In the debate on the Estimates on Monday Count von
Billow, in replying to Herr Bebel, gave a curious exposition of German Weltpolitik. His attack upon the inconsistency of the Socialists in their excursions in foreign policy was extremely witty, and on the whole well justified. The Government, he continued, desired to be impartial, as its action showed, in spite of the efforts of those who wished to drag it into taking sides against Russia. The Imperial Chancellor then turned to the question of German relations with England. He defended the publication of his views in the current Nineteenth Century on the ground that he believed in plain speaking about foreign affairs; and wished to deny the rumour that Germany had tried to interfere in the matter of Tibet, and had caused the North Sea outrage by her perfidious insinuations. There was no possible ground of quarrel with Britain, German naval policy was purely defensive, and the idea of an Anglo-German war could not be seriously entertained. We have dealt with certain aspects of this question elsewhere, and will only say here that we are not much impressed by Count von Billow's protestations.
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