LATEST NEWS A GREAT MISCHIEF-MAKER

Waikato Times, Volume 92, Issue 14267, 19 January 1920, Page 5

LATEST NEWS A GREAT MISCHIEF-MAKER

o— ——— KAISER'S OPINION OF EDWARD VIL MAKING FRANCE A CATSPAW. FOOLING THE BRITISH FLEET. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assn.) Received January 19, 2.20 a.nv. LONDON, Jan. 15. Writing on August 22nd, the..exKaiser congratulates the Czar on creating the Duma, which brings him and the people closer together, and will enable him to infuse them with his ideas and spirit, which hitherto was greatly hindered by the bulky wall of bureaucracy. Also, "You can make the people carry part of the responsibility which they would probably have liked to saddle you withi" The Kaiser again reverts to. the growing Anglo-French rapprochment, and declares, "Britain wants to make France hercatspaw against us, as sheused Japan against you. The arohintriguer and mischiefmaker in Europe, as you rightly called the King of England, has been hard at work during the past few weeks." At Cowes the King said to one of my friends, a German gentleman.whom I sent to observe the Entente Cordialo; 'I can't find out what has been going on atJßjorkoe. Benchkendo.rff knows nothing, for he always tells me everything. Copenhagen knows nothing. Even the Emperor's mother, who always lets me know everything, has heard nothing >fro.m her son this time. Even LamSdorff, who is a nice man and lets me know all I want, knows nothing, or at least, won't tell. It is very able.' "'

The Kaiser continues: "This shows you how wide is the secret net of information the iCing has cast, over Europe, and the papers have taken it up. He suddenly published dementi declaring that my Foreign Office started the idea. This is the finest lie 1 ever came across. After this he invited my son behind my back to visit England. 1 stopped that business. His fleet is to the act of visiting us. It will open the eyes of many Germans, and I hope they will learn the necessity of a strong fleet." The Czar,-in an exchange of telegrams three months later, evidently snubs the Kaiser's references to Benckendorff. Nicky says: "Buckendorff is loyal, and a real gentleman, and would not lend himself to false tricks, even if they came from the great ' mischiefmaker himself." He declares that the revelations are extraordinary, but "I think von Bulow's conversation with some newspaper correspondent lias not helped much to clear up the situation."'

In a letter containing family gossip, written two days later, the Kaiser, in a postorlpt says: "I have just got a message from M. Roosevelt informing me of the situation at the Peace Conference, and points out where there is a difference of opinion between Japan and Russia; also his proposals for meeting both belligerents. I think his proposals are sensible and practical,, and hope they come up to your expectations. As far as I can make out tliey assure Russia an honourable peace, but it is solely for you to decide; I have ordered my fleet to shadow the British, and when they are anchored to lay themselves near the British fleet, give them a dinner, and make them as drunk as possible, to find out what they are about, and then sail off again. I think the astonishment will be great, as the English, as well as our own people, believe our fleet to be in tlie North Sea. Don't tell anybody, as the secret must be well kept.'"