THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11975, 12 May 1914, Page 4

THE EUROPEAN SITUATION.

Though it is easy to dispose dialectically of those who have raised the recent war scare in Germany, we arc bound to say that the movement is one calculated to cause great anxiety among close observers of the European situation, s.-ay3 "The Spectator." It shows, in the lirst place, ho.v much unrest there is in the ruling casto ia Germany, and how ready that caste is when in doubt or difficulty to fly to the thought of war as the best instrument of policy. The mind of the German militarist, and bureaucrat is always liable to become possessed by the idea that the time has come for "a preventive war." Fortunately, l'owever, neither the Russians nor th: ,

French shown any oigns of being unduly disturbed by these outbreaks in the German Press, and avoid all provocative retorts. The present situation will, we trust, be studied and properly understood by those who in this country have been inclined to wonder whether we have not committed ourselves too deeply by maintaining the Triple Entente. We are convinced that if ther:> were to be any weakening in the bond of mutual insurance which now binds the Powers of the Triple Entente, and any one of them were to withdraw, the peace of Europe would not be worth twenty-four hours' purchase. Happily there is no prospect of such weakening , of these ties. As long as tho three Powers hold together ponce is assured. If they were to fall apart, Germany in her present mood might be tempted io hold that the signal "Now or never" had been hoisted, and to attack the apparently isolated Power, whether France or Russia or Britain.