PEACE OR WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 138, 2 December 1911, Page 9 (Supplement)

PEACE OR WAR.

HOW XAI'IiOWLY COXl'i.li T HAS HICKN AVKIfTKI;. In all grave questions ami deliberations concerning interna! ioir: I cuiiiplications- like Ihe neenl Moroccan trouble, for instance-- those at- the head of affairs undergo a terrible si; a iu. which can only be dimlv imagined by Ihe man ill the street. Diplomacy is the rope by which nations are suspended over the abyss of war. II is a very slender rope; it frays easily; and the least litile idling in the world, say, an irresponsible schoolboy with a new penknife, may prccipilule a eatasl rophe.

I The trilies that have made or averted wars are ihe most fascinating things in polities. There is an instance when war hunt,' on a button. ft; was during the Kashoda crisis in 1808. The llriti-h (ioverinuent bad tried to arrange inattei's peaceably, hut they had failed. .Britain's Ambassador in Paris put into his pocket an ultimatum to the ellYct that France must, retire from Kashoda—or light. He buttoned up his coat, and drove to the Quai d'Orsav. where he asked for an interview with jr. Delcasse. the trench Foreign Miiii.-'ier, M Delcnsse received him at once. The Ambassador explained that his Government did not see its wav io prolong the unsettled state of affairs, and that the matter must be brought to a head. Fully aware of the terrible consequences of his net. the fingers that fumbled at the button of his coat trembled for a fraction of a second. M. Delcasse held up a warning hand. "Do not undo that button. Excellency," he cried; "I must not see the paper you have in your pocket. If I but see the corner of it, the color of it, France must fight. Matters will arrange themselves." The Ambassador left with his papers undelivered, and matters did "arrange themselves." BISMARCK'S INTENTION'S. Another French crisis, this time with Germany, was the war scare of 1575. There is little doubt now that Bismarck really did intend to sweep down oil his lately-conquered foe, and reduce her o a state of absolute dependence on Germany. The French Government received from their agents information that Germany was displaying extraordinary activity in secret military preparations. This informtion was shown to M. do Blowitz, the Paris correspondent of the Times. Blowitz wrote out a. despatch, and sent, it to the Times. When he received it, the editor was almost terrified , at its contents, but after some hesitation ho published it. Then the fat was in the fire. Queen Victoria herself wrote to the Emperor of Germany, protesting against the underhand dealings of Bismarck. Unfortunately the letter became public property, and the Germans were so angry at her interference that her letter almost provoked the war she was trying to avert. In the meantime, France had sent a special Ambassador to St. Petersburg, with orders to procure tiie intervention of the Russian Emperor. His Majesty, convinced that there was nothing in the rumors of war, refused for some days to receive the Ambassador, and when he did grant an audience, his manner was so cold that the unhappy Ambassador burst into tears.

The Czar was touched, in spite of himself, and consented to look at the papers showing the secret warlike preparations of Bismarck. After reading them he could not fail to see the gravity of the ed hands towards the weeping Ambassac. hands towards the weeping Ambassador, he pledged his Imperial word that he would prevent the annihilation of France, and that Germany would be made to keep the peace. THE BOERS' SPECIAL TRAIN. The ordering of a special train played a part in the termination of the Boer war. In his negotiations with the Boer leaders, Lord Kitchener absolutely refused to consider any question of the independence of the Republics or the amnesty of the Cape rebels. Yet the first clause in the document submitted by the Boers stipulated their independence. Lord Kitchener read no more. He rang a bell, and ordered the Boers' special train for their return to their camp to be instantly prepared. It was a critical moment,; but instead of prolonging the war .into a fourth year, it brought peace within a week. Lord Salisbury was a diplomat of gentle words and ways. Few men -have ever had a more delicate task than he had in replying to President Cleveland's bellicose message about Venezuela in 1805. The United States were thirsting for war, and Lord Salisbury's task was to send a gentle answer, without showing humility, or cowardise. The great statesman wrote every word of the message with his own hand, and- the story is told that perspiration gathered in cold, heavy beads upon his brow as he wrote. LORD ROSEBERY'S AFFABILITY. As may be gathered from his public speeches,* Lord Rosebery was at once affable and outspoken with foreign Ambassadors. The German -Minister came down one afternoon, with peremptory orders from Bismarck to obtain a certain concession. If it were not granted, the Ambassador was to ask for his passports and leave London. "'You know its no use,' 1 said- Lord Rosebery, with delightful affability. ''Parliament would not have it. If you go further, my Government would not have it. But we can understand that, and be friends.'' Yet, despite this genial brightness of tone, the cares of the Foreign Office shattered Lord Rosebery's health, and induced that insomnia of which he is the victim. 11l contrast to this frankness was the cunning of one of Lord Salisbury's cnvov.s. A South American Republican had violated English rights, and Lord Salisbury instructed the diplomatist to request redress. •'And if they refuse?" he asked. "In that case, we must let tile matter drop. it's not worth lighting for, and T. won't light for it." A BLUFF THAT SUCCEEDED. So the British Minister presented his case to the Republic, and strongly demanded reparation of the wrong done to British interests. But the President and his Ministers were obdurate, and refused redress. Apparently the British Minister Wiis beaten, since he could go no furl her. -But he bluffed. "It is superfluous for me to remind your Excellency of the serious consequences awaiting your refusal of her Majesty's (ioveniment. I am, therefore, compelled." hi' said, with portentous seriousness, "lo proceed to the second half of my instructions.'' Under this loud-sounding threat the Republic instantly caved in. Three years ago, M. llelcasse lifted the veil thai hung over the Franco-German Moroccan crisis. In a speech in the Krcueli Chamber, he showed how German diplomacy bad again, brought France to the brink of war. llow near a lliing war then was may be guessed from one fact that M. Delcasse did not mention. For four terrible hours the French. Government suspended all private telegraphic communication, so that they could issue mobilisation orders without delay.