HARDEN AND EX-KAISER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXII, Issue 2516, 20 December 1927, Page 7

HARDEN AND EX-KAISER.

DEMAND AND REFUSAL. CURIOUS WARTIME EPISODE. \ Berlin, December 3. A curious episode, which for the first and only time brought Wilhelm II and Maximilian Harden to exchange communications, is related by a. correspondent of tho Vonvarts. It appears that on October 16, 1918, the editor of Dio Zukunft, thinking that the time had come for him to play the part of saviour of the Fatherland, telegraphed direct to the Kaiser demanding an audience. In his message he stated that it was dictated by “the duty of conscience,” and he added: “Because every hour is now fateful, I fear neither a refusal nor tho appearance of importunity, and lay upon ;Court officials who suppress this request the responsibility for the results.” In reply Harden received an official intimation that the Emperor had received his telegram, and for the present was unable to grant him an audience, but that the Chief of tho Imperial Cabinet had been instructed “to hear your communication for tho purpose of transmitting it to His Majesty.” He was also asked to telegraph the date and hour of his visit to headquarters. It was, however, tho Kaiser, and not a Court official, with whom Harden wished to settle the destiny of Germany, and the journey never took place. “Tims,” says the Vonvarts, “the world is poorer for a dramatic scene which, eiien in those grave times would have had a diverting interest, namely, tho meeting of two historians who were very similar in their natures, and therefore antagonistic.”