The closing months of 1907 saw, in the visit of the German Emperor and Empress to England, sequel of King Edward's stay at Wilhelms-boche, a distinct effort to heal the breach between Great Britain and Germany. Nothing was wanting in the cordiality of the reception extended everywhere to his Imperial Majesty; even Mr. Punch for the time being sheathed his truncheon; and there is no reason to doubt the sincerity of the Emperor's glowing speech at the Guildhall. In fact from German Emperor down to German Press there was abundant evidence of a desire that the visit might in-. augurate a new era in -Anglo-German relations—a wish that Great Britain herself may cordially endorse. It is the more regrettable that the wish appears doomed to stop short at the merely academic stage. Since it was expressed we have received the details of the German budget for 1908 under which the estimated expenditure on naval projects for the next ten years amounts to £208,600,000; which ie an increase of £49,300,000 as compared with the estimates of 1906. It cannot but be obvious that the coolness between the two countries was none of British seeking; but unfortunately Great Britain's mere existence blocks " the way to nearly every aim which Germany has set before her.; and so long us she persists in the challenge to British naval supremacy which she threw down eight years ago, so long must British and German paths lie wide apart.
Very different is the case of France, between whom and Great Britain the entente cordiale after nearly four years of existence displays no sign of weakening; it should gain additional strength from the Franco-British Exhibition of Science, Arts and Industries which is to be held in London in the forthcoming summer. The past. year has one of curious mixture for France. Abroad she has been conspicuously successful; at home she is weakened by faction and evil counsel to such an extent that her future existence as first-class Power has been brought into peril. The Franco-Siamese Agreement of last March has added to her possessions in Indo-China territory rich in precious stones, minerals and vegetations, and to this must be added on the credit side her subsequent treaty with Japan. Finally the massacre of Europeans at Casablanca in August has given France an opportunity to assert her right as the predomjnant power in Morocco (not wholly an unmixed blessing to judge by the length of the campaign, but ardently desired by successive French Foreign Ministers,) while Europe in general including Germany. looks on with benevolent For the reverse of the picture we find a school of French Enzious that their country" should liticians, who are apparent!
emalate the example of (China: in cultivating peaceful relations with her neighbours without the aid of armaments.. This is the most charitable view, of, their gospel. Its errors, however, have been clearly explained by members NE
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.