INTERSTING MEMOIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 6 October 1921, Page 2

INTERSTING MEMOIRS

AUSTRALIAN AND M.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. LONDON, October o The letters of -Mr I'm go, the former American Ambassador, at London which are now being published throw new light on the war and the peace The letters of Mr I’ago are being published in the well known magazine. “Tin* World’s Work. 3 Ibe reveal that an attempt was made by the I'nited States in May of 191-1 (three months before the war began) to prevent the war breaking out. Mr I’nge, as early as August of 191:5, wrote to Colonel House, who had the close confidence of president Wilson, suggesting that “the land stealing busineijs” should be "ended for ever” and “that Europe should be invited to co-operate in cleaning up the backward lands of Africa and elsewhere.

After Mr W. Churchill's "naval holiday'' speech at that time Colonel House wrote to Mr Page saying that bo .Colonel House) was going to see the Kaiser in the Spring and going to try to win him over to “the thought which was uppermost in the English Cor eminent and in that of America.

It is revealed that when Colonel House arrived at lterlin all tile tierman leaders except Admiral von Tirpitz. gave his proposals a respectful, but cynical hearing. Admiral von Tirpitz was openly hostile, he denouncing England. AVlten Colonel blouse spoke to tin 1 Kaiser (according to the letters), lie found the Kaiser was obsessed by the Yellow Peril The Kaiser said that there could be no question of disarmament, while this danger to civilisation existed.

Mr Burton IT end rick, who is tin’

compiler of Mr Page’s "Life and betters,’’ says: "The Kaiser walked with Colonel House on the Terrace at Potsdam for half an hour, while the tierman generals st«od at a respectful listanee. Apart from the Yellow Peril the Kaiser wax alarmed about Russia He spoke contemptously of Franco and Britain as enemies; but the size of Russia, and the exposed eastern liontiers of Germany appalled him. He dismissed, with decision. Mr William ,1 Bryan’s arbitration treaty. It is curious to recall that, if the Kaiser had accepted it. then the I'nited States would not have been able to enter the war until April of 1918. and by then Britain might have Ibeen starved into surrender. (lermany, indeed. might hv then have crushed Kurope, with her armies.” A STEINER INTKRVIKW. KURTIIER MEMOIRS. (Received This Bay at 8.150 a.in.) PARIS, ()<•?. A. The "Matin’’ publishes an interview with Steiner, an Austrian sociologist, and intimate friend of von Mnltke. Retelling to von Moltke’s inenmiis on the origin of the war, Steiner said that von Moltke on returning to Berlin after the ultimatum was presented to Serbia, found the plans of the (lerman (leneral Stall' practically unchanged, since they were drawn up by von Schieffeti and Moltke on .Inly ;59tli. He asked the Kaiser to sign the mobilisation order. William satisfied himself of the pronouncing threat. Moltke returned to the palace the following afternoon, where the Kaiser was denouncing the Chief of Staff’s plan, and said lie had received better news from Kngland. Kngland would not only remain neutral but would prevent Kranee from participating in the war. In these circumstances the logical plan was to throw all forces against Russia. Moltke had no faith in the news from Kngland and as he held the mobilisation order signed by the Kaiser, lie withdrew at the first opportunity, lint was overtaken and asked to return to the Palace. He handed the order, however, to an aide de camp and told him to order the advance of troops. Wilhelm showed Moltke a telegram from Kngland from which it appeared certain that Kngland and France would he neutral. The Kaiser remarked — "We must countermand your order .to advance.”

Aloltkc refused, and then tla; Kaiser sent ill! order to headquarters for tlio army to stop an hour's marco t roiti tlio Franco-Belgium frontier. Till' Kaiser snmmoneil MoltUe at tell in tlie evening anil said lie hail received fresh news, lie atlilud-—"Now do as von wish." The war started the following morn-