The Daily News THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5. THE KAISER'S BOMBSHELL.
It has been asserted that two thirds of the people of England are imbued with bitter feelings against Germany ; it is . further asserted that two thirds of the people of Germany entertain bitter feelings against England. For this unfortunate state of things, if the assertions are founded upon fact, the German Emperor and his government must he held entirely responsible. Two small republics i'ii South Africa Hung the gauntlet of defiance in the face of England, and it is a fair conclusion to arrive at that they would not have ventured upon a step of such momentous consequence had certain promises a-id inducements not been held out to them. The secret history of tint time may never lie given to the world : but. on the fac-e of what is known, it is not improbable that the celebrated telegram sent by the Kaiser to President'Krugor giving assurance of sympathy and support., was but the climax to considerable previous correspondence. Ac all cvent« that notorious missive served as a lead to the peoples of both England ami Germany. In England distrust was at o.ice. engendered : in Germany tile pcoI pic patriotically followed what they concluded lo I e the sympathies of their young ruler. When the fortunes of war seemed to be turning against the liners, they sent a delegation to the greatpowers of iuip-.p:'. !Lm liiev no grounds for believing that they would be well received and favorably listened to -. From the lir.-t- the German'people hav ■■ been led to believe thai their Emperor was entirely favorable to the Uoer cause; that in i.«t great struggle England was. as usual, a. usurper and a tyrant : and they were prepared to follow their Emperor into whatever consequences might arise.
Tile Kaiser '.low assures the people of England that he has always been their friend. He tells them that it was because of nis great friendship for tile people of England that lie retused lo receive the lloer delegation, and that he actually, as an expert strategist, devoted his'nights and his days to. the working out of a pian of campaign against the Doers. Ho claims to have saved England from dishonor if not destruction and. as a corollary, lie is astounded that 'he is not the first in English
hearts. 'Die people of England have received the Kaiser's iissurancu. Jn answer they do not say that such words in the face of facts are not to be believed, for that would be rude ; they accept them for what they are worth with a smile, and say as little, as possible. The attitude of the Englis* people, ihowcve:-, is as nothing to the amazement that has fallen upon the tomans. They discover that all this while they have, been deceived. Their Emperor has been the secret friend of the nation they have been brought to hate; he has* been surreptitiously working for England all the time they were under the impression he was building a navy for the express purpose of forever crushing the detestable and insolent islanders. A bombshell has fallen upon, the Germans, and they are astounded at the new light the fires have shed. It seems perfectly clear that 'whilst the Kaiser was busying his brain upon ibow to conciliate the great bulk of the English people, he quite lorgot all his own. He lias done no harm to tho house of England; he has given the house of Germany 10 the flames. A somewhat amusing part of the Kaiser's confidences to the " representative Englishman."—who was not the accredited ambassador of England—has reference to the Pacific, in which this Dominion happens to have a slight interest. When, -ome day. the question of the supveme power in the Pacific arises, Eng- ■ 1.'.:.!, says tin- German Emperor, may be I ,-y glad that Germany has a navy. ; ' nsiileiing that it is somewhat notorious that the ships of war of the Kaiser's navy only carry about sufficient coal to fit thvi'n for a three days' sail in the Gorman ocean—that it is very doubtful indeed whether anyone of them could ever with security go as far as the Strait* of Gibraltar—it is somewhat diiiicull to realist: of what use German ships could be in the scttle- ; meni of affairs in the I'aeifie. However. ; when the day arrives when the Power to hold supreme command in the Paci- : lie is to be decided, it is not at all pro- : liable that Germany will be troubled with any consuming interest in the : •matter:' it is not likely to be any-uf- : fair of hers ; and if iuigland's ciaims ; arc disputed. Germany is" not likely to go !o war on her account. England, with other of the great European Powers, has been anxious to ea- \ sure tile peace of the world. At'tu'e Hague conferences she and they have sought to come to some secure undcr- '. standing so that the gathering together of vest" armies, file building of navies \ and the accumillation of war material :i should come to an end. Germany has stood out a* llie opponent of this'benelicivnl policy, with I lie res,ill that the nations continue to groan under the burdens of heavy taxation/and human happiness is .reduced to a minimum.: The German Emperor must have his armies and liis Hoots, and oilier nations are constrained to follow in his tracks. Does such a policy conduce to confidence in his peaceful assurances ? "Whilst the Emperor has succeeded '.n manufacturing the most formidable offensive weapon in Kurope, lie keeps constantly intermeddling in the affairs of other nations, he must needs be "gassing'' about his sword, his bayonets, ihis '''mailed list." This time he lias fallen into a. quagmire, aail lie has fallen badly. It is his own people he has offended ; he has demonstrated that the world-wide wisdom that lie believes to bo capable of settling the affairs-of course in German interests—of every other nation quite satisfactorily, sometimes is not capable of fairly comprehending his own, and he has revealed it trait which the German people may be. excused for characterising by uncomplimentary names as far as is allowed to them without danger of iin- ! prisonment for lese majeste.
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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 268, 5 November 1908, Page 2
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1,031The Daily News THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5. THE KAISER'S BOMBSHELL. Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 268, 5 November 1908, Page 2
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