GERMANY'S FALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 288, 5 December 1931, Page 10 (Supplement)

GERMANY'S FALL.

THE BULOW MEMOIRS.

OLD SCHOOL DIPLOMACY.

THE KAISER'S VANITY.

(By E.L.C.W.)

LONDON, September 29,

The Memoirs of Prince von Bulow (Putnam's), have been launched in their English form amid great outcry and threat of libel actions. All is now calm. The work has been reissued in—it is to be. hoped form with boldly printed disclaimers trom the publishers prefixed to the references made to Lord Lonsdale. They assert that, "It is totally untrue that Lord Lonsdale 'stirred' up trouble and offence between the Kaiser and his English uncle;' or that King Edward VII., expressed the vie#/s attributed to him; or that Lord Lonsdale was a bankrupt." It i 3 unfortunate that these memoirs were introduced to the English public in such fashion, for the incident will create some prejudice against them. . For these Bulow volumes constitute the most important contribution to the history of the world emanating from Germany since Bismarck's "Recollections." The book is as fascinating as a novelbrilliant and cynical, containing masterly pen sketches of the myriads of men their author encountered in Ms long career. What lends it further interest is that he keeps constantly registering hie admiration for everything English! Bulow and the Kaiser. Had von Bulow managed to avoid dismissal better than Bismarck, there might conceivably have . been no war—he, at least, believes he would not have been ae stupid as his successors, such as Bethmann-Hollweg, whom he describes as coining the phrase "a scrap of paper," which "was to have all the effect of a lost battle." While von Bulow supported the Kaiser in his desire for a navy, he understood the necessary limitations which Germany had to impose upon herself in overseas policy as a result of her central position. He always kept in mind the fact that "Russia was Bearer Berlin than England." Hβ remarks: "During the nonage of the German Empire, at a time when the flood tideof jealousy, distrust, hatred of our growing power and our increasing prosperity had hardly begun to arise, Prince Bismarck, with his unique genius, reaped shrewd advantage from the opposing currents between the other Powers; ant many people in Germany inferred this was the proper policy for Germany." But he goes on to say: "I;pointed out in the Reichstag that we could not live on the enmity between other Powers." Hence, he supported Anglo-German rapprochement. How the exile of Doom must have squirmed when he read the Memoirs, showing how cleverly von" Bulow played on the All-Highest's vanity and yet contrived to make the Kaiser fall in with hie plans. Aβ an example of the Kaiser's vanity, von Bulow quotes the Kaiser as saying "Tirpitz always wants to thrust himself into the foreground. He is just like bad old Bismarck, who pushed his way up at the expense of my grandpapa, and adds instances of the Kaiser's constant fear of being put into the shade by his advisers, Ministers, Generals, and Admirals.

The Emperor's Vanity. The book shows Bulow in a very sinister light, and confirms one's ideas of the stupidity and inefficiency of Germany's conduct of foreign policy. Bulow was a highly cultivated, polished man of the world, but he was simple and false, and might have stood for a portrait of the Machiavellian diplomat of the old regime. He got Germany into serious trouble, and blamed others. He covered his royal master with ridicule. William 11. was fond of giving away a picture in which he appeared "with sword uplifted, leading his Royal Uhlans in a manoeuvre attack."

This picture sliowed -what he jeally wanted: a emart "conduct" and a dashing" manner, but no real danger, no eerious test. He never wanted to ride in any attacks but those made in manoeuvres. These attacks were specially prepared for hia Majesty. The ground was chosen months beforehand and put in order. £he royal horses were taken over it till they knew it perfectly. As far as human calculation could foresee, everything would go What WiUlam 11. most desired . . . was to eee himself at the head of a glorious German Fleet, starting out on a peaceful visit to England. The English Sovereign, with bis fleet, would meet the German Kaiser in Portsmouth. The two fleets would file past each other, the two monarchs, each wearing the naval uniform of the other's country, and wearing the other's decorations, would then, stand on the bridges of their flagships. Then, after they had embraced in the prescribed manner, a gala dinner with lovely speeches would be held in Cowes.

Why Germany Was Feared. Bulow is convicted out of his own mouth. Here is his own account of his handling of the Moroccan question: I was no more anxious for war withj France then than at any other time, for I knew very well that as things were any serious dispute in Europe would lead to a world war.. Nevertheless, I did not hesitate to threaten France with \rar in the belief that I was strong enough and sufficiently adroit to prevent matters from coming to a head: I thereby brought about Delcasse's downfall, blunted the edge of France's aggressive policy, and deprived Edward VII. and the war party in England of their weapons against us. In this way it seemed to me that I should at one and the same time be maintaining peace, upholding the honour of Germany and increasing the respect in which she was held by the rest of the world. And yet some worthy people wondered, and perhaps still wonder, why England I and France were so alarmed about Germany! The book must bo unpleasant reading for the Germans who believe that their country was the innocent victim of a great conspiracy.