PATER'S CHAT WITH THE BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 76

PATER'S CHAT WITH THE BOYS.

THE KAISER AND THE BALKANS. “ The Berlin Court Under William I ” is now advertised in Dunedin at £l. A recent issue of the New York Times devotes the best part of a page to a criticism of it, and this is followed by a long, adverse criticism of the book by a German authority, who denies the truthfulness of its contents, but admits that the writer, though he could not have the inside knowledge he said he had, knows what an experienced journalist residing in Berlin might be able to pick up. With this slight introductory note I’ll give my third Chat upon the book. The book ends with a letter written after seeing the opening atrocities of the war and the violation of all rules of civilised lighting, and disclosing his intention of dying by his own hand rather than live and acknowledge the Kaiser as a man deserving to live in a Christian community. One of the chapters is headed, “ Undercurrents of German Policy in the Balkans,” which opens by saying that the oft-repeated statement that the first Balkan war recently waged was inevitable is simply a distortion of fact. The Treaty of Berlin in 1878 did not give the quietus „to Balkan discontent we know, for since its ratification ‘‘there have been disorders and massacres in Armenia, disturbances in Macedonia, riots in Rumelia, and perpetual disorders in Albania. There has been a Greco-Turkish war, and one between (Serbia and Bulgaria ; revolutions, too, in Bulgaria and Sofia. But none of these circumstances shook the peace of Europe, the only result being to give work to the various European Chancelleries and Cabinets. Even the various intrigues which had ruffled the daily existence of the inhabitants of Constantinople, coupled with the overthrow of Abdul Hamid, had passed by without bringing international complications in their train.” Well, if all these things could happen without bringing about a Balkan war until quite recently, why should the Balkan w r ar have broken out when it did? The first Balkan war was brought about by a combination of Balkan Powers against Turkey, the faithful friend and ally of Prussia, and organised by the Kaiser himself, without whose initiative the propect would probably have not originated, let alone being approved and signed. Here are the Count’s words: i “The truth was that the Emperor understood very well that a war waged by the small Balkan States against his faithful friend and ally, the Ottoman Empire, was sure to lead to bitter international quarrels, in which a third party, himself probably, or Austria would be sure to find some ground for interference —and this was his secret aim.” The Kaiser opened up the plotting with ’King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, powerful and cunning and dissimulating, bait neither a pleasing nor a pleasant By his elaborate system of spies Ferdinand “ had discovered traces of the relations which Enver Bey had established between the Committee of Union and Progress in Turkey and the German Emperor,” knowledge he used with great tact, allowing the Emperor to know that he was acquainted with the underground work going on. The immediate result was the establishment of friendly relations between Berlin and Sofia, and this was followed by a suggestion that Ferdinand should marry Princess Eleonore of Reuss-Kostritz, a very fine woman, charming in manner and disposition. Ferdinand fell in. with the idea, communication between Bulgaria and Berlin became easy and natural, and the marriage took place. Then followed strained relations between Turkey and Serbia and Bulgaria, and the suggestion that King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, King Peter of Serbia, and King Nicholas of Montenergrq should combine a-oainst Turkey. “ Negotiations concerning this treaty were conducted in the greatest secrecy. The principal channels through which the clauses passed to and fro for discussion were the Queen of Italy, who communicated their intent to father at Cetinje: Queen Eleonore at Sofiia; and Prince Arsene Kara-Ceorgevitch, the brother of King Peter. The then Crown Princess of Greece was also made au courant by her brother, the German Emperor. Politicians such as M. Pash itch, in Serbia,

and M. Yenizelos, at Athens, were, of course, consulted in the matter, and immediately recognised the advantages that might accrue to their respective countries through such an alliance of the Balkan States. The treaty was signed, and war against Turkey enthusiastically declared.” °The intention of the belligerent parties was to take Bosnia and jaerzegovina from Austria and Constantinople from Turkey. Things went w'ell for a time, and the Ottoman Empire fell into sore straits. Then “the allies began to quarrel, ond a fratricidal war began that culminated in massacre upon massacre which for cruelty surpassed history.” The Powers now urged peace; but their advice w T as ignored. Rumania now came upon the scene. A secret treaty had existed between Bucharest and Berlin, and as a result Ferdinand was informed that unless he stopped fighting Rumania would enter the field.

During the fratricidal struggle, known as the second Balkan war, Turkey recaptured Adrianople. But how was the offensive power of Turkey resuscitated ? The Kaiser had furnished the Turkish Government w'ith money and with officers. But more! “He even went so far as to send Enver Bey a plan of action destined to force the hand of Russia, and to oblige her to declare herself in favour of the Balkan States, so as to give a pretext for Austria to interfere. By some untoward chance the letters of the German Sovereignfell into the hands of the then Minister of Justice, Nazim Pasha, which, perhaps, accounts for his murder, because no trace of these letters was found after his assassination. The uncertainty of the whereabouts of these letters caused considerable anxiety to William 11, who had reason to fear that they had fallen into hostile hands.” All this, says “Count Axel von Schwering,'” is provable if official lips could be unsealed; but it is doubtful if the facts have before been made public. Ferdinand now saw be bad been duped, and was prevented from rebelling only by promises to be fulfilled later on. M. Pasbitch, of Serbia-, a diplomat of consummate ability, was too wily “ to lend a ready ear to tire many insinuations which had been made to him from Berlin/ though he was fully aware that it might be to the immediate benefit of Serbia to side with Austria, He bad higher game -in view'. He -remained friendly to Russia, partly because of the traditional friendship, but also because he wished to arrange a marriage between the Serbian Grown Prince and a daughter of the Tsar, a proposal which, however, fell flat. But though he and the Crown Prince wero visiting St. Petersburg to attend the christening of Alexander’s nephew, the son of his sister, Helene, failed in their main project. They came away with the assurance that Russia would stand by Serbia in oate of any aggressive act against her. M. Pashitch “knew very well that it had been: a long-standing wish at the Ball Platz .to make Serbia share the fate of Bosnia and become an Austrian province’ ’; and to prepare the way for annexation, the public mind in Vienna was educated to, believe that, “principally through the medium of Serbian politicians, Russia was prosecuting an anti-Austrian propaganda in. Galicia and in Bukowina, as well as in Bulgaria.” At that particular moment, however, there was current in Bulgaria a feeling antagonistic to Russia. What is the cause of that feeling? is a reasonable question to ask, for it is probably existent now. Is it caused by Russia standing by Serbia, between whom and Bui garia there is a bitter rivalry, and by Germany inveigling Rumania into the German mesh? Whatever may he the cause, two facts stand out clearly : Austria, with Germany’s cognisance, was plotting .to subdue Serbia, and the whole of the Balkans were, and are still, seething with plot and counter-plot, in which Germany is unscrupulously prominent. How long will it be before all .parties wall see through her nefarious schemes?