It cannot be said that the reception of the speech
in Germany has been such as to encourage Mr. Churchill ever to repeat his offer. So far as we can gather, only one paper regards the proposal as both honest and practical. Count Reventlow said : " These importunate repetitions create in Germany an unpleasant impression. By them Mr. Churchill does injury to Anglo-German relations." A writer in the Lokalanzeiger goes further and, in the words of the Berlin correspondent of the Westminster Gazette," practically charges England with trickery." Grand Admiral von Tirpitz, in an interview with a representative of the Daily Chronicle, said that the offer could never be accepted. German naval con- struction had always been conducted regularly "without acceleration," and would continue to be so conducted. There was nothing to conceal but also nothing to change. We can hardly suppose that Mr. Churchill expected a different result. Perhaps his speech was only a device for shutting the mouths of extreme Radical critics. Now be will be able triumphantly to say, " You see the high estimates are neces- sary. I have again appealed to Germany, but without effect." Even so it would be better that such proposals should be made through the Foreign Office and explained in Parlia- ment afterwards. It should he remembered that when Germany is asked to reduce her shipbuilding programme she is asked to change a law. That is a formidable request to make of any country.
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