The Truth About Heligoland.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1923, Page 4

The Truth About Heligoland.

lIOAV it WAS GIVEN TO GERMAN! . The fourth and fifth volumes of the German Foreign Office’s propaganda work, "Die Grosso Politik der Europaisehen Knbinelte, I &< 1-1914, deal mainly with Anglo-German relations between 1879 and 1889 and with Balkan aliairs. The German legend that King Edward was the hitter enemy of Germane is answered out oi the documents printed here. In 1882 the German Grown Prince (afterwards the Emperor Frederick, Edward VIPs brother-in-law) wrote to Bismarck: According to the views of my broth-er-in-law, which are completely confirmed from other sources of information, there is a lively wish in political circles in England, without distinction of party, for closer and more confidential relations with Gormans. People have been more and more convinced that a close union with Geinmiiv not only serves British intotosts. but is also more likely than any other combination to preserve European peace. Edward VIE, in fact, did not turn to Frame till Germany had rejected the. friendship of Great Britain. Another letter of great importance concerns the surrender of Heligoland to Germany. It has always hitherto been supposed that the late Ford Salisbury was mainly responsible for this. But it now appears that the suggestion in 18H) came from the late Mr Joseph Chamberlain. Count Herbert Bismarck, Bismarck’s son, wrote on March 27, 1889. from London to his lather an account ot Chamberlain's proposals tor the withdrawal of Germany from South-Most Africa as follows: ( hamhorlain said “Naturally we cannot expect you to hand over any Colony, however, worthless it may be, England for nothing. There must he compensation ; what do you think |f wo gave von Heligoland instead, which is useless for England and perhaps worth having for you, were it. hut for the prestige ?” Chamberlain added: "Such an exchange would lie popular in England and would he certain of a majority in Parliament. 1 shall defend it through thick' and thin ill tlm House.” I.ORD SA I.ISBE I! Y’S CAPTION. Mi- Chamberlain was not then a Minister, Inti he was extremely powerful politically. The late Lord Salisbury, however, doe- not seem to have greeted the proposed exchange with any enthusiasm. Count Herbert Bismarck reported in June 18S9 that Lord Salisbury has received the proposal for the exchange of Heligoland in a friendly manner, hut evusjvelv. In niv judgment it would he disadvantageous to our aims to raise the quest 101 l :tfresh. If we show too Y |-,-.-i! a desire for the exchange wo shall raise the price of Heligoland ami p.-rhaps spoil the w hole business. \uoC.ei iioliiiei’iu in England who in thii period was eager for a German allianc- was Lord Randolph Churchill. The German Ambassador in London as-,i::v-l Bismarck in L'-o that 111, wish is for an alliance with Gprman',, and he himeuls greatly that ,nch an alliance ha.- not conic in Eali-burv throughout tlu-se anxious negotiation- was exceedingly cautious, hut he, too. appeal- to h.i\< k-aiit towards a German alliance till he fciiid that the terms demanded for it were impnssible.