BISMARCK’S BOOK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16359, 23 February 1921, Page 3

BISMARCK’S BOOK.

IRON CHANCELLOR AND GAMSETTA. PERFIDIOUS ALBION, (Correspondent “New York Deraid.”) PARIS. N orember 13. ‘ You. can never be sure of perfidious Albion. T prefer building with the solid Russian block than with the English clay- for England is uncertain as the sea which surrounds her,” Bismarck told Gambetta inst secret interview in 1878 when he tried to form it Franco-German alliance which would be used eventually against Great Britain’s sea superiority, which Germany then realised she could not combat alone. French diplomats always have denied that Gambetta talked to the Iron Chancellor, but the proofs in a new book by Francis Laur show that the German Imperialist and the French republican, whose heart was placed in the Pantheon on Thursday, met at Varzin during one of •Gambetta’s trips as a simple tourist to Germany. The revelation is startling in many points. Laur contends the chiefs not only talked alliances but exchanged views on the disarmament question, both agreeing that it was impossible to disarm wholly, but admitting the necessity of the reduction of expenditures for military purposes lest the nations clash. BISMARC K'S DISTRUST OF ENGLAND. “ .Moreover." Bismarck is quoted as saying. “ our fleet will never take tho offensive. England will never let us pass. It is of highest importance that France and Germany shall never become more menacing than they are now to each other.” To tin’s Gambetta replied : “ You are absolutely right.” And if the nations had followed their advice, instead of suppressing, as "Wilhelm did, Bismarck, and as the French repudiated Gambetta, the conflict of 1914 probably would never have resulted. Gambetta suggested that Bismarck try to bring England into a. new alliance, but the Prince, frowning, replied: “You might as well build castles on the edge of the sea as trust England. Let us confine it only to nations that have given proofs of their sincerity. \ Franco-Germap-R ussian alliance will rally four-fifths of Europe and will be forever a reality, formidable and unattackable and forever obeyed.” But Gambetta could not sec a means of uniting the new born republican thouglit of France with Russian Czarism. Laur’s book creates a new figure as the father of the Anglo-French entente—Sir Charles I)tike—who, according to Gambetta. had urged an alliance with the two nations based on the question of sentimentality coupled with economic advantages. Tins apparently so enraged Bismarck that he shouted : “ But we have, no common interests with England. Our markets conflict in all parts of the world. We are and we will become more and more rivals.” RIVALS ON THE SEA. If Germany’s growing desire for ocean supremacy could have been overcome, a diplomatic entente along the lines suggested by Gambetta might* have been evolved, but Bismarck objected vigorously to letting the British have a monopoly of the seas. “ Britain respects only those she fears.” Gambetta was toll!, “and will only become a faithful ally of Continental Europe when the united navies of the Continent surpass her own.” Bismarck even suggested, but in the most veiled terms, that the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine to Germany might be waived as .the price of French adhesion to the proposed Triple Alliance with the Russians, Bismarck admitting he did not favour annexation but was unable io swerve the intention of the militarists like Von Moltke, who had made up their minds to take French territory as tangible evidence of the German vieGanibetta looked the German leader squarely in the eye as he replied: “ That is a question which will divide us only the more. Let us not talk of it-” Apparently this frankness pleased Bismarck, for as Gambetta left after their customary terms of courtesy hud been exchanged Bismarck followed him to Hie door and almost affectionately pleaded ; “ Take care of yourself. Gambetta. You are burning the caudle at both ends.” It was the last effort Bismarck made to unite the German and French policies in a European alliance against England.