GERMAN INTIMIDATION OF DENMARK

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 33, 3 November 1919, Page 4

GERMAN INTIMIDATION OF DENMARK

WHITE-BOOK DISCLOSURES. (London "Times" Correspondent.) Copenhagen, September U. A White Book has been published here containing documents relating to the discussions curried on in lfltlli and 11)1)7 in Berlin and Potsdam by Captain Luetken, representing it. Chrwfonseii, then Danish Prime Ministei and -Minister of Defence, wjth General von Moltke, then Chief of the Oerman General Staff, on the pcßion that Denmark should take up :n ose of v.ar. ■> The Iwok also reports conversations between William 11, Prince Bulmv, and the Danish Kim; on December 17, IOT. It would appear that: in that year thu Kaiser and Prince Bnlow expected that, in ease Russia were involved i:i war with Japan, both Great Britain and the United States would attack Russia in the Baltic. J.he Kaiser, who had already discussed the matter with the Tsar and was disposed to support Russia by defending the Sound, expressed the hope that Denmark would p.ni'-d her neutrality.

Tho Kaiser visited Dennwi? in February. 1906, to attend iiio funeral of Kin,. Christian, and Captain Luskin, who was chief of tho War Office, met Gene.wl v,.n Abltke, who suggested u:i arrangement .between the Danish and German stall's to meet a possible English, attempt to no<e the Great Belt. In July, 191)11, Captain Luetken went to Berlin with instructions to obtain from Germany a declaration that she had no intention of vioiatin" Danish neutrality, General von 3!ultke declined to givo such a deelar.tmn Tho conferences between Captain Luelken and General von .Moltke indicate that ■the Germans in IUOG-7 contemplated a war with Great Britain and France. Von JloltJtc considered a landing at Esbjerg probable, and in the spring of 1900 ho was. anxious to arrive at a Daiio-German military arrangement, though by ' the summer of that year (after thu Algeciras I reaty) ho was less eager for the rcelucnt. .Nevertheless, he warned Denmark to choose between Hugiaiin ami Germany. _ He vns v. :y |y im k. The Germans nad no intend,m of resnectin» Danish neutrality. Tho Danes, in ],'£ opinion, should not faink of keeping out ot the conflict; ;.nd, an way, if Daissh policy were equivocal, iJ.e kbgdmi would be smashed i* „,id Denisn m'openc'u.eo Hi iIU GIl(J,