"PASSION FOR PEACE."

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 616, 31 January 1916, Page 8

"PASSION FOR PEACE."

AMERICAN PREPAREDNESS. PRESIDENT WILSON'S WARNING. WASHINGTON, January 29. President Wilson, in an important speech making a strong plea for military preparedness in the United States, emphasised that “he -.had struggled to keep peace, but the liberty and honour of the nation were more important than peace.” He admitted that his Message to Congress said the need for preparedness was not pressing, but he had learned much in the meantime. Americans had a deep-seated passion for peace, but were ready to tight at anytime for the vindication of their character and honour. They would at no lime cravcnly avoid a contest, | and would rather surrender territory I than ideals. He desired to emphasise the fact that circumstances in the world to-day were not what they | were yesterday. j He added: —“I cannot tell you j what the international relations of ; the United States will be to-morrow —and 1 use the word literally—and 1 dare not keep silent, and let the country suppose that to-morrow is certain to be as bright as to-day. America will not be the aggressor, but America cannot control the circumstances of the world. We must be sure that we arc the faithful servants of those things we love, and be ready to defend them.” Washington correspondents regard the President’s speech as a last warning to Count BernstorfT that Germany must give satisfaction to America in connection with the sinking of the Lusitania. SENSATION IN EUROPE. EXACT PURPOSE OF THE SPEECH. (Received January 31. 9 a.m.) LONDON, January 30. President Wilson’s speech has caused a sensation in Europe, where there is much discussion as to its exact purpose. The general impression in New York is that President Wilson is anxious to erase the memory of the phrase, “America is too proud to light,” which is being continually thrown in the face of Americans in all parts of the world. NEARING A CRISIS. GERMAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS. (Received January 31, 10.10 a.m.) NEW YORK, January 30. Mr Lansing denies the current story that President Wilson granted Germany until February 5 to comply with the demand concerning the sinking of the Lusitania. WASHINGTON, January 30. Despite Mr Lansing’s denial, it is believed that negotiations with Germany are reaching a crisis. It is regarded as significant that President Wilson is returning to Washington on February 4. THE KAISER'S BANQUET. “DAILY MAIL” STORY. LONDON, January 28. The “Daily Mail” contains the story of the spy who dined with the Kaiser at Nish. He relates that he was closely watched at Constantinople. German secret service agents searched bis papers at his hotel. He determined to leave as quickly as possible when the newspapers published the news that the Kaiser was coming to Belgrade. The spy. describes how he managed to secure an invitation to the banquet at Nish. He saw Halil Bey, and explained that he desired the great honour of seeing the “All-High-est.” Halil, who was in high spirits over the evacuation of Gallipoli Peninsula, gave him a letter to the Prefect of Police at Stamboul. The Prefect told him, that the only way to travel to Belgrade was by the German military train. “1 menlioned my interview with Enver Pasha, and asked him to facilitate my movements. The Prefect replied that he would sec if it was possible to grant me a passport, and told me to call again in the morning. With much trepidation I went hack, ami was given a passport permitting me to travel by the military train. As the train approached Nish, a German non-commissioned officer looked out of the window, and seeing tile decorations, exclaimed, ‘Our Kaiser is here.’ “1 was markedly uncomfortable at the banquet—even more so than tiic Kaiser with his awful cough. If the secret service officers surrounding the Kaiser had recognised me as having been in the East before, there would have been a short and simple ceremony at the Town Hall, I playing the principal part. “During the journey in the military train 1 noticed the wonderful German work done in repairing the broken railway bridges in Serbia, enabling the speediest transport to Constantinople io he carried out. Evidences of the Serbian retreat were visible in the destroyed and blown; up tunnels and bridges, now completely restored, and the remains of dead horses—the careful Germans were skinning the carcases and taking the hides. “1 frequently heard it said that the Germans intended to disguise the Bulgarians in Gorman uniforms in the event of an invasion of Greece, and I saw immense quantities of uniforms at Nish. But I am not convinced Utal the Germans will attack Salonica. They heartily respect General Sarrail, whose wonderful work at Verdun kept them off. The Turks do not want an attack on Salonica, They arc heavily entrenched south of Adrianople, fearing an allied attack north-west of Constantinople.”