St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-10-05
BILLY BElLICERENT.
The German Emperor Was
Anxious to Declare War
on the French,
But Queen Victoria Expressed
to Him a Hope for Con-
tinued Peace,
At the Same Time Hitting
Upon a Scheme to Set
Him Thinking.
Still a Good Deal of War Talk
in the Chinese News
papers.

NEW YORK, Oct. 4.-The Berlin cor
respondent Of the Herald says:
81 have now authority to say that had
it not been for the excellent woman's
common sense of Queen Victoria and
the sound judgment of the czar-who,
in the moment of emergency, acted in
perfect accord-Europe would perhaps
at this very moment be in the throes of
war. The facts are these: Last sum-
mer, while the Emperor William was at
Osborne, he one evening asked the
queen to accord him confidential con-
versation upon a matter of the utmost
Importance. The request was accorded,
and the emperor said, in substance:
81 have something on my mind. 1
seek your counsel. The situation in
Germany is int0lerable. 1t cannot last
twelve months longer. The country
cannot bear the present financial strain
required to keep up it's present fighting
strength. Socialism is daily assuming
more terrible proportions. Germany's
allies-especially Italv-are no longer
able to keep up the present pace. The
strain is too great on them. France, on
the contrary, is becoming stronger and
stronger, but France is isolated. 1t is
absolutely HSCCSSdIy
should seize the first occasion to declare
war upon her. The latest moment to
which this can possibly be put off is the
spring of 1892" The queen listened to
all the emperor said and replied:
"As long as l live l firmly hope that
peace will be maintained. ] am now
old, but still feel that my last years
shall not be saddened by more blood
flowing in Europe. The responsibility
that rests upon you is terrible one. 1t
would, in my opinion, be criminal for
any sovereign or statesman to attempt
TO precipate events. In any case, what
you have said causes me the greatest
uneasiness."
The conversation ended. The queen
that very evening sent for Lord Sails
bury ana informed him of this strange
conversation, and desired him to talk
with the emperor about it.
81 am afraid that would only make
things worse, your majesty" replied
Lord Salisbury, ''for think if at
tempted to discuss the question the
emperor might cut matters short by
taking me by the shoulders and push
ing me out of the window. Besides, it
might excite his majesty to do exactly
the contrary to what l might suggest.
NO." continued Lord Salisbury,
''there is in my opinion only one thing
to do-write an autograph letter to the
car, telling him frankly what has oc-
Cured, and urging him, in the interests
of the peace of Europe, to lose no time
in making friendly advance toward
France i'll order to convince Emperor
William that Russia would not consent
to see France wantonly attacked. This
would cause the emperor to reflect, and,
in my opinion, this is the most effective
way of preserving the peace. 1t would
be WELL" continued Lord Salisbury, ''if
England should also simultaneously
make an advance toward France"
The queen at once followed Lord Sal
isbury'S advice, A confidential envoy
was forthwith intrusted with the queens
autograph letter to the car. The czar
fully appreciated the critical situation.
The French feet was then in Sweden.
The car Immediately sent an invita-
ton for it to come to Cronstadt. The
queen at the same time invited the
French feet to visit Portsmouth. The
rest is already matter of history. The
above facts reach me from such person
ages and in such manner as to inspire
the utmost confidence. l am not at
liberty to disclose the sources of my in
formation, but were | to do so they
would carry with them the greatest
weight in London, as well as in Berlin.
With this comment l send you the
above bit of history for what it is
worth