19 JULY 1902, Page 2

The Austrian Government watches the attempts which the German Emperor

is making to cultivate good relations with Great Britain with somewhat mixed feelings. It is pleased, of course, that its great ally should be persona grata any- where, but it rather misses the special and almost separate friendship which for years united Great Britain and Austria. The Information, therefore, describes the German Emperor's efforts with covert ridicule, and while admitting that they are successful with King Edward, doubts if Mr. Balfour will ever be as Germanophil as Lord Salisbury has been. And then it publishes a list of German caricatures of eminent Englishmen! That is perhaps hardly fair fighting, as the Court of Berlin did not encourage the caricatures; but the incident is worth recording, as one evidence among many that the bond between Berlin and Vienna is one rather of the head than the heart. "I regard her as a sister, of course," says Tlaackeray when anxious to describe the most extreme bitterness of feminine jealousy ; and the isbformaties winds up its rather malicious criticism with the sentence : "The pacific intentions of the Emperor William do equal honour to his head and heart."