REMARKABLE LETTERS

North Otago Times, Volume C, Issue 13170, 7 October 1914, Page 6

REMARKABLE LETTERS

i PROM THE KAISER TO THE TBAlt, LMPEHOfIs' DISCUSS WHETHER | AUSTRIA HAS ENTERED ON A ' MEAN ,\VAII. Some ipmailublo lcllois winch passe 1 between the Kaisci and tlio Ts.u bofoic llie\ deilaied wni on o.idl otluu Ihm bun oftu 1 iih published i» lioilm Thcs wen Miit to the Dailj News by Mi Chubs Touci, thou lonospoudcnt. Tho urn thus "You Will Agroo With Mo." The first tcltVjrraiu •is quoted",us. follows; ; ' ,\ ,' ~/.' .. , , . ■The .Kaiser to the Tsar, July 28: , ''l liiivc learnt' with 'Hie greatest .concern of the, impression which Aus-tria-Hungary's .uc'tion against Servja, has made in "your empire. Tlio.unscrupulotis agitation wh'ich has been fostered in Servia for years hns : led to the detestable, crime of which the Archduke Fcrdinaud»was the victim' Tho spirit in which- the Servians murdered their own King and, Queen is still alive in' that country, .< You will HO doubt llgi'CC with ■me that we, too, you and I; as well as all Sovereigns, have a common interest in insisting that all those who arc morally responsible for the horrible erinre should receive the...punishment tliev ■deserve. I

''On thcotl&r hand,. I'by no means ignore the dilliculty which you and your Government meet in resisting tho'pressure of public, opinion. Remembering the strong tics 3 of..cordial' friendship which have for so long united us, 1 am using all my influence to induce AustriaHungary'to seek a frank and satisfactory understanding with Russia. I confidently hope that you will support my efforts to remove all the difficulties that may yet arise. "Your very sincere and devoted friend and cousin, ." '. ' . «<WILLIAM," Tsar Says "A Mean War." To this the Tsar replied on July '2O: '..'] am glad that you are' back in Germany-at" thisgnn'c moment. I urgently ask you to assist me. A mean war. has been declared upon a weak country. The indignation, which 1 .diarc to the full, is 'in Russia enocicons. • " "1 can-foresee that i shall soon be tumble to resist the pressure which is being brought upon ■me, ami shall be c(.Mip«llwl..tt) take measures which will lead' to war. In order to avert a i-alamity-sucli as a Kuropean war would he, 1 ask you in the name of our old friendship lo do everything possible to |.: event your ally from proceeding too I'm'.' \ "(Signed) NICHOLAS.*' .Kaiser Says "Not a Mean War." ■ Ou July 2fl the-Kaiser again teleigraphcd:' ■• ■.';::.'. '■•'■'"' v. '' ':' I.'have 'rer'cived"-your'telegram, and fliare your desire for (lie. iituiiitciittiicu o? peace. At the same, time, tm I (ulii you in my first telegram, I cannot regard Austria-Hungary's action as a "iiiean" war. Austria-Hungary knows from experience that Soma's promises, so long as they remain only on "paper, cumul altogether be relied upon. !n my view, Austria-Hungary's action ought lo be considered as an attempt lo'obtaiii a full guarantee that Servia's promises would also be translated into action. In this view lam 'confirmed by the declaration of 'the Austrian Cabinet that Austria-Hungary is seeking no territorial conquest at the expense of Seh'ia. : I therefore think that it is perfectly possible for Russia to maintain tlio attitude of a spectator in face of the Austro-Servian war without dragging Eurdpe into the most terrible war she has ever experienced.

An Understanding. Possible. "1 believe Unit ii direct understandinn between your Government anil Vienna is possible nml desirable—an understanding which, as I have already telegraphed yon, my Government is trying t<> encourage with all the means, at its disposal. "Naturally, military measures on the. part of Hnssia which Austria-Hungary, could regard as a menace, would precipitate the disaster which wc had the. wish to avoidj-and would also undermine, my. position as an intermediary, which I, in reply to your appeal to my friend-, ship and assistance, have readily as-: sinned. .'. ■

"(Signed) WILLIAM." The last two letters arc thus given I'.v ,the Daily Chronicle:— "I Thank Thee." ' (From Tsar to-Kaiser.) "I tlniiik thee from my heart for thy mediation'; which leaves a gleam of. liope. . ..It is technically impos-i si hie to discontinue, our military opcra-i tions. . ~'. So long as the negotia-; tions with • Austria' regarding Seivia 1 .'Oiitinue my troops will hot undertake' 'any provocative action. :. J give thee my word .upon it; 1 trust with all my strength in God's grace, and lliopo' for 't-lio .success of thy. mediation.—Thy most'devoted . ""'-.' . ■■' /1.'.;. -"NICHOLAS." r ■ ~' '•'■"''.'..' -' ; The Kaiser's Limit. '\

- Mom Kaiser to Tsar.) : f "My efforts to maintain the jieacu of tlio woilil have reached their limit. Jt will not be J who am responsible i'oi tlic calamity whicdi tliieatens the whole 1 civilised world. Jiven at this moment it lies in thy power to aveit it. AV : body tliieatens the honour and power i of Jiussia, which could well have waited for the lcmilt of my mediation. The friendship which T inherited fiom'-mf Kiamlfatlicr' on'lns.deathbed for "thee and thy kingdom has always been holy to me. J' have remained 'true to "Russia. The peace of Europe can still ■ljfl maintained by theii if Kussla decides to cease her hiilitniy-measnies which! Ihiealou (io!jiiniiy\,aiid /iisti'la-Hun-f-aiy." '';_ „ ~. ; . :' ;S , ■•■.'' J 'V -•' . I THAU'S TO JIIH ' I ■ ' "',V> ;JV'- ; :•„ j :,i The Tsar on Siiudayf'At/gubt^/'pudlishjjd this manifesto tophi's pooplo: "■% fKe XichoJ^

U', Empeioi and Autociat of all tho Russms, King of Poland, Giand hike of l'mland, etc, otc, to nil om faithful subjects make known that Russia, i elated by fuith hud blood to tho 81m peoples and faithful lo'hoi Instoiital liadilioils, ,lpis ne\ei lcgaidcd thou fates with liuliflciciicc" Tlio fuitojmil sentiments of the Russian pcoplo foi tho SbiM) has been awakened with pci i feet unanimity and extiaoidmaiy fouo I these lust few dajs, übui Austiu Hun ' ?aM knotviiigly tidditssul to Soma claims unauiplable loi an independent State

"HitMiig paid no nttution lo the pi'iilu and tomilialoM ieply of the Servian Government, ami having ■ rejected the bonevole.nt intoi'voiitioii' of Russia, Austria inado hasto to •proceed to mi 'united attack find Ijcgim to bom-, bard Belgrade, an open place."' Forced bytlm situation tiiu.l ere'iited to take tlio'.'necessary measures; Of precaution, we ordered the Army and Navy to be put.on a war footing, while using every endeavour to obtain apeacefui.Solution of the pour-parlors begun, for the blood and property of our subjects are dead to

:u5.., ; ■-...■ f -, i .'..-,:„ ...... ■) "Amid -friendly relations "with Gcrmn'u(v 'and 'herlllly Austria, contrary to ■our hopes in our' go'ud neighbourly relations Of long-date Wind 'disregarding' our'assu'rhiic'cs'tliat the measures taken were in jmi'Sunlu'c of no 1 object hostilo to her, Germany began to demand their immediate cessation.' 'Having been ro,buffed iii this •demand, she .suddenly dodared war on 1 Russia. : To-day it is not only the protection df'tho country related to us and unjustly rittacked that must be carried out, btlt" wq must also safeguard' the 'honour/ dignity; and integrity of RusVia and ■ hoi' position among the Great I'ow'ors."