KAISER’S LETTERS

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1920, Page 3

KAISER’S LETTERS

DISLIKE OF THE PRESS.

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

* LONDON, Jan. 20. The ex-Kaiser, writing from Corfu, in May, 1909, confines himself to a lengthy diatribe against tlie Press. He says: “A few weeks ago, when affairs threatened to become dangerous, your wise and courageous decision secured peace for all nations. lam most grateful that, through my helping co-opera-tion, you were able to fulfil your task. I naturally expected that you and I would win universal applause, but ;o my regret and astonishment a great many blame us both instead, especially tlie Press, which, in general, behaved in the basest way againsfme. By some papers I am being credited with being t.ie author of the annexation, and accused, among other rot and nonsense, of having humiliated Russia by my peace proposals. You know better. Yet tlie fact that tlie papers create public opinion must be taken note of. Some err through ignorance and lack of information, and can scarcely see further than their own noses; but what is more dangerous and loathsome, is that Press which writes what it is paid for. Tlie scoundrels who dq such dirty "oik aic in no danger of starving, They continue to incite national hostility, and when, at last, through tlipiy hellish devices, they have brought about the- desired collision, they placidly sit down and watch the fight, well assured that profit will be theirs, no matter what the issue may be. Thus in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, what is vulgarly called public opinion is mere forgery, As Sovereigns, responsible to God for our notions’ welfare, it is our

duty closely to study the genesis and development of public opinion befoie allowing it to influence our actions. Should we find it takes its origin from the tarnished gutter-like sources of an infamous Press, it is our duty energetically tp correct and resist it. Personally I am totally indifferent to newspaper gossip, but I feel ..a certain anxiety. If they are not contradicted at once, these foul and filthy lies so oivnulntod tend to create hitter

ness between our countries.” The ex-Kaiser continues: “1 hoped for a quiet holiday in Corfu, but. alas, another revolution has broken out at Constantinople. AVe poor rulers, it seems, are not entitled to holidays like simple mortals. The troubles in the East make me anxious. Kindly write me vour opinion about the Turkish outlook. An exchange of views is necessary lest fresh events again take us by surprise,” Writing in January, 1910, the exIvaiser tells tho Czar that it has given him "great satisfaction to learn of your decision to withdraw four of your Army Corps from our frontier, especially an you make reference to our brotherhood in arms, established a century ago.” Writing from Corfu, in May, 1911 T the ex-Kaiser draws the Czar's attention \o up article ip the German Press, written by an intimate friend of “Uncle Bertie,’’ an English politician, with the intention to persuade the Germans to think better of “Uncle’s” policy than they do now. “As you see tor yourself,” says \yiljheliii, “the gV ( ,‘. anxiety which governed Uncle for England’s future was' the possibility of- a closer friendship between Russia,’and Austria, which he rggayd-. ed as dangerous foy England. Therefore he tpc(| tp inhibit it by all means ip his power. That explains tho E.igjighfi newspapers' perpetual use of tho I phrase, 'Balapee of power in Europe’— that is. ‘keep the three Empires apart or we are lust'.’' The ex-Kaiser adds: iif M o to London for grandmtnunm’s unveiling at George's invitation. 1 hope , to find out more about this.” The ex-Kaiser, nt'tlie close of 1912, sought to enlist the Czar’s in, the-construction of a Riiy fyopi Stivnlki to l’ablind,zen, to join up with tho Oor. tnap line., and open up and develop the frontier trade in the Rominton region. Wilhelm opens his 1913 correspondence with his usual hopes of peace. He expresses the opinion that the outlook is reassuring, as flip discussions at Lollop are .progressing favourably and in : a conciliatory spirß.