WAR SECRETS.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 October 1921, Page 5

WAR SECRETS.

KAISER’S HATE OF ALLIES. AMERICA'S PEACE EFFORTS. DISCLOSURES OF 1913. By Telegraph.-'Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 5, 9 p.m. London, Oct. 4. Letters of Mr. T. P. Page, ex-Am-bassador of the United States, which are being published in the World’s Work, reveal an attempt which the United States made in May, 1914, to prevent the war. Mr. Page, in August, 1913, wrote Colonel House, who had the confidence of President Wilson, suggesting that the land stealing business should be ended for ever, and Europe should be invited to co-operate in cleaning up the backward lands of Africa and elsewhere. After Mr. Winston Churchill’s naval holiday speech, Colonel House wrote to Mr. Page saying he (Colonel House) was going to see the Kaiser in the spring and try to win him over to the thought which was uppermost in the minds or the English Government and the United States Government.

When Colonel House arrived all the German leaders, except Von Tirpitz, gave the proposals a respectful but cynical hearing. Von Tirpitz was openly hostile, denouncing England. When Colonel House spoke to the Kaiser he found him obsessed by the yellow peril. The Kaiser said there could be no question of disarmament while this danger to civilisation existed. Burton Hendrick, who compiled the life and letters of the Kaiser, says the Kaiser walked with Colonel House on the terrace at Potsdam for half an hour, while German generals stood at a respectful distance.

Apart from the yellow peril the Kaiser was alarmed about Russia. He spoke contemptuously of France and Britain as enemies, but the size of Russia and the exposed Eastern frontiers of Germany appalled him. He discussed with derision Mr. W. G. Brayan’s arbitration treaty. It is curious to recall that if the Kaiser had accepted it the United States would not have been able to enter the war until April, 1918, and Britain might have been starved into surrender, while Germany might have crushed Europe with her armies.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.