GERMAN INTIMIDATION OF DENMARK.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 November 1919, Page 5

GERMAN INTIMIDATION OF DENMARK.

I WHITE BOOK DISCLOSURES. (London Times Correspondent.) Copenhagen, Sept. 14. A White Book has been published here containing documents relating to the discussions carried on in 1006 and 190" in Berlin and Potsdam by Captain Luetken, representing M. Christensen, then Danish Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, with General von Moltke, then Chief of the German General Stall', on the position that Denmark should take up in case of war. The book also reports conversations between William 11, Prince Bulow, and the Danish King on December 17,1903. It would appear that, in that year the Kaiser and Prince Bulow expected that, in case Russia were involved in war with Japan, both Great Britain and the United States would attack Russia in the Baltic. The Kaiser, who had already discussed the matter with the Tsar, and was disposed to support Russia by defending the Sound, expressed the hope that Denmark would guard her neutrality. The Kaiser visited Denmark in February, 1906, to attend the funeral of Ki~ Christian, and Captain Luetken, who was Chief of the War Office, met General von- Moltke, who suggested an arrangement between the Danish and German staffs to meet a possible English attempt to close the Great Belt. In July, 1000, Captain Luetkin went to Berlin with instructions to obtain from Germany a declaration that she had no intention of violating Danish neutrality. General von Moltke declined to give sucli a ; declaration. The conferences between Captain Luetken and General von Moltke indicate that the Germans in 1906-7 contemplated a war with Great Britain and Prance. Von Moltke considered a landing at Esbjerg probable, and in the" spring of 1 HO!) he was anxious to arrive at a Dauo-German military arrangement, though by the summer of that year (after the Algeciras Treaty) ho was less eager for the agreement, Nevertheless, he warned Denmark to choose between England and Germany. He was very frank. The Germans had no intention of respecting Danish neutrality. The Danes, in his opinion, should not think of keeping out of the conflict; and, anyway, if Danish policy were equivocal the kingdom would be smashed up and Danish independence at an end. 1