ENGLAND AND GERMANY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:9
SIR, With the consent of the writer, a foreign gentleman of high standing and experience resident not here but in his home on the Continent, and in a position which affords him peculiarly favourable opportunities for knowing the facts, I send you the following extract from a letter which forms an instructive contrast to that of Mr. Somervell in your last
"I trust that the next Parliament will vote such a sum for the increase of the Navy as will convince the Germans once for all that England is determined at all costs to maintain the supremacy at sea. It is the only way to avert a war—unless it is not too late already ! English people unfortunately don't understand Germany and the forces which drive her into a war with England. Germany is still a geographical expression ; materially Germany is Prussia, which is a military state ruled by a military caste, whose only chance in life consists in war. The sword built up Prussia, and its future will be decided by the sword. The finances of both Germany and Prussia proper are in a bad way and borrowing cannot go on for ever; the Social Democrats once again raise their heads and threaten to become powerful in the next Parliament. The impend- ing Tariff difficulties with France, the U.S.. and England are a most serious matter for over-trading and over-producing Germany, and the population increases at such a rate (800,000 every year) that an outlet must be found for them. No wonder the Germans are restless and bitterly envious of England ; if I were a German I should be the same. The Kaiser knows quite well that the only way to knock Social Democracy on the head and kill it for a whole generation would be a successful war with England, which would not only make him the absolute master of Europe, but produce an immense prosperity in Germany, owing to the enormous war indemnity to be extracted from England. A few years ago a German banker, with whom I remonstrated about the insane expenditure on their fleet, coolly answered me : England will one day have to pay for that,' and this is the opinion of millions of Germans. The moment the Kaiser feels strong enough he will strike, being certain to have the bulk of the German nation at his back in doing so."
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