Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-09-11
czAR'S PEACE MOVE MOTIVE
BRITISH BELIEVE 1T DESIGNED To
HOODWINK THEM.
Think Russia Was Prompted by the
Growing CordiaIity Between En-
gland and Germany-Berlin
View of AnglO-Ger-
man Agreement.
Copyright, ,sss, by the Associated PressJ

a period during which the statesmen We're
supposed TO be enjoying their holidays but
which witnessed series of Notwithstanding
public events.
The cars peace rescript, the tragcal re-
opening of the Dreyfus case, the Anglo
German agreement, the reconquest of the
Soudan. the massacre of British troops in
Crete, and the dismissal of Ii Hung Chang
from the Chinese foreign office. Were all
compressed into the fortnight ending to-
day and all are still as keenly debated as
on the day which saw their birth.
The more closely the czars rescript is
scrutiniZed the more people here are con-
firmed in the belief that it is the outcome
of Anglo-American friendship. which is
patent to everyone and the more rapid
growth of Anglo-German cOrdiality, which
has been in the air for 4, year past.
The secretary of state for the colonies
Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain, when interviewed
on his arrival at New York, voiced the
sentiment prevailing, when he remarked
that there was something peculiar about
disarmament proposals coming from such
source at such time. In short, II is re-
garded here as u lullaby intended TO lure
Great Britain back to the policy Of drift,
from which Russia's overt acts OF un-
friendliness threatened to cause her to
diverge.
Much greater faith is placed in the pending
negotiations between London and St. Pet
ersburg which presage a friendly agree
| ment in regard to China, than in the cZar's
millennium.
As for Germany's real opinion. in spite of
| official platitudes and sympathy Emperor
| Williams speech at Potsdam on September
| s, when he announced that the best Sc
curity for peace was the maintenance OF
| a standing army ever ready for action, does
nrra ion ~
| universal disarmament 1t is, in effect, the
| burial bell of the cars rescrlpt.
1t is difficult at distance, to realize the
| heayipess Of the blow the Russian Utopian
| proposal has dealt France and Frencnmen.
| The latter now see how lightly their ally
| regards obligations to them, and all hopes
| and illusions in regard to the lost provinces
| have been dissipated in a moment. The
| shock has been so rude that Russia has
| deemed it wise to try to soften it, by
| launching a suggestion for q compromise,
| whereby Alsace-Lorraine would be neutral
| lied; thus establishing zone between
France and Germany, and apparently re-
| moving the necessity for extensive arma-
| ments. The scheme is equally as prIctica-
| BILE as the cars peace pyrotechnics. French
| self-eSteem Will never consent TO give up
| its aspirations, while Germany still holds
| to Marshal Won Moltkes belief that Alsace-
| Lorraine is necessary for the security of the
! western boundary of the German empire.
| The Saturday Review dubs the Anglo
German agreement new humiliation and
says:
party, has qualified himself to betray his
| country"
Continuing, the Saturday Review adds:
But still more sinister influences are at
| work. They have thrust aside France in
favor of Germany. There is a power in
the English court which is exercising con-
tinual pressure on the government. That
poWsr, being German. works sedulously in
favor of Germany. Thereto, no doubt, We
owe the rumored alliance. But this is a
free country and this influence will not be
much longer permitted TO misdirect the
foreign policy of England We are not
speaking more strongly than the situation
demands when we remind the court and
Mr.. Chamberlain that the people who
have dethroned dynasties before will deal
harshly with the party which is betray-
ing England's interests now
Copyright, 1898. by the Associated Press)
BERLIN, Sept. 10.-The news of the i'm
portant understanding arrived at between
Germany and Great Britain has caused a
sensation The matter enprossed nnbItc
attention throughout the week. The first
reports were so exaggerated as to draw out
formal denials from the government here,
which seriously feared that, if such over
drawn versions of the affair obtained ere
dence, Germany's friendly relations with
Russia would be endangered.
| The correspondent of the Associated
Press has had several interviews with the
foreign Office officials authorized by the
government TO discuss the subject. The
most significant statement was made by an
official who has the full confidence of the
minister for foreign affairs, Baron Won
| Buelow. 1t was as follows:
tween England and Germany on certain
points which have long been under discus
sion and on some new questions. The agree
wide-reaChing nature represented by the
newspapers Ghe reports in the English
! newspapers are mostly guessworkl. the
| u-iS hainor father the thought. There
have been many questions in dispute, such
as Togoland. in Southwest Africa. These
which might have caused difficulty in the
future, such as Delagoa bay and joint
loan TO Portugal.
.The significance of the agreement. how
| ever does not lie in the Importance of the
subject matter; but in the fact that il
furnishes the basis for more cordial rela-
, | tions The emperors telegram was doubt
less sent after he had knowledge of the
completion of the agreement and as in
| dicative of his intent to carry out the
, snirit of the new understanding. The
, agreement will improve the relations eX-
isting between the two countries. There
was dark spot in the political relations OF
tho two nations in South Africa. which has
D row been removed. and all fears of I'M
t pleasant relations there may now be dis
; II Will be observed that the German Off.
, cials carefully avoid the use of the worl
: treaty.
The news of the understanding between
Germany and Great Britain received
with mixed feelings The Liberal press
which naturally gravitates toward Great
Britain greetS II with outspoken friendli
ness while the Conservative and pan-Ger
man newspapers express fear that II may
prove another edition of the Caprivi agree
ment regarding Zanzibar which is stii
greatly condemned by the whole press
| Hopes are also expressed that the agree
| ment may not mean the complete abandon
e | ment of the Beers and German influence
{ | In South Africa.
! Even the Vosssche Zeitung. which other
z | wise halls joyfully the news of a better un
y | derstanding with Great Britain, says tn,
+ | surrender of Germany'S influence in Soutl
| Africa would be fraught with evil, though
| it admits that the Transvaal republic ha!
| disappointed its German friends.
There is much curiosity here in regard Il
r Germany's quid pro quo: but. in spite Of th
/, | daily demands of the press for the publica
!. ton of the terms, the government does no
d intend to reveal them, both cabinets ndvin;
!; agreed upon secrecy. Germany, naturally
: is greatly interested in the Portuguese
l. loans of which she already holds l6l, ,oO0. 90
]. marks. For seven years Portugal has onl,
n paid a third of the interest due, meaning
loss 10 her German creditors of 1900, 90
marks.
a high official tells the correspondent @
\ the Associated Press that the agreemen
:. between Great Britain and Germany wa
L a necessary preliminary to their joining tn
~ czar's conference. In regard to the latter
d a member OF the Russian emoassy says
h | does not expect an early conference and h
Il admits the possibility of one or more G
. the powers refusing to join, in which cas-
s | it would be dropped.
% -
Turn About-"How much longer will
d | have to wait on you?" asked the impatien
/. | man of the busy clerk. I'm Il few minute
| ;pUn