THE A.NGLO-GERMAN FRIENDSHIP SOCIETY: APPEAL FOR 1;5,000.
[TO TIM EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.'J
SIE,—We venture to beg the hospitality of your columns for an appeal for funds on behalf of the Anglo-German Friendship Society. This Society was inaugurated on May let, 1911, with the main object of making a determined effort to establish a better feeling between Great Britain and Germany. It is believed that only by persistent effort on cautious and tactful lines can any important influence be brought to bear upon public opinion and a real and permanent change in sentiment be effected; wherefore under the guidance of those with experience and knowledge of the relations between Great Britain and Germany we propose to take active steps to this end.
The object which the Society has in view will, we believe, meet with the sympathy of the overwhelming majority of the British people irrespective of political party, for we believe that only by a cordial understanding between Great Britain and Germany can the peace of the world be fairly secured ; and in order to carry out our proposals it is necessary for us to make a strong appeal for financial assistance.
We shall gratefully accept any assistance from whomsoever it may come, but our object can only be successfully attained by the substantial contributions of wealthy sympathizers, thus enabling us to inaugurate an active policy of enlightenment and conciliation which may have decisive effect upon public: sentiment in both countries. It is estimated that each public: meeting costs about £50; it would therefore be unwise to rest satisfied with a sum less than £5,000; and those who have little or no opportunity for active personal service may feel assured that their donations are equally essential to the vitality and progress of as good a cause as ever was placed before the public.—We are, Sir, &a., AVEBURY, President, FRANK C. LASOELLES, Chairman.
CYRIL RHODES, Honorary Secretary. The Anglo-German Friendship Society, 16a John Street, Adelphi, London, 1V.C.
1The distinguished signatories of this appeal will, we trust, take ample precautions that the speakers at the meetings will not in their zeal represent this country as showing an aggressive attitude towards Germany, from which it must be weaned. If unfortunately such an attitude were taken up the excellent aim of the Society will be frustrated and serious harm instead of good be done. The reason is clear. The mischief-makers in Germany will use such speeches as proof of the contention, which they are always dinning into the ears of the German people, that Britain is the enemy. The signa. tories will also, we trust, insist that no expressions of friend- ship with Germany are to be construed as implying want of sympathy with France. They must reject from the beginning the odious attempt which has been made to represent friendship with France as an act of hostility towards Germany which must be repudiated and apologized for by Englishmen on their beaded knees. The British people will never purchase friendship with Germany on terms so degrading, nay, so contrary to the true cause of peace.—En. Spectator.J
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