MEDDLESOME WILLIAM

Hokitika Guardian, 12 August 1924, Page 1

MEDDLESOME WILLIAM

A DAi 11! A L DEWEY’S THREAT. LONDON. June 17. The loth volume of documents Iron) the archives of the German Foreign Office, just published in Berlin under the title, "Die Grusse Politik der Ettro-pai-eheli Kahinette: 1871-I'JIL throws a good eal ol light upon William IF- attempts to obtain a naval base in the Philippines during war of lstps between the United States and

Spain. The world has olten been assured that there was no such wi-li on Ids part. Rut the German Consul in Manila professed that the Filipinos were anxious, alter throwing oil Spimi-h rule, to ''idler ihc throne In .a Geiuiat! prince." And Prime Henry of Prussia, it appears, reported I rum Hongkong on May 11. R'-'S. that "the inhabitants -'of I lie Philippines) would gladly place themselves under the protection of -ome other European Power ( other than Spain) and would especially prefer Germany." A- the re-lilt of this and of the Kaiser’, craving lor coaling stations. Admiral Diodrichs, with a German s,|iiad--1-1,11, wa> sent to Manila to report, ■fhe German Foreign Secretary telegraphed lo the German Ambassador in the United States on July 1. I'ils: “His Majesty the Kaiser regards it a- a chief aim of German policy to neglect no opportunity that offers itself as the result of the Spanish-American conflict of securing a naval base in Eastern’ Asia. His .Majesty follows attentively all events that are likely to affect favourably or uniavourably tlie attainment or ihi- aim."