On Wednesday Sir Frank Lascelles, lately our Ambassador in Berlin,
spoke at length on our relations with Germany. Admitting the existence of ill-feeling, he declared that a war between England and Germany would be one of the greatest calamities which could befall the world. There was no ground for quarrel and no question pending between the two countries which could not be susceptible of arrangement by negotiation. But he believed that if any serious question were to arise between the two countries the bitterness and ill-feeling now existing would create a situation so dangerous to peace that no British Government could afford to ignore it, or fail to take such precautions as would' ensure our safety against attack and enable us to cope successfully with war if such a dire necessity should arise. While be did not share the opinion that war was inevitable, he was not optimistic enough to hope that any great change could be brought about immediately in the sentiments of the two nations. It must take a long time, but if once the idea could be got rid of that each country was in danger of being attacked by the other, a situation would be created tending to the establishment, if not of cordial friendship, at all events of a good understanding between the two peoples.
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