Herr von Billow, the Foreign Secretary of the German Empire,
made a long and able speech to the Reichstag on Monday intended • review the whole situation. He did not, however, mention France, and only alluded incidentally to Russia as a Power with whom Germany did not wish to break, even for the sake of preserving agreement with Great Britain. This agreement, he said, would cover many points of Colonial policy, and would, he thought, be advantageous to the Empire. This statement and Mr. Chamberlain's speech have produced much comment in Germany, where it is believed that an actual treaty has been drawn up, if not signed. The drift of opinion in general is favourable, and the mercantile class ie de- cidedly of opinion that the two countries should keep step, particularly in enforcing the policy of the "open door "; but the Colonial party is said not to be conciliated. They think England always gets too much, and would rather resist her than smooth her path. Throughout his observations about Turkey, about Cuba, and about peace, Herr von Billow was careful to demonstrate the anxiety of the Imperial Govern- ment for the commercial future of Germany.
