"Moreover,  we  beg  you  to  remember
that  the  real  reason  of  the  outcry
which  has  been  raised  over  our  mili-
tarism is  not  that  we  have  maintained
an  army,  but  rather  that  we  have  built
a  fleet.  .\  nation  not  menaced  as  we
are.  and  which,  hence,  has  only  wanted
enough  of  an  army  to  hold  in  subjec-
tion nations  which  it  has  conf|uerod  in
various  parts  of  the  earth,  has  filled
the  world  with  clamor  because  we  have
built  a  fleet  about  half  as  big  as  Its
own.  It  does  not  want  other  nations
to  sail  to  and  fro  upon  the  sea  as  it
does,  for  it  regards  the  sea  as  its  own


Iieculiar  projierty.     What   we  Germans
c-annot  understand  is  by  what   reason-
ing it  can  be  jiroved  that  English  trade
needs   to    he  protected   liy   an    English
fleet.  Imt  that  German  trade  should  not
be  protected  by  a  German  fleet  at  all.
"And,   lastly,  we  beg  you  to  bear  In
mind  that  it  is  not  the  man  to  whom
a  state  of  peace  is  peculiarly  profitable
that   seeks    pretexts    for    breaking   the
peace.      During    the   past    forty    years
Germany    has    been    exceedingly    pros-
perous.    The  (iermans  seem  especially
adapted  for  the  attainment  of  success
by  dint  of  industry  and  intelligence  and
along  the  path  of  peaceful  comiietitlon.
