17 DECEMBER 1898, Page 2

Semi-official statements have been put forward both in , Paris and

Berlin repudiating the idea that a rapprochement between France and Germany is at present possible. The French Government contents itself with a simple denial ough the Courrier du Soir ; but the German Government iys boldly through the Cologne Gazette that any such bginge of attitude must be preceded by a final relinquish- cent of Alsace-Lorraine on the part of France. The incident I worth recording, but we do not suppose that any grave politician has misread recent rumours. They are simply aesaces to England. It is the method of angry Frenchmen mit now to declare that some big brother or other—Russia, r Germany, or Menelek—will by and by thrash England on ?reach behalf.