THE KAISER

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 309, 26 June 1912, Page 7

THE KAISER

"MOST SUPERB EGOTIST." CHARACTER SKETCH BY SIR JOHN FINDLAY. An interesting character sketch of the present Kaiser of Germany was given ,by Sir John Findlay in the course of his.lecture at the Wellington Unitarian Church on Wednesday night. Sir John said he had the pleasure of meeting the Kaiser at a social function in London, and their interview lasted about twenty minutes. His Majesty was dressed in a grey frock coat, and passed among the guests with the easy gait of a man about town. On being presented, Sir John took his hat off. but the Kaiser said, "Oh keep your hat on." He adopted an air of easy familiarity, and remarked that there were many Germans in New Zealand, were there not? "There are no Germans in New Zealand," said Sir John. "Surdy there are some of my countrymen in New Zealand," said the Kaiser. "Every German who comes to New Zealand [becomes a New Zealanderi," said Sir John. His Majesty laughed and took the the reply with the utmost pleasantness. There was music in his laughter which could turn to lightning if he chose. He had a good stock of English idioms, which he used as'often as he could. "No doubt you know I lean towards autocratic government." remarked the Kaiser. And, added Sir John, ho seemed to become quite "down In the mouth" over the constitutional trouble with Alsace. There was no attempt to impress his superiority of positron. "He spoke in an interesting way of Samoa, and I told him he had no right to get Samoa. He took the •replies in- a very good spirit."

AMAZING VERSATILITY. "Divest him of all the suits and trappings of monarchy and you have one of the greatest men in Europe. You feel that immediately you have entered into the stream of conversation. There is mental alertness, force and power and courage to be seen through all he says. His versatility is amazing. Here is a man who can take the baton from a conductor and tell him how he should conduct his musicians. He can cook a meal and talk in five languages. He can paint pictures—do almost anything. And, above all things, he is making Germany a great nation." Frederick the First had taught Germany to march.; this man has taught Germany to swim. For twenty years he had had ithe peace of Europe in his hands; and during that time no German soldier had fallen. He stands for peace armed, with guns ready and available. Whether he can control those powers towards aggression I cannot say, but with all the military spirit there is a genuine love and desire to k«ep the Fatherland at pence, and progressive.

; COLOSSAL EGOTISM. j There is a quaintness about the Kaiser; .probably he is the most superb egotist you could meet. You cannot be ten minutes in the presence of the Emperor without feeling what a colossal egotist he is. Among his public . sayings he had declared that "there was only one Master; that is I. He who opposes Me, I shall crush him to pieces." The next day, said Sir John, you would find him addressing a meeting like a party politician. "He is certainly the most versatile of men you could meet anywhere. He is fearless, indomitable, impatient of the least restraint." The test of his ability was in what he performed. When he "dropped the pilot" in 1893, those who thought that this man in a hurry was a stupid, young headstrong fellow, had come to see that he was one of the greatest figures in the field of public life in Europe. ' When the English editor© went to Germany they met nearly every prominent man and yet when they met the great man at Potsdam they had to admit that no personality impressed them so much as he. POLICY OP DECEIT.

"In saying this," continued Sir John, "I am far from denying that the German policy is one we cannot regard with satisfaction or equanimity. The policy off Germany is one of cunning. Its diplomacy is based on deceit and want of candour. It wears a mask. The Germar. foreign poliry as not what it avows itself to be. Herein lies the chief danger of European embroilment. There is not that fadr, free, and frank attitude in connection with the public policy of the Fatherland which there is to-day in respect' of our own public policy. The policy of Great Britain is not for nggresv alien; it stands for the peace of'the world and universal justice. It is not* seeking to take from the weak for the aggrandisement of the Empire. I doubt if wo ca.i say the same of Germany." (Applause.)