THE EX-KAISER.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16728, 10 January 1920, Page 9

THE EX-KAISER.

VIEWS ON EASTERN QUESTIONS.

(Br C&bie—Pr*«» Association —Copj-Tisfct.) (Australian and N. 2. Cub!# Ajtoci»tion.) LONDON, January 7. The ex-Kaiser, in November 3i>o3. disclosed to "Nicky'' the result of his instruction* to the German Ambassador in Constantinople to i nerjjotieally lecture tho Sultan, and to inform that ruler that it was high time for him to conform to tl.e Murzteg programme, which was drawn up by th!j Russian and Austrian Ministers to secure reforms in Macedonia. "Tho Ambassador," ho say.-,." alter one and threequarter hours' conversation, found the Julian very loupii, and decidedly of opinion th:it a rental t.j comply with the Murzteg programme, even though it ivii> hark, d by me, would not bring great harm to him."

The rx-kui.-er adds: "The Ambassador had to use sr.'h power of expression as was feasih!" toward a monarch to inui'i the (-'r.aity of tho .situation home, and left him a sadder and \vi>er man. '"Another interesting niece of information roiirlied me from S-jiia, where the Prime ?>1 i'listcr of the Arch-plotter" ttko ex-Kai-ei'.s delieato reference to e:c-Kinir Ferdinand) "espresspd his country's extreme dissatisfaction with tho Mnrztocr proprammo. They must pet more, and, as the Imperial Powers are unlikely to prant more. Bulgaria turned to Italy, England, and France, whore, alono, hope* for Bulgaria's future in Macedonia lay. This shows you apain what I personally hinted at — the Crimea combination is forming and working apainst, Russian interests in the Fist. The democratic countries are against Imperial monarchies." Jr. ix-ccmber, lfiO.'J, the ex-Kaiser informed "Nicky" that ho had sent General Loewoni'eld to Ix>ndon to pivo a lonp-servico cross to "Uncle Arthur" (the Duke of Connauplit). at the same time to reconnoitre tho frame of mind and the flow of public opinion ihout the Eastern (|iu'stiiin. '"Tlis motlier," ho said, "is English ; so he speaks the hinnuape well. What lie saw and heard I ihall let you knoiv. DISLIKE OF JAPAN. "My officers commanding in China have boon for a long time ordered closely to survey the intercourse between tho Japs and the Chinese military, and tho growing influence of Japan with the Chinese Army. Two days ago I a report that the Japs aro clandestinely arming tha Chinese behind your and my. backs apainst us." Tho ex-Kaiser continues: "They" (meaning tho Japanese) '"have concluded a secret agreement to supply the Chinese Army with rifles, guns, nnd munitions. Tho Chinese aro drilling day and night under Japaneso instructional officers. A nice business! They are sure to rouse tho Chinese liopos and inflame their hatred against tho white race in general, and constitute a grave d inger to your rear in caso you have to face a Japaneso adventure on the seashore." The rx-T\aiser bogs pardon for the liberty taken, and hopes tho "Admiral of the I'acific" will not bo angry with the signals of the "Admiral of tlw Atlantic,' who is always on tho lookout. In a New Year's letter in 1005 tho ex-Kaiser piously liop/js that tho Czar's plans will meet with full success —"if in peaceful ways, as softly as a rippling brook; if by tho decision of arms, may they he victorious nnd your standards wave enwreathed with fresh li'iirels!" In tho Ktrne letter he touches upon general question of British neutrality. Having in mind tho bvgon© days of IStfl, and feeling that "tho Danes look Alsaco at us/' he suggested that the Czar should submit proposals to Germany when formulated. The ex-Kaiser also sent English newspaper cuttings, commenting on the German Navy, end tho Russian commercial fleet. To us here on tho Continent," ha said, "tho hypocrisy and hatred shown is utterly ocfious and incompreehnsiblo. Everybody here understands that Russia is following tho law of expansion, and must seek a sea free from ieo for an outlet for her commerce." Wilhelm goes on to mako a suggestion that the hinterland and Port Arthur must bj "in your power. Thero is a tonpuo of land which, in ono adversary's hand, may become a new sort of Dardanelles, whfeh is impossible for you to allow. These 3>ardanellcs of Korea must not threaten your communications. Korea must and will be Russim.'" On tho eve of the Jajianoso war the ex-Kaiser writes: "A lino to toll you hew my thoughts aro with you at this serious time. Slav God grant that tho Japanese listen to reason, notwithstanding the frantic efforts of tho vilo Press of a certain country that seems to have money left to sink in tho Japanese mobilisation abyss. I send you a copy of tho 'Marine Rundschau,' with an article about ironclad cruisers written by 'L.' This 'L.' is a mask under whfeh T hide myself, for I wroto it, but nobody lias a blessed notion of that, except von Tirpitz." Tho ex-Kaiser concludes: "As material for this articlo, I managed to get interesting details of the Rivadavia nnd Moreno building for the Argentine, but now presented l>v England to Japan. These plan.* wore quite confidential, and were submitted to me by the express permission of tho President of tho Argentine Remiblic. May you not havo to fight airainst tliem. It is a great pity you did not buy them."

(The Russians did hr.ve to fight thc*o ships. The Moreno and Riradavia, referred to above, wero sold—not presented —to Japan, nnd renamed Nisshin and Kasuga. They wero armoured cruisers of 7700 tons, and were built in Italy in 1002-01. They wore stated to have cost .€7(10,000 cach. They played a very prominent r>art in the war l*"twecn Japan and Russia in 1004-05. The Argentine Republic possesses two fine "Dreadnought battleships, Moreno and Rivadavia, built in the United States in 1001-04. The Germans tried hard to secure the contract for building these ships, and -wero greatly disappointed at being unsuccessful, especially in view of the fact that the German nnval authorities had sent their latest battle-cruiser and one of their new battleships on "advertising cruises to South Amorica.J