anger seems to them greatest....

"In this connection I think it is interesting to quote a
conversation which a member of our embassy had the other evening
with the old Prince Henckel von Donnersmarck, as it may serve to
reflect the opinions which dominate court circles.

"Referring to the new German military proposals Prince
Donnersmarck spoke as follows:

"'French people are quite wrong in thinking that we harbor evil
designs and want war. But we cannot forget that in 1870 popular
opinion forced the French Government to make a foolish attack on
us before they were ready. Who can assure us that public opinion,
which in France is so easily inflamed, will not force the
Government to declare war? It is against this danger that we wish
to protect ourselves.'"

The prince, a veteran of the French war, expressed the opinion that
Germany would again conquer France in event of another war.

"Frenchmen, who have a great facility for work, are not as
punctual as Germans in the fulfillment of their duty. In the
coming war that nation will be victorious whose servants from the
top of the ladder to the bottom will do their duty with absolute
exactitude, however important or small it may be. And Prince
Donnersmarck added: 'An exactitude which played so great a role
forty years ago in moving an army of 500,000 men will have a far
greater importance in the next war, when it will be a question of
moving masses far more numerous.'

"In this way the old prince gave expression to the confidence
shared by all Germans in the superiority of their military
organization."

The attache then discusses German finances.

He mentions particularly the large loans raised by the empire and
Prussia: 500,000,000 marks on January 29, 1912, and 350,000,000
marks on March 7, 1913. Quite an important part of these loans
must have been applied to military expenses.

"The military law of 1913 will require quite exceptional
financial measures.

"According to the indications given by the semiofficial press,
the 'nonrecurring' expenditure will amount to a milliard marks,
while the 'permanent' annual expenditure resulting from the
increase of effectives will exceed 200,000,000 marks.

"It seems certain that the 'nonrecurring' expenditure will be
covered by a war contr