CURRENT LITERATURE.
GERMAN AMBITIONS.
German Ambitions. By " Vigilans sed/Equus." (Smith, Elder, and Co. 2s. 6d. net.)—The letters which appeared in our "Correspondence" columns above this signature are here collected into a volume, with sundry additions and illustrative notes. One subject treated in the first letter or chapter has since come into unexpected prominence,—the scheme of a British Zollverein. "If England turns Protectionist, Continental Europe will have to unite in order to avoid being economically trampled on, and the result will probably be war." So Admiral Livonius expresses himself—he sees, it will be observed, no difference between a Zollverein and Protection. Now if we are convinced that this policy will serve the Empire, we must follow it, war or no war. Meanwhile it may be useful to see what a prominent Australian politician has to say :—" It was important to keep in , mind—what some .people seemed unable to do— that the three great Federations of the future were in different parts of the world; and existed under entirely different conditions. What: might suit Canada might not suit Australia. What might suit South Africa might suit neither of the others. It was clear, therefore, that any political bond of union must be of the most elastic kind. It was with some reluctance that he differentiated Australia from other parts of the Empire, but it was necessary to do so. The Australians were a Western 'people with an Eastern destiny. :Important as the British connection was to them from a trade point of view, they must pause before putting at defiance the commercial world out- side the British Enipire." German fears are poisibly exaggerated --metum stimulant at magis concupiscent—though there are some threatening conditionsin their future. Their historic wrongs suffered at our hands are a simple sham. Lord Bate's alleged treachery may be almost certainly pronounced a delusion, while Prussia's in- famous bargain with Napoleon, a betrayal of England with Hanover for the price, is a solid historical fact. As for German ambitions, they may be foolish, but they are certainly real. One of them is to sweep the British Fleet from the sea, throw a large force into this country; and dictate a peace in London which would certainly have for one of its terms a ransom of, say, a thousand millions. Does this seem wild? Possibly ; but then, as Madame de Steel acutely said, "thinking calms men of other nations ; it inflames the German." But it is needless to say more on the present occasion. We will not praise our own wares ; of these our readers are quite capable of judging ; if they think that these warnings were words spoken in season, they will not be sorry to have them in a convenient shape.
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