Apparently the German Government, with an unpopular Army Bill on
its hands, is averse from explaining away too thoroughly the dangers of the revanche from France. The Cologne Gazette last week discounted M. Jaures's reply to Count von Billow, and warned its readers that the entente cordiale with England was aimed against Germany. Monday's Debats contained a vigorous repudiation of this suggestion, and a clear and sensible restatement of French policy. M. Jaures's words echoed the feeling of the whole French people, except a few hot-headed adventurers. The Anglo- French Agreement was purely defensive ; it was welcomed as removing the chance of a war with England. If France had had designs against aContinental neighbour, she would scarcely have sought the alliance of a Power incapable of waging war on the Continent. The incident is of little intrinsic import- ance, and we think the Debats right in attributing its cause to German nervousness about the Army vote ; but it is cer- tainly anew departure to find French protestations of friendli- ness received by Germany with incredulity.
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