NEWS OF THE WEEK.
YET another week has passed without bringing any relief
to the international situation. France is directing all her efforts to end the crisis by bringing the negotiations to a head. She feels, quite rightly, that one of the greatest dangers to peace is a further protracting of futile debate with Germany, and that the worst may as well be known as quickly as possible. She is making what is held to be a generous sacrifice, and feels that the German attitude towards it may fairly be regarded as a test. If Germany demands only small adjustments of the proposed bargain we do not suppose for a moment that France would refuse to consider them, as though she has sent the substance of a final offer to Germany she has not by any means sent an ultimatum ; but if Germany tries once more to open up quite new fields of dispute France would feel that the affair had become intolerable, and that she may just as well return a decided " No" early as late.
