EX-KAISER’S LETTERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, Issue LIV, 13 January 1920, Page 5

EX-KAISER’S LETTERS

THE BJOERKOE TREATY

TO BREAK FRANCO-RUSSTAN ALLIANCE, MORE ADVICE TO RUSSIA (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) Australian ft N.Z Cable Association LONDON, Jam 9. The Kaiser's correspondence with 'he Czar throws fresh light on cirefamous secret treaty signed by the two Emperors at Biorko, in the Gulf ot Finland, mi l.ulv 24th, 1905 The Kaiser declares that the object was to break up the Franco-Riisaian alliance and confront Britain with a new group comprising Russia, France and Germany. A considerable amount of secret information has already been published, notably a series of telegrams between the Kaiser and the Czar, published in September, 1917. The attempt, to isolate Britain was moi> apparent- in the drafts than in the final form of the treaty, which was modified at the Kaiser’s wish in order not to reveal too clearly his intention. Tire treaty- was really incompatible with the Franco-Russian alliance, lienee the Kaiser’s eagerness to conclude it befoi’u revealing ita contents t<, France. Count Witte claimed that the treaty was annulled at his instigation, as no responsible Russian statesman signed it, and even responsible German officials recognised that tho Emperor obtained much more than the Czar could possibly carry out. The Kaiser, writing in August, 1904, traversed the progress of .the Russo-Japanese War and worked out calculations of the forces employed, showing that the disparity between the Russians and the Japanese was making Russia’s task a heavy one. Ho suggests • “Should your battle ships in a last dash from Port Arthur fai] to roach Vladivosiock ore account of injuries received ire a fight, their best chance is to try for Using!au, where they would be well looked- after till the end of the war, instead of being blown up and sunk.”

( The Kaiser expressed the belief tint “You must win iu the long run, but at. the cost of money and men. a» the enemy i* well led and can only be beaten by overwhelming numbers. Tho operations of your army will be easier and give better results wftren fbc Baltic Fleet arrives and forces the Japanese fleet into ports, thus restoring your command of the sea now lost by the inefficiency of the admiral in command at Port Arthur. The command of the sea is an absolutely necessary equivalent to tho final success of the land cam (paign by depriving tho' enemy of the ability to injure yfiur reserves of munitions and stores ’’ Tho Kaiser continues: “When war broke out, I worked out a plan of mobilisation on my o\vn account, founded upon the number of Japanese divisions of tho first line, which would be sufficient to win with. I did nob venture lo write you my idea, as it is not my business to meddle with your affairs, and I was afraid of your telling me to ‘mind my own business,’ as you know bot-t-.r what Russia requires. But as th,-> first stage of the campaign is practically over, I thought in sending it now it might interest you.’’ Bbobeko brought messages from the tzar, upon which I lie Kaiser says “Shcheko informed me of your intentions to send out tho Black Sea Fleet in conjunction with the Baltic Fleet. He asked my opinion of the plan. I confess I long expected this plan to bo executed. It is a- sound military idea, and will ensure victory. ' The best plan would bo to silently and .quickly prepare without word to anyone, and then, at fihe right moment steam through the Dardanelles. Tire Sultan will, not offei a shadow of resistance, and once you are out wo shall be faced witb_ un fart accompli, which we shall quietly accept. I lhavo n n , doubt England' will accept too, though her press nuiy fume and rage, and her squadron steam about a little,, as they often do in tho Mediterranean. But they won’t stir in earnest when they see. ether Powers remain quret. Pm? nqiin point is, it must happen sud dcnly to take tfiie world by s u n>™cIn a letter dated October 30th, 1904, the Kaiser states that he nod his Chancellor had “secretly drawn up the articles of the treaty you wished. Be it a« you say. Let u* stand together. Of course, the al liance will be purely defensive, exclusively against European aggressors. It is very esesntial final America should not feel threatened by the agreement. Roosevelt, I know, ow iug t 0 his innate American dislike for coloured races*, has no special partial ity for Japan, although England does her utmost to work upon Amen can feelings in favour of the Japan esc. Besides, Americans have a clear perception of, the indisputable fact that a powerful Japanese Empire is a lasting danger to tfiie Philippines. As for France, we both know that the Radicals and anti-Christian par tics incline towards England, but are opposed to wav, which means certain destruction to this republic of mis rablo civilians. The National or Clerical party dislikes England, and has sympathies for Russia, but does not dream of throwing in its lot with Russia in this war. Between, these two parties, the Government can do nothing, arid England counts upon this neutrality and consequent isolation of Russia. I positively know that M. Rouvkr declared that France will not join in the Russo-Japanese War, even if England sided with Ja pan. To make these Republicans dopbly sure, England handed Morocco t r , France. Tho absolute' certainty that Franco will remain neutral is the motive vffiich gives this present unwonted brutal assurance. This unheard of state of things will change for the better.” * The Kaiser, in enclosing a. draft of tho treaty, says: “Nobody,, not even my Forcigfi Office, knows anyUu-ug about 5L The work was done by Von Bulow and me personally. When we bad finished, Von Bulow said: ‘May God’s blessing rest on the two high rulers. May the mighty triiule group, Russia, Germany and Franc-, heli) lo maintain in-ace. for ever.’ ’’ It is clear that the Dogger‘Bank incident decided the* Czar to conditio a treaty with Germany.

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