21 OCTOBER 1905, Page 1

The Berlin correspondent of the Times telegraphs on Friday a

very significant article with regard to the future foreign policy of Germany which appears in the Frankfurter Zeitung. Germany, it declares, has the right to address to France this question : "In case we should be involved in a conflict with England, are you going to be England's ally, and consequently our enemy, or are you going to preserve an honest neutrality?" "To raise this question," it continues, "is not to interfere with the independence of French policy, which can give it answer in perfect freedom, but, of course, with entire resuon= sibility for its decision. Germany is bound to ask this question in her own most vital interest; she must know exactly how she stands with France." In other words, the policy of Germany is to make quite sure that Britain has no allies before Ger- many deals with her. Nay, more, if France does not give the answer desired by Germany, she must remember that the blow will fall on her instead, for though she could help Britain, she is warned that Britain could not help her. As the Times re- marks, this is nothing but the policy of Sois inon frere ou je te tue. When this is taken in connection with the specially virulent attack made on the King and Lord Lansdowne by the Neue Freie Presse —Prince Billow's 'Vienna organ—we cannot, we fear, accept the comfortable notion that the Germans are quieting down, and that we shall hear no more of the anti-British Press campaign.

The Great Powers of Europe are much puzzled how to