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 international conflict, as carried on during the last quarter of a century, developed circumstances, of necessity, which created, maintained, and even embittered international suspicions and hostilities.

Thus, while Pan-Germanism, on the initiative of Bismarck, and later, under the leadership of the Kaiser, created and developed a national spirit in Germany, yet a like development in France, Britain, Russia, Belgium, and other countries tended to keep the nations estranged rather than in a state of mind adapted to the peaceful settlement of their inter-State difficulties. In peaceful penetration more difficulties have arisen perhaps than in relation to the use of any other of these instruments of pacific strife. According to the ideas of one side it may be right that France may peacefully penetrate Algeria, Tunisia, and even Morocco; that Italy—perhaps on sufferance, though, from all parties—may penetrate and eventually occupy Tripoli; that Great Britain may penetrate into the Soudan and Persia; and that Russia may penetrate into Persia, and even into Manchuria. The end—the civilisation of the world by free peoples or their allies—is the justification. With Germany, however, the matter is viewed in a different light by Britain and its allies. Pan-Germanism is mere dynastic aggression. Consequently, though Germany may penetrate only financially and commercially into Belgium and Holland, and perhaps into Turkey in Europe and Asia Minor, yet that penetration must never carry with it any political or territorial reward. So, too, and on the same principles, with regard to Treaty. Germany views with dislike and hostility Britain’s relationship with France, and perhaps even more her relationship with Russia ; but Germany herself would have no objection whatever if Britain allied herself, instead, with the German Empire. It is precisely the same when we deal with Breach of Treaty Obligations. Germany, for example, must observe her treaty obligation with regard to the neutrality of Belgium and Luxembourg. On the other hand, Germany complains that France, Spain, and Great Britain may, with the applause of nations, be parties to, for example, a breach of the treaty guaranteeing the independence of Morocco.

One cannot too frequently enforce the conclusion to be drawn from all this. It is that the action of Britain and France and, since she entered into terms of friendship with her present allies, Russia, has always had reference to the attainment of one object, that is, the preservation of the balance of power and the prevention of the domination by the dynastic States of the free peoples of Europe. All other policies and principles have been