THE KAISER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14926, 31 August 1910, Page 7

THE KAISER

, 'SPEECH AT MARIENBURG. ADDRESS ON LOYALTY. ______ / Prua Association—Uy T«le_r«ph-Copyri_liV BERLIN, August 30. (Received August 30, tit 9.30 p.m.) Tho Norcldeutscho Zoitniig protests against a misinterpretation of the Kaiser's konigsberg speech. .11 denies that tho speecti contained an absolutist declaration. The Kaiser reviewed the manoeuvre squadron of 21 battleships in Danzig Bay. Speaking later at Maricuburg he declared that co-operation in commerce, shipbuilding, and agriculture, and in constituting the strength and greatness of the Fatherland had been made possible only by llio maintenance of the peace won under the great Emperor in 18V0. Marienburg and the Teutonic knights showed that Tcutonism and Christianity were inseparably connected. This was an illustration of his words at Konigsbcrg. The.Kaiser appealed to all creeds to unite in brotherly love and to all classes to cooperate in common labour, whatever their calling, in order to meet the needs of the State. He added that the supporters of one party should grasp tho hand of their opponents in order to do great things for tiie Fatherland.

, Tho Kaiser's indiscretions aro notor'ous. A re.cent writer said of him:—"Tho Sphinx is easier to understand than tho Kaiser; and woman is an open book as compared. with him. And it really isn't difficult for the Sphinx to lie mysterious. Its greatest mystery is its silence. But tho Kaiser i?n't silent. He makes speeches. Many of them. Even grants interviews. Ami still leaves us puzzled. Thero has never been anything like it. He reconciles in his person the most incongruous traits. Ho is tho most impulsive of reigning monarchs. There can bo no doubt about that. Yet he is almost Machiavolian in premeditation. That telegram- to Knigcr was impulsive, yet carefully calculated and prepared at the Foregn/Ofiko! _ Shrewd observers say that the historical interview in the London Daily Telegraph had been no less carefully launched. And that the hubbub attendant upon its publication furthered some far-seeing plan. At tho time it will be remombered, a. cyclone broke loose in Germair editorial ink-pots. And. behold! % William, tho imperious, humbly bowed his head! ■ Perhaps lie smiled to himsslf somewhat sadly. But ho said nothing.

. . . And then, suddenly, it began to dawn upon Germany that the Kaiser's gravest indiscretions arc often his shrewdest coups."

In 18S6, on hearing that the JamesonRaid had failed, the Kaiser sent his famous telegram to President Krugcr, congratulating him upon maintaining peace and preserving his independence "without appealing to the help of friendly Powers." The immediata result of the episode was the almost instantaneous mobilisation, in England, of a special .service squadron, and the expedition with which the. arrangomen'.s were carried out afforded a. display of naval activity and resource which caused the Germans to reflect upon their own naval shortcomings. Ho followed up the above message by a succession of inflammatory telegrams and speeches which evoked derision in some quarters and caused intense imitation in others. During the South African Boor war certain German steamers wero seized for 'carrying contraband of war. "The events of "the last few days," tsaicl he, " have convinced wider and wider circles that Germany's honour, a 6 well as her !n----tercsts. must ha protected, on distant seas." In 1908 a striking episode of the year was the publication in the London Daily Telegraph in October of a remarkable interview, in which tho Kaiser declared that it was one of his dearest wishes to livo at peace with England, though the prevailing sentiment amongst large sections of the middle and lower classes of Germany was not friendly to England. Ho stated that when the Boor war was at its height Germany was invited by the French and Russian Governments to join in calling upon England to put an end to the wa.r and so save tho Boer Republic and " humiliate England to the dust." He further said that he had worked out a plan of campaign at the time of the Black Week in' December, 1898, and sent it to England, and it was now among the State papers at Windsor Oastle. This interview, it appeared, had been submitted to the Emperor, and by him referred to Prince Bulow. It went to the Foreign Office for examination, and was returned without comment. _ Tho Princo never read it himself until it appeared in print. He nevertheless tendered his resignation as Chancellor, but the Kaiser refused to accept it. Tho publication of the interview caused much irritation in Germany and criticisms of the Emperor, while abroad the facts wore strongly challenged, particularly in Franco and Russia.