Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-05-09
Tuesday, May 9, 1905.
EUROPE Is GUESSING.
Emperor William Has Everybody
Badly Puzzled.

Badly Puzzled.
The danger to European peace in
volved In the general attitude OF Ger
many continues to cause serious anx-
iety to the governments Of all the
great powers, says London cable to
the New York Sun. The questions
which the diplomatic world Is consid-
ering are: Is the kaiser deliberately
seeking a quarrel, or has he a definite
object in view which he is determined
TO accomplish even at the cost Of war?
In other words, is the dispute in re-
gard to Morocco a mere pretext, or Is
Germany seriously determined to pre-
vent the execution OF the real pur-
pose of the Morocco agreement?
That purpose as first made public
In the Sun In September, 1908, Is vir-
tually to put Morocco in French con-
troll as completely as Egypt Is In Eng
lish. The Suns original publication
called out an emphatic official denial,
yet the announcement was absolutely
true then and is true now.
Germany believes that the proposals
which the French embassy at Fez will
make to the sultan provide practical
prctectorate. 1t may safely be assert
ed that Germany Is prepared to resist
this development to the point of war
IL necessary.
France will not persist in her de-
signs at the present time In the face
of such consequences. She has never
publicly avowed such a purpose and,
therefore, no loss of prestige is involv-
ed in its temporary abandonment.
Germany will have succeeded In saw
ing Moroccan independence for the
time being, but II Is not victory
whereof she can boast, because France
has steadily declared that her policy
included both the open door and the
independence of the sultan.
There are many In this country ana
In other parts Of the world who will
not regret this check to French de-
signs to acquire the northwest corner
of Africa, and II this Is the kaisers
sole purpose, the disinterested portion
of the world will not criticize him Sc
verely. There are few, however, In
diplomatic circles who credit him with
such simple, almost altruistic, designs
His attitude, and especially the attl-
tude of the inspired German press, is
bitterly antagonistic, even more
against England than against France.
IT Is no less than the truth to admit
that English opinion, though not so
freely expressed, sincerely recipro-
Gates German sentiment. II similar
wave of anti-German anger should
sweep over France there could be only
one result. Nobody knows this better
than Emperor William, and the sus-
picion that he Is wiling that such a
situation should arise, II not tacitly
melting 1t, Is in the minds OF many
public men at the present moment.
On the other hand 1t is difficult to be-
lieve that the kaiser would welcome
such a coalition against him as would
be certain to result II the present ten
denotes go on unchecked.
War. II it should come, would almost
certainly see France and England In
the same camp. Germany might cas-
lily prove to be more than military
match for France even with such help
as Great Britain would be able to give,
but the German navy could not stand
against the combined British and
French fleets.
1t is difficult. therefore, to believe
that the kaiser would deliberately in
volve himself In such conflict 1t Is
well known that he deeply resents the
Anglo French entente, but his present
policy tends to solidify it as nothing
else could. He Is one Of the shrewdest
of statesmen, and hence this feature OF
his course greatly puzzles diplomatists.
1t Is generally recognized that he Is
playing a deep game for some great
stake. Nobody can say as yet with
confidence what that stake Is. The |
next development will perhaps be dis |
closed In Chancellor Won Buelow's |
speech in the Reichstag next Wednes- |
day or by the kaiser himself at Grave
lotte on the following day. Those |
who expect the emperor to indulge In
more bellicose talk will probably be
disappointed. Whatever his real de-
signs may be, the kaiser will certainly |
seek to avoid the appearance OF threat
ening to destroy the worlds peace.
There was acute alarm yesterday,
due chiefly to renewed reports that M.
Delcasse, the French minister OF for
eign affairs. would soon retire. These
are emphatically denied today, but II
must be said that the present French
premier is not a statesman OF great
abilities or strength of character, and
much depends upon the genuineness
Of his support Of the Foreign minister.
NJ. Bouvier is a man whose prominence
i'm French affairs at the time OF the
Panama scandal twelve years ago did
not enhance his reputation, and he Is
far from an ideal leader for time
of serious crisis like the present.
The financial world continues to be
seriously affected by the political cris-
is. The fall of consols below 80 when
business conditions were most favor
able Is of serious significance. London
financiers are agreeably surprised at
the comparative steadiness or the Par-
Is Bourse.
Leading bankers today express the
fear that there is a basis OF truth Tor |
the report of M. Delcasse'S impending |
retirement and the consequent serious
weakening OF the French government.
None profess to understand the at
titude of the kaiser whose capacity |
for mischief has filled them with ap-
prehension.