POMP OF YESTERDAY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17756, 3 January 1920, Page 5

POMP OF YESTERDAY.

LETTERS FROM THE KAISER. TELL-TALE DOCUMENTS. TOUND AMONGST LATE CZAR’S PRIVATE EFFECTS. LONDON, Dec. 31. 1 he Australian Press Association liassecured the exclusive right of the publication in Australasia of the historic letters fiom the Kaiser to the Czar between 1894 and 1914. The Morning Post, which owns the exclusive rights in Britain, is publishing many facsimiles ot the letters, which cover the period of the Boer and RussoJapanese Wars, Austria-Hungary's annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Emperor’s trips to Jerusalem. The Mediterranean letters are of great political and diplomatic interest, as they form the key to the Kaiser’s tor:uous and clumsy foreign policy in the ifort to make Germany master of tte vorld. I hey reveal a great German con.piracy. primarily designed against Briam, but involving the humiliation of lussi.i and France, and constituting a secret history of the causes leading to the world war. The correspondence throws many sidelights on the Kaiser’s personal character, revealing extraordinary vanity, bad -®tnper, love of rhetoric, a religious vein n his character, and an intense belief m diplomatic finesse, which reallv con•tea of bullying and flattery. The letters confirm w hat. the world has suspected: that the Kaiser hated k* B uncle, Edward (Reuter.) Received January 2. 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 31. A series of the Kaiser’s letters includes seventy-five of the Kaiser's letters written in English in his own handwriting. which were found among th > Czar s private effects after the latter’s murder at Ekaterinburg. The first batch. summarised herewith commences on the death of Alexander the Third. The Kaiser had seen Nicholas when Czarewitch during visits to Berlin in January. 1893. and at Coburg in 1894.

The Kaiser had evidently taken to heart his grandfather’s deathbed advice. ‘-'Keep on good terms with Rus-

The object revealed by the letters was to embroil Russia with Japan and later olay eff Russia against England and France.

When this policy matured the Kaiser rxpected that, with the assistance of i huge army and navy , he would have Europe, and even the world, at Germany’s mercy. Fortunately the scheme miscarried ,thanks to Edward VII. and W. Delcasse. as Nicholas finally found rat the Potsdam machianelli. and the •esult was the Triple Entente was formed.

The letters were addressed “ Dearest Vicky,” and signed “Willy.’ The first vas dated October. 1894, and. after commiserating with Nicholas on his father’s death, says: “We both know perfectly our political ideals. T have Jibing to add to our last conversation *n Berlin. I shall always cultivate old relations and mutual friendship with vour house, in whirr I was reared by my grandfather and some examples of which I was glad to give your dear papa recently.” The second letter is dated January, ind sends New Year greetings with a Christmas gift of album photos, picturin' dedication of flags in Berlin. The third letters covers a wedding present of porcelain, which the Kaiser characteristically says he has instructed the court-marshal to arrange on a dinner table for fifty guests before presentation. so that the Czar would be able to see corp doeil of the whole affairs. The letter goes on to detail democratic movements in various countries, and says: “Tn England the Roseberv Ministry is toddling to its fall, amidst universal derision. In France the Ribot Cabinet is granting amnesty to all the worst malefactors. My Reichstag is behaving as badly as it can. swinging backwards and forward between Socialists purged on by Jews) and ultramontane Catholic

“Both parties will soon be fit to be hung—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 Ambassador Radolin to the Czar. The Kaiser took the opportunity to outline his world policy specially in reference to the yellow peril. He says: “I thank you sincerely for the excellent way in which you initiated the combinei. action of Europe against Japan. It is high time energetic steps were taken. I should certainly do all in my power to keep Europe quiet and will also guard the 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 well understood that call of Providence. I hope that just as I will gladly help you to settle questions of eventual annexations of portions of territory for Russia, you will kindly see that Germany may also be able to acquire a port somewhere where 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.” The last letter in the series, dated July IQth, 1895, was written during a cruise, and tells that the Kaiser had a. conversation with the Gland Duke Alexis, the Czar’s uncle “ I was glad to show him,” says the Kaiser, “ how our interests are entwined in the Far East, and that my ships were in order to second yours when things looked doubtful.” The letter goes on to complain that the officers of the Russian ships invited to the opening of Kiel Canal took photographs of fort batteries. “I think it not quite fair to abuse hospitality, and try to spy on your friend.” The letter concludes: “ Good-bye, iearest Nickolas, with wishes for a quiet 4 dimmer, and a nice little boy to come. Jver yohr affectionate friend and 2ousin } Willy.”