German Confidence In England Shown.

New York Times 100 years ago today, December 8, 1912:
Canadian Plain Talk Regarding the Naval Gift Caused No Trouble in Kaiser's Empire.
GOOD FEELING ON EACH SIDE
 Europe, Although More Hopeful, Still Regards the Situation Due to the War with Nervousness.
Special Cable to The New York Times.
    LONDON, Dec. 7.— The improved relations between England and Germany, which, as stated recently in New York Times dispatches, bade fair to be one of the most important outcomes of the war in the Balkans, have been demonstrated this week in an emphatic fashion. Canada's gift to the British Navy, accompanied, as its announcement was, by a plain-spoken exposé of British needs as against German naval expansion, might have been expected to produce some measure of irritation in the Fatherland.
    Had it occurred some months ago, the chances are that there would have been a bitter exchange of "compliments" between the newspapers of the two countries. Now, thanks to the amelioration produced by the Anglo-German attitude toward the Balkan league, there has been a remarkable measure of restraint on the part of the most jingoistic section of the British press, while on the German side there has been practically a total absence of the sort of comment which not so long ago might have been inevitably expected.
    As The Daily News puts it: "Canada's gift has not upset Germany in the least, and apparently has done nothing to wither the budding friendship between the two countries after a prolonged Winter of estrangement."
    Even more noteworthy is an article in the Kreuz-Zeitung commenting on the pacific attitude of France, as exemplified in M. Poincaré's speech on Thursday, and attributing it to the policy England has pursued:
    "In the pacific attitude of France," said the Kreuz-Zeitung, "we are undoubtedly justified in seeing the result of the circumspect, equitable, and eminently pacific policy which England, for some time past, has been pursuing, with the plaudits of the whole of peace-loving Europe."
    When it is remembered how Great Britain has been mistrusted in Berlin, this quotation in the organ of the Prussian landed gentry marks the beginning of a return to confidence.
    It was doubtless owing to some misapprehension of Sir Edward Grey's efforts to smooth down the Aspect of the European situation that, during the early part of the week, a number of French papers flatly accused England of perfidy, declaring, in so many words, that she was throwing over France in an endeavor to make friends with Germany.
    M. Poincaré's speech dissipated these suspicions, and for the month "peace and good-will among nations" is the ruling toast.
    The actual transformation of the Balkan armistice into peace is hoped for, in some quarters, by Christmas, but the negotiations which are to be held here would have to be remarkably rapid if the Treaty of London is to be signed before the Yuletide festival.
    Discussion as to the conditions under which the plenipotentiaries will meet to negotiate the terms of peace continue to turn particularly on the rôle that may be played by Greece. It is suggested that this country's abstention from the armistice was with the entire approval of her allies, who considered that by continuing the campaign in Epirus and the Aegean Islands, an appreciable service could be rendered by Greece to the cause of the Balkan League; but this is by no means the generally accepted theory.
    Another statement which has attracted some attention is that Greece separated herself from the allies in the matter of armistice, because her convention with the other members of the Balkan League was purely a military one, and when her differences with Bulgaria developed she decided to stand out for her own terms with Turkey.
    Such action, it is pointed out, would be a source of grave danger, as the alliance of the Balkan League is one of the chief hopes for European security. These fears are regarded in generally well-informed quarters as somewhat farfetched, and it is believed Greek plenipotentiaries will be found attending the peace conference at London.
    To sum up — Europe, although generally hopeful, still regards the future with some tremors. The situation in the view of more than one well-informed observer is still gravely critical.