THE KAISER'S CABLE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12082, 10 August 1917, Page 5

THE KAISER'S CABLE.

QUESTIONS IN THE COMMONS. KING GEORGE AND FOREIGN POLICY. STATEMENT BY MR, BONAR LAW. Australian and N.Z. Cable Asforiation. (Received August, 10. ] p.m. LONDON, Augusc 9. In the House of Commons. Lord Robert Cecil, in reply to Mr Arthur Lynch, said that there, had been no violations of the constitutional practice under which the Foreign Secretary dealt with .-ill letters and telegrams having relation to the Empire's international policy Mr Lynch inquired whether there was any record of pre-war correspondence between the King and the. Kaiser or Prince Henry of Prussia. Lord Robert Cecil referred Mr Lynch to the. command paper issued in connection with the matter. Mr Lynch : Has the King made a foreign policy? and, if so, has he ever pursued it without reference to the Foreign Office P The Speaker: That raises a very different question. Mr Bonar Law, referring to the Kaiser's telegram to President Wilson, said there, hod heen no change in the constitutional practice. The Sovereign took no independent action in foreign affairs, WHAT THE KAISER SAID. A cable message received from New York on August, <> stated :• The "Philadelphia. Public Lodger" has published the first instalment of Mr James W. Gerard's bonk, -which contains an autograph facsimile of the Kaiser's cable message to President AVilson on August 10, 1911, in which the. Kaiser's version of the origin of the war is given. The cable message stated that King Go,orgo received Prince Henry, and empowered him to inform the Kaiser that Britain would remain neutral in the case of a war by France and Bussia against Austria and Germany. The German Ambassador in I/ondon cabled tjliat. Sir Edward Grey bad stated that, England would not interfere Mnloss I l "ranee, was being crushed. He also cabled on .Lily .'lO to Sir Edward (/rev, who stated that if the war were confined to Russia and Anstrin Britain would not move, but if Germany entered Britain would take grave measures.

Tlie Kaiser, the message continues, telegraphed the same day begging King George personally to use all his power to prevent Russia's and France's warlike, preparations, which were disturbing the Kaiser's mediation, "as he was in constant communication with the Czar." King .Jrorgc replied: "I have used every possible influence to withhold France and Russia." The Kaiser added: "I am anxiously preparing a Note informing the Czar that Vienna, Berlin and London are in agreement regarding the British proposal that Austria should take Belgrade and a few other Serbian towns and a strip of Serbia as a guarantee that Serbia will carry out her written promises."

The Kaiser continued: "When I was informed that the Czar had ordered the mobilisation of the whole. Russian army, which, of course, meant a threat against Germany as well as Austria, I telegraphed to King George that if he. would guarantee, with armed forces, France's neutrality, T would not attack France. King George replied that he thought the offer was based on a misunderstanding. So far as T can make out. Sir Edward Grey never took my offer seriously, and instead declared that' England must defend Belgium's neutrality." STATEMENT DENTED. A cablegram from London on August 0 stated : With reference to the Kaiser's t'plegram to President Wilson, quoted in Mr Gerard's hook, there is the highest, authority for declaring absolutely" without foundation the statement alleged tp have been made by Kino- George to Prince Henry of Prussia that England would remain neutial.