KAISER'S FAMOUS TELEGRAM.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 6916, 26 January 1901, Page 4

KAISER'S FAMOUS TELEGRAM.

COUNT BUELOW SAYS IT IS NOT

A FETISH

Count vonßuelow, the Imperial Chancellor, made an important statement in the Reichstag on Deoeinber 12th in reference to Germany's attitude towards the Boers and Great Britain.

As regards the Kaiser's refusal to see Mr Kruger, the Chancellor stated that the announcement that he intended to come to Berlin was a surprise to the Government, coming as it did only twenty-four, or at the most forty-eight, hours before the time for which the exPresident's departure from Paris nad been fixed. He was therefore apprised in the most courteous and consider^ manner through the German Embassy in Paris and DrLeyds, that the Emperor, to his regret, was not in a position to receive him, and, therefore, begged him to abstain from his iourney. " Notwithstanding, Mr Kruger started on his journey," said Count yon Buelow, " and he was told once more in the most considerate terms on his reaching Cologne that the Emperor was unable to see him at present. We do not allow ourselves to be taken by surprise, nor to be carried by storm." Beferring to the assertion made by Herr Bebel that his attitude towards Mr Kruger's journey and the war in South Africa was to be traced to the Emperor's family connections, Count yon Buelow said: " I can state in the most emphatic manner possible that neither from the British Court nor from the British Government has any wish or any proposal been offered, either to the Emperor or to me, as the responsible Chancellor, regarding Mr Kruger's iourney or our attitude towards the war in South Africa. To suppose that the Emperor would allow himself to be influenced by hi 3 family connections shows little comprehension of his Majesty's character or of his patriotic feeling." (Bravo I) As to what had been said about secret olauses in the Anglo-German agreement, it contained no reference to the South African War.

The German Emperor's telegram to Mr Kruger in 1896 was called forth by a filibustering expedition, not a war, and, moreover, he had never intended to determine German policy for ever by that telegram. It would be guided solely by considerations of German interests. Baron yon Richthofeu, Secretary for Foreign Affairs, said the Government had been charged in two instances with favouring England during the war. As regards the shipping of a British reiaforcement on a German vessel in Walfisch Bay the Government represented to the British Cabinet that it considered that such conveyance of troops . was not in consonance with neutrality. Thereupon the British Government issued an order that such transportation should be effected in British ships. In respect to the delivery of guns to the British Government by the Ehine Machine and Metal Factory, the Secretary of State observed that, inasmuch as the delivery of these arms was regarded as not bting in consonance with the duties of neutrality and as the Government was of opinion that it should be prevented, the Imperial Chancellor directed a request to the manufactory to stop the execution of the order. "We hope," added the Secretary of State, " that this is being complied with." %.