POTSDAM MACHIAVELLI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17823, 3 January 1920, Page 7

POTSDAM MACHIAVELLI

SECRET GEIWAN HISTORY. EX-KAISER'S HISTORIC LETTERS. DREAMS OF WORLD DOMINATION. SCHEMES THAT MISCARRIED. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, December 31. The Australian Press Association has secured the exclusive right of publication in Australasia of the historic letters of the ex-Kaiser to the late Czar. Tho Morning Post, which' owns tho exclusive rights in Britain, is publishing many fac-similes of these lottcrs, which cover the period of the Boer and the Russo-Japanese wars, Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and tho ex-Kaiser's trips to Jerusalem and the Mediterranean, The letters are of great political and diplomatic interest, as they form a key to the ex-Kaiser's tortuous and clumsy foreign policy in his effort to make Germany master of tho world. They reveal a great German conspiracy, primarily designed against Britain, but involving the humiliation of Russia and France. They constitute a secret history of the causes leadjng to tho world -war. i

The correspondence throws many sidelights on the ex-Kaiser's personal character, revealing his extraordinary vanity, bad temper, lovo of rhetoric, tho religious vein in his character, and his intense belief in his diplomatic finesse, which really consisted of Dullying and flattery. The letters confirm what the world has suspected—that the Kaiser both hated and feared his English uncle, Edward VII.— A. and N.Z. Cable.

LONDON, December 31.

(Received Jan. 2, at 5.5 p.m.) The series of letters written by the exKaiser includes 75 written in English in his own handwriting which were found among the late Czar's private effects after the murder of the ktter at Ekaterinburg. The first batch, which is summarised herewith, commences on the death of Alexander the Third. The ex-Kaiser had seen Nicholas when he was Czarevitch during his visits to Berlin in January, 1893, and at Coburg in 1894. The exKaiser had evidently taken to heart his grandfather's deathbed advice to keep on good terms with Russia. The object revealed by the letters was to embroil Russia with Japan, and later to play off Russia against England and France. When this policy matured, the ex-Kaiser expected that, with the assistance of a huge army and navy, he would have Europe, and even the world, at Germany's mercy. Fortunately, the scheme miscarried, thanks to the late King Edward VII and M. Delcasse, as the late Czar Nicholas finally found out the Potsdam Machiaveili, and the result was that the Triple Entente was formed.

The letters were addressed "Dearest Nicky" and signed "Willy." The first was dated October, 1894, and after commiserating with Nicholas in regard to his father's death, states: "We both know .perfectly our political ideals. I have no : thing to add to our last conversation in Berlin. I shall always cultivate the old relations of mutual friendship with your house, in which I was reared by my grandfather, and some examples of which I was glad to give your dear papa recently." The second letter, dated in January, conveys New Year s greetings, with a Christmas sift album and photos picturthe dedication of flags in Berlin. The third letter covers a wedding prosent of porcelain, in which the ex-Kaiser characteristically says he has instructed the court marshal to arrange the dinner table for fifty guests before the presentation, so that the ex-Czar might be able to have a coup d'oeil of the whole affair. The letter goes on to detail the democratic movements in various countries, and says: "In England the Rosebery Ministry is toddling to its fall amidst universal derision. In France the Ribot Cabinet is granting an amnesty to all the worst malefactors. My Reichstag is behaving as badly as it can, swinging backwards and forwards between the Socialists (egged on by Jews) and the ultramontaine Catholics. Both parties will soon be fit to be hanged—all of them ( in short. Everywhere the principle de la monarchic is called upon to show itself strong. That is why I was so glad at the capital speech you made the other day to a deputation in response to some address asking for reform." The fourth letter commends the Ambassador Radolin to the ex-Czar. The exKaiser took the opportunity to outline his world policy, especially in reference to the yellow peril. He says: "I thank you sincerely for the excellent way in which you initiated the combined, action of Europe against Japan. It is high time that energetic steps were taken. I shall certainly do all in my Dower to keep Europe quiet, and will also guard tho rear of Russia, so' that nobody can hamper your action towards the Far East. It is clearly Russia's great task to cultivate the Asian continent and to defend Europe from the inroads of the great yellow race. -In this you will always find me on your side, ready to help as best I can. You have understood that call of Providence. I hope that just as I will gladly help you to settle the questions of the eventual annexations of portions of territory for Russia, you will kindly see that Germany may also be able to acquire a portion somewhere if it does not embarrass you. I am afraid that, as the Norwegians are in a state bordering on insanity, I shall not be able to make a summer cruise there."—A. and N.Z. Cable.

The last letter in the series, dated July 10, 1895, was -written during a cruise and tells that the ex-Kaiser had a conversation with the Grand Duke Alexis, the ex-Czar's uncle. "I was glad to show him," says the ex-Kaiser, "how our interests are entwined in the Far East, and that my ships were in order to second yours when things looked doubtful." Tho letter goes on to complain that the officers of the Prussian ships who were invited to the opening of the Kiel Canal took photographs of the fort batteries. "I think it is not quite fair to abuse hospitality and to try to spy on your friend." The letter concludes: " Goodbye, dearest Nicky, with wishes for a quiet summer and a nice little boy to come. Ever your affectionate friend and cousin, Willy."—A. and N.Z. Cable.