The Waikato Argus, [PUBLISHED DAILY] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 8500 Weekly. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1912

Waikato Argus, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5156, 13 November 1912, Page 2

The Waikato Argus, [PUBLISHED DAILY] A Guaranteed Circulation of Over 8500 Weekly. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1912

Whenever the politics of the world are in a strained condition the speeches delivered by Ministers at the banquet in celebration of tfce accession of another Lord Mayor of London are looked forward to with unusual expectancy. Seldom has there been more reason for this than at the present juncture. The complete deieat of Turkey by Bulgaria and her allies has brought the troublous question to the fure as to whether the Turks, by the intervention of the Powers, are to continue to rule the country of which they have been proved incapable by force of arms to secure the integrity. The speech of the Prime Minister at the banquet implies that European Turkey is to be parcelled out between the land-hungry Powers with which she has long been surrounded. Mi Asquith said, “upon one point he believed the general opinion of Europe would be unanimous that the victois shall not be robbed of the fruits of their victories which had cost them so dear.’” The question of questions is as to whether this principle can be acted upon without involving a European war. Mr Asquith by way of assurance that this would not be the case said “the Great Powers’ co-operation was remarkable and almost unintelligible to those who believed that because they were ranged in different groups they must therefore in a time of crisis be arrayed in opposite camps. ” The task before the Powers is a delicate one, how delicate may be judged by Mr Asquith’s speech. He said: “It may be that Eastern Europe may have to be recast. It may be that the ideas, preconceptions and policies born in a bygone era may have to be modified or reconstructed or even go altogether by the board.” This indefinite illustration of the position must be accepted, for the reason that the complete conquest of the Turk, although anticipated, has come with such suddenness that there has not as yet been time to consider probabilities or possibilities. It is in a moderate degree reassuring that Mr Winston Churchill has stated that British relations with Germany had steadily improved during the past year; notwithstanding that the struggle for supremacy has continued. Britain has given every assurance that she is determined to maintain her supremacy. He added: “The best way to make these relations hearty and comfortable was to go right on and terminate the rivalry by proving that we cannot be overtaken.” There is no disguising the fact that the situation is extremely critical; the firearms are loaded and may bo brought into action by anv Power which may anticipate gain by a general conflagration.