THE KAISER'S NEW MAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15233, 21 February 1913, Page 4

THE KAISER'S NEW MAN.

HERR VON JAGOW.

AN UNKNOWN PERSONALITY,

[FEOM OT7B OWN ". COBKESPONDENT.]

" London, January/ 10. t There is a dearth of men.of exceptional ability in Germany ;at the -present moment, and as a consequence it is probable that the foreign: policy of : the German Empire will be rather ..-a, department of the activity of the ] Chancellor— as it used to be—than a separate and independent branch. The search for someone able to follow with any hope of success. in the footsteps of' the distinguished Kiderlen-Waechtep did not reveal many recruits, and the choice has fallen on one of the Kaiser's companions of the Bowasia Fellowship at Bonn University, Herr von Jagow, who has been ambassador in Rome for the past three years. His chief claim to distinction lies in the fact that he is a i distant cousin of the chief of police in Berlin, who does happen to be ; known in England. Herr von Jagow was born in 1863, and entered the diplomatic service in IEJ9S as attache at the Embassy in Rome. The following year he was transferred to the Prussian Legation at Munich,; and .in 1897 as secretary to the Prussian Legation in Hamburg, returning to Rome a few months .later. In 1899 he became .councillor to the Legation in Rome, in 1900 secretary at The Hague, in 1901 secretary at Rome, whither ha returned as Ambassador after a brief spell as Minister to Luxembourg. '; .->.',,': ;, ; ; - Herr Jagow is described as amiable, shrewd, and modest, and a Berlin corres- t pondent suggests that .under him ';.; the ■" Foreign Secretaryship -will probably, revert to the status of a mere clerkship to the Imperial Chancellor. r ' There :is also the impression that the Kaiser, in view of his inability to discover eminent talent for the foreign secretaryship, may again become his own Minister for Foreign Affairs.";;.' In any case, as the Chancellor is a mild and peace-loving statesman, we are'not; likely to get another reign of " mailed ' fist' policy. , ; Herr : Von Jagow was not anxious, for health reasons, to abandon {Italy for"the; rigorous climate of Germany The Kaiser wanted him especially for the tact which he displayed at the. beginning of the .' war between Turkey and Italy, : when the.' relations of Germany and Italy were considerably strained owing to the r;- undisguised, sympathy of the German people for the Turks. On the other hand, it is stated that the outbreak of the ; war .took ? Germany : completely by surprise, for : '< which Herr Jagow was; himself I largely responsible. It ais even said - that on; the night, before the departure of the Tripoli expedition he telegraphed, in reply to, a question from Berlin as to whether there- vraat any likelihood of such thing: : " Absolutely cut of ,the. question."