The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1916. LOOKING BACKWARD.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIV, Issue 40, 22 January 1916, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1916. LOOKING BACKWARD.

flow the old seaport of Kiel passed into German hands is told hy Lord Redesdale, as an incident in the two volumes of “Memories,” which this veteran Peer and well-known ex-mem-ber of Britain’s diplomatic corps has now published. Jn those days even, German scheming for “The Day” appears to have been we|l in hand and Britain was trustfully believing in the protestations of a false friend. Lord Redesdale was one of the secretaries to the British Legation in the Russian capital when tiie far-seeing German Bismarck put in motion his plans to get possession of SchleswigHolstein. Lord Palmerston, then Prime Minister, speaking in the House of Commons, said: “'I here is no use disguising the fact that what is at the bottom of the German design, and the desire of connecting Schleswig with Holstein, is the dream of a German fleet, and the wish to get Kiel as a German seaport. That may be a good reason why they should wish it, but it is no reason why they should violate I he right and independence of Denmark.” England’s Prime Minister was one of those Statesmen whom Prussia was not able to hoodwink so easily, and on the occasion referred to he made it plain that if Denmark were invaded “it would not he Denmark alone with which they would have to contend." The Minister of Foreign Affairs Lord John Russell, hacked up his leader’s .statement with open threats of war. “Bui jaird 1 almei.ston had grown old; Lord John Russell was always more energetic in word than in deed; and the Court influence especially the Prince Consort’s—was thrown on the side of Bismarck, in the end the British Government announced that they would not light? Russia, who was waiting to co-operate with Britain drew hack, ami Den-

mark was given to tile spoiler. Hius was one oI the greatest blunders u! European history made. A hen the despatch from the Britidi Government readied St. Petersburg. Lord Nape r, who was then Ambassador, waded on Prince C’nrtdiaho'i' and handed him tile message. “When the Prince had read the telegram Lord Napier afterwards said, “ho lidded it up and handed it heck to me, saying, ‘Well, ip ,• i. | . jnt, as'de llio idea t Is:'t pn hud. will ever tight lor a question ul honor.' Pretty words ter an English Ambassador to listen to.” Ihe breaking up of .Denmark and the building of the Canal followed in due eonrse. and though doubtless Lord Kedesdale witnessed with sorrow the successes of German cunn ng ami the growth of power which Britain's greatest enemy steadily acquired, he also lived to see that England could light for “a question oi honor, , and for a scraj) of paper behind which lay Europe's freedom or enslavement, and that she has taken up arms, and with France and Russia has fought the greatest fight the world has yet seen. It may very well lie said that it German ambitions had been checked by Britain and Russia forty years ago there would have been a different tale to toll. But the Kates decreed that it should he. and Prussian militai isoi in its strength and arrogance thought the day to conquer the world had arrived in August. 1914. The world now knows how colossal Germany s mistake has been.