BEHIND THE SCENES

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 30, 30 October 1907, Page 7

BEHIND THE SCENES

KERR WARDEN'S SPEECH. . TRUTHFULNESS IS BETTER THAN SYCOPHANCY. KAISER AND THE "BOUND TABLE.", pv rai.EGiiArn—rnEss association'—coittkight. ■Berlin, October 23. In tho action for criminal libel brought by Count Kuiio von Moitke, formerly Military Governor of Berlin, against H'err Maximilian Harden, editor of tho " Zulcunft" (which published articles alleging immorality and intrigue), defendant's speech caused a marked sensation.

Herr Harden implied that he could have shown that whole cavalry regiments wore infected, had ho desired tp dwell on disgusting orgies/also that immoral proposals were even made to tho, Prussian' Ministor of the Intel ior;' but his only object was to avert disastrous political development-!, which, in the c'aso of Morocco, had brought two countries to tho ; vergc of war.- ■ lie declared that the Kaiser's decisibh was —" Away with Euicnburg, away with Hohenaii, for ever I There is nothing definite 'against iMoltko, but ho must clear himself or ,bo stoned: : Meanwhile he must be placed on half-pay .'j' \ Herr Harden concluded—" Lprefer to servo the 1 Kaiser by telling him the truth, hot by v/orshipping'him."

, Immense crowds outside the Court cheered Herr Harden wildly when his wife kissed him in tho street. ■, -~.'•<■

FRENCH DIPLOMAT SPEAKS. '■'-" ,i-. a' denial. (Rcc.-Oct. 29, 9.47 p'.iai) .';',■ ;'. Pasis, October 29. M. Lecomte, who was formerly First Secretary or First Councillor to tho German Embassy in Berlin,,-,-interviewed. hero, denies that ho hurriedly,loft Berlin./ • He admitted that .he was a friend of PrinceEulenbnrg, though ho saw him seldom.- He was not intimato iwith Count Kuno von Mcltke,' nor. with General Count Eohcnau; and: was- not acquainted with Count Lynar, at whose'palace orgies are said .to have occurred. ■ ' ■ .'.'•' .1 ~.-.: M; Lecomte ridiculed the political rolo •which Herr Harden has'assigned! to him. • ; ' :■■• : ." ' '\ '■: ' ■ THE KAISER. TAKES ACTION. • ADMONISHES THE ARMY, i : (Rcc!'Oct. 29, 10.50 p.m.) ... Berlin, October 29.. The' Kaiser lias issued a,stern decree to,tho leaders of tho army, insisting on objectionable practices, referred to in the Berlin criminal libel .trial, beingsupprcsscd. Officers of,'! the army are admonished to lead: exemplary lives.

The two countries that Were oh tho verge of war, as refenral to by Herr Harden; wevb France and , Germany. M. Lecomte, who 'figured in yesterday's cablegrams', was the First Secretary of'.'tho French.Embassy,'in Berlin,' and his recall at few..months, ago,..after, the downfall, of, the camarilla, came with dramatic suddenness. It has already been related liow'Prin'ce'Eulonbiirg used'his intimacy; .with" M. Lecomte to gain an inner knowledge of the policy and intention's of tho French Government; so that, having already. the' command of the: secret ..wires- of .th'evßerlin .Court, the Prince-had a double grip, of .the FrancoGerman diplomatic' situation., But, while Al. Locointe Enabled 'Princo Eule'hbu'rg •to get behijid the seches in Paris, the French Secretary, through .the,-Prince and his clique, or "Pound: Table," also' got behind the' scenes in Berlin.' With what'result, the following ■• indicates :t- ■ .--' . . . .-,.•'.-■: ~.;.';;.:..'.

"Prince Kulcnburg ; ;admitted' M.- Lecomte to membership of "the Honnd : Table!; by which means the First'Secretary'was brought into close, personal contact, with ; the .Kaiser, and associated oh free and easy terms with Prince .Enlchburg's intimate i'rineds.;'•' .' ■-' . ■'" Belying, oh tho Prince's promise that ,the Kaiser .could, repose , absolute faith,.on their confidence, Ilis' Majesty, wlieii visiting Liebeii'befg. Castle, habitually expressed:himself with perfect,freedom. ; ■ ,-, ■ i ~ .-. ..■.,;:.

."It is how stated that 51. Lccpintc, placing ■what 'he considered '.fit be the interest's of .'his' country above his obligation to-his h'os.t. fro-, tiuently .: transmitted ; the.. Kaiser's words ,to Paris, 'where they wore road with far greater interest and more profit .than tho official reports of his chief, M. Bihour:!, the Anibar-'sa-dor himself, who retired from tho Berlin Embassy in March." < . '. ' ' "More than once, it is stated, the French Government.' based its treatment of delicate international affairs on information which M. Lecomte was able to supply through his connection with Prince Eulenbnrg aiid the hitter's Pvoimd Table.

"During the Morocco affair, it. happened that on One-memorable occasion M.. Bihoiird, when visiting.(he German Foreign Office, found that Count Tschirschky (tho ircceiitly retired Secretary of Foreign Affaii's) expressed a different opinion on an important, point in the controversy, from . that which, thanks to M. Lecomte, the Ambassador knew was held by the Kaiser.'

"This being delicately conveyed to 'the Foreign Secretary, the latter'found, on inquiry, that the Ambassador ,of ' Franco ,\vas more correctly informed of the Kaiser's, mind than was the .Foreign Secretary himself. f "There is no doubt, that Prince EuHiburg seriously endangered German interests b'v admitting' M. Le'ehmto to the _ Bound; Table. The revelation of M. Lecomte's activities reveals the. most important international aspect of the E'nlenbu'rg scandal."

[Since the above wni in type, Hio. cablegram containing M. Lccomte's denials. has arrived.] ' '