algiers and Morocco, France could not help haying a special interest in the gvxf ontoand prosperity of the Sultan's Übtfiam.! In the Anglo-French agreement, whi A gar* France a free band to carry out the necessary reformation of Morocco, the contracting parties showed that they considered that Spain, and Spain alone of the *4her Power*, I had any right to be consulted in tbc matter. The Kaiser, however, has taken.' ample revenge for their failure Ho consult i Germany. He practically dismissed M.| Delcasse, the French Foreign Minuter, wan] detached Italy from the Triple Alliance.'' who assisted Russia, to *eke her last chance' of victory against Japan at sea, who con- - tended with Germany at Constantinople, | and who helped with consummate skill So; engineer the "entente cordiale" with Great; Britain. Ml DeJcasso was allowed to Ml because the French feared that his policy; might, in the end, imitate the German Emperor into a declaration of war. The temptation for him to do so is obviously great. His army is superior to that, of France and 5s always more ready for mo- ■ bilisation, while if it were once set in! motion, a, single victory might enable bim ; to demand al! th& French colonics, including Madagascar and lodo-China, as the' price of peace. In that case Germany. might in a few years become as powerful. beyond the sea as she now is within the 1 continent of Europe. The- members of; the French Cabinet, thought it «nwise to' !el?:n a Minister whos* pidiry. r<-..] or sup-; nosed, was regarded by sbt Kniperor as directed against himself, and M. Delcasst went out of , office. It was understood i that his successor, jilyr. Rouvicr, would, for' a time at least, display towards the Kaiser; a consideration the'absence of w&ieh has; for two years been gaOing to his peculiar pride. But safe on his eastern frontier, \ the Emperor appears to be pushing France, in order to gain still further diplomatic! triumphs. If he had taken the action \ he is now taking two years ago, it- would. have been much easier to have treated bisj schemes for asserting himself in Morocco' with indifference. Then the Franco-Rus-sian Alliance was strong enough to keep German action well within bounds. When the Anglo-Frencb agreement in reference to Morocco was signed without Germany' being consulted, the Emperor did not in-j tcrferc. It was only after Mukden bsd, been fought and lost, by Russia, and Ger- ; many had thus been i«Uevcd from tbe danger of an attack «n both flanks, tfosi' he saw his opportunity to snub France and incidentally to facilitate the pas-sing of votes for more troops, better artillery. and a greater activity in the construction! of battleships. He failed, howtver, i</ break the understanding between England and France, althoogh the French Minister who consummated it was sacrificed, and: if he pushes his demands in Morocco too far. he will bare- to reckon both with France aad England, in spite of the recent/change of Ministries at Westminster. ftir ; it is stated to-day that Sir Edward Grey; is following the policy of his piedeecmtr in regard to France. The situation i*i evidently strained, and Belgium is pitparing for possibilities, but it is to be' ho|»ed the Kaisers designs will be frcstrated without recourse to war.