THEN AND NOW

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVIII, Issue 106, 31 October 1914, Page 7

THEN AND NOW

KAISER'S LETTER TO LORD TWEEOMOUTH. SIX YEARS AGO. (Received October 31, 10 a.m.) LONDON, 30th October. The Morning Post publishes tjie Kaiaer'a letter to the late Lord Twcedmouth (then First Lord of the Admiralty) on 14th February, 1908. It commences : " I sec by the newspapers that a battle royal is being fought about the needs of the navy ; therefore. I venture to furnish you with information anont the German naval programme, which is being used as a decoy to frighten the pe<ice» able British taxpayer. During my last pleasant visit to your hospitable shores I tried to make your authorities under* stand the drift of German naval policy, but 1 am afraid my explanation was misunderstood or not believed, because 1 sec ' the German danger ' constantly mentioned in the British newspapers and reviews. " It is absolutely nonsensical and untrue that the German Naval Bill is to provide for a navy which is meant to challenge British naval supremacy. Our navy is being solely built for Germans' need's in relation to the country's rapidly-grow-ing trade. The extraordinary rapidity in the improvements of battleships' armaments has necessitated the wholesale rebuilding of the entire German navy, but there has been no addition to the units laid down under the 1898 Bill. " The main fault of the discussion ill the newspapers is the invariable exemplifying of Germany, A simpler thing would be for England to say : 'Wo would be a world-wide empire 'with tha greatest trade in the world, ami we re> quire so many battleships and cruisers.' But it is very galling to the Germans tc see their country continually held up as the sole danger and menace to Britain." The Kaiser emphatically denied Lord Esher's statement that he wished to see Admiral Sir John Fisher's downfall, and said it was preposterous to infer that the German authorities would work against persons in official positions in foreign countries. "In my humble opinion, the perpetual quoting of 'the German danger 1 is utterly unwoi thy. as written in connection with a world-wide empire and a mighty navy. Indeed, it is nearly j ludfricoujs.. Foreigners pf olhcr countries

might easily conclude that the Germans are an exceptionally strong lot, as they seem to be able to strike terror into the hearts of the British, who are five times their superior. Once more : The German Naval Bill is not' aimed at Britain ; it does not challenge British supremacy of the sen, wliich must remain unchallenged for generations to come."' The Morning Post adds : "It is permissible under existing circumstances to record what otherwise would remain un^ recorded— namely, that the Kaiser^on one occasion when being entertained here, expressed a hope that the German and British fleet would some day be fighting together against the United States as a common enemy. The Raiser on that occasion made the mistake BO frequent on the part. of Germans—undervaluing the intelligence of the British."