BRITAIN AND GERMANY.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR...] Sin,—The note struck by Dr. Ludwig Stein in his article "Politisehe Legendenbildungen," of which I give a short résumé, is, I venture to think, interesting and refreshing enough to arrest the attention of English readers.
Dr. Ludwig Stein, I should add, is deserving of our atten- tion, not only as an eminent man of letters, but as the editor of the German monthly, Nord und Sid, a journal of leading political importance.
"In the April number of Nord und Sud," he says, "I took the opportunity of recapitulating the opinions of leading Frenchmen as well as Englishmen on the question of peace and war—doing so in the face of the 'political alcoholism' to which we have fallen a victim, and in order to show that, besides these extremists to be found on both sides, there were yet moderate and reasonable voices audible—voices to which we should give a hearing. Language used for effect,'" observes Dr. Ludwig Stein, " may be heard loud enough in all the sensational reports of the daily Press, yet," he adds, " the weeklies and monthlies—journals such as England affords the best type of—are calculated to make good all the sins of precipitate daily journalism." We could have no more earnest and courteous critic of our serious periodical journals than Dr. Stein, who, indeed, deplores that the "burning questions of the day" should not be debated in the same judicial spirit in his own country. . As the result of the conversations this gentleman had with politicans of all shades of opinion as well as with the editors of many leading papers, Dr. Ludwig Stein came to the opinion that, not alone is an understanding with Germany here in England most earnestly desired on the ethical basis of the "open door" (a'if Grunde der "open door" im Geistigen), but that this is held to be absolutely imperative to the integrity of the Western civilized States. And in illustration of the above statement Dr. Stein at the end of his article gives numerous quotations from the public utterances of such responsible men as Sir Thomas Vezey Strong, the Lord Mayor, Sir Edward GI ey, Lord Morley, Lord Lansdowne, and Lord Charles Beresford in order to prove to his country- men the truth of his assertions.
Dr. Stein declares that the "Political Legend" that has taken shape in Germany, and according to which England is accused of fostering sinister intentions such as that of attack- ing Germany last summer by surprise, must be resolutely dissipated, for it otherwise becomes the working basis of untold harm and fosters the germs of disastrous consequences.
" In England," he observes, " these sort of fairy tales make an impression, all the more painful since Englishmen have been wont to hold in high reverence the judgment of the nation of poets and of thinkers,' and this good opinion had taken deep root in English minds. Englishmen," he continues, "are at a loss to conceive how such a legend can receive credence, seeing that the responsible leader of foreign affairs. Sir Edward Grey, has most emphatically declared all this talk of a premeditated attack upon Germany to be the outcome of a mischievous political phantasy, and," adds Dr. Stein most impressively, "be it remembered that an English politician always remains a gentleman ; ... even should he in the interests of his country be obliged to withhold some of the truth, he is nevertheless incapable of uttering an objective lie' in the course of parliamentary debate."
Dr. Stein draws the attention of Germans to the fact that since the conclusion of the regrettable Moroccan episode efforts have not been spared on both sides of the North Sea, as he puts it, to "rub the sharp edges" off the question of naval armaments, and that this has been aimed at in official as well as in non-official circles. Dr. Stein further attempts to explain the position in which an English Government finds itself when having to satisfy public opinion and at the same time keep its seat in the saddle.
"Let us not forget," he says, " that while public opinion in Germany is a power, in England it is the power ; and in England this power has become nervous—a nervousness which is the outcome of higher taxation resultant upon the increased naval armaments." Should this state of things go on, observes the writer, a Liberal Government will find itself in a quan- dary, for at the end of this road lie " Tariff Reform" and " universal national service," both of which are antipathetic to the British public taste, and consequently perilous to a Liberal Government's tenure of office.
Dr. Stein deprecates every suspicion as to England's desiring to increase her possessions, and whole-heartedly admits her willingness to see Germany enjoying that place in the sun she has so earnestly and ably striven to gain. Indeed, he expresses the opinion that England would far rather see Germany busy breaking fresh ground overseas than occupying herself about those politically more volcanic portions of the East where troubles lie in wait, as it were, for all comers; and he even touches the subject as to whether oo-operation between a " triple alliance " and a " triple entente " might not be feasible, as a means of increasing the stability of the world's politics.
But it is for Herr von Bethmann Hollweg that Dr. Stein reserves his most eloquent praise. The present German Chan- cellor is, in his opinion, the personage of the greatest moment at the present juncture in that his sound judgment, his moderate utterances, and his obvious sincerity are sympathetic to the English character.—I am, Sir, &e., IGNOTIIS.
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