The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-23

Has a Free Hand NOW-German En-.
peror Apparently Considers Exhaustion
Of Russia as His Opportunity 70 Still
Up Trouble, Especially Between Eng,
land and FrAnce-Rritlsh Sentiment
strong Against KalSer's Aggression
Peace Of Europe Rests With war Lord
Special CdHs D'Ipatehs5 10 THE Sun.
LONDON, April 22.-Two or three times
within dozen years Europe has been on the
verge Of a great war and has been unaware
Of the imminent danger until the crisis has
passed. There was such a moment when
Lord Rosebery delivered an ultimatum to
France in the siamese dispute. There was
another such moment in the Fashoda In
cidsnt Yesterday a similar peril menaced
European peaoe. and to-day the crisis Is
still unsolved, although diplomacy takes
heart again from the news that NJ Del
Case, the French Minister Of Foreign Az
fairs, has withdrawn his resignation.
Some idea OF the nature and gravity Of
the crisis may be gained from a brief ex-
tract from letter to The SONS London COR
respondent from a person holding a high
diplomatic position on the Continent. He
writes:
you know that I am rarely pessimistic;
to-day l must confess that am. When
PEOPLE will not negotiate and say. never
tbsless that they are dissatisfied, it looks as
II they meant mischief. II Rojestvensly
IL sent TO the bottom, God knows what may
happen
These words may Be cryptic 70 those who
hSEO not followed closely the recent devel-
opments Of European politics. Let It be
remembered that Germany has quietly
aeowGged Russia 70 pursue the war TO-
uaFd the point Of partial exhaustion. The
lOsS Of Admiral ROjestvenSky's feet would
render her practically impOtent 90 far as
any new enemy is concerned.
What IL more obvious than the opportunity
thus created for. the Kaiser TO nsh In troubled
wGtersi What could be palmer from his
recent action than his intention to take the
fullest advantage Of this opportunity
His gratuitous interference in Morocco is
now fullyreco gnized by France and England
as part Of a deep mAlevolent plan to breed
international strife. It is directed as much
against one country as the other. 1t is his
Epitefm reply {" the Anglo-French entente,
which he resents ID hopes to destroy.
NJ. Deloassd and Lord Lansdowne, the
French aud British Ministers Of Foreign
Affairs respectively, understood the man
euver from the first. The former desired
to ignore 1t as blum, thus putting upon
Germany the onus Of any fresh aggression.
Premier Rouvisr's new Ministry were
alarmed by Germany's threatening attitude
and wished to propitiAte her by nego-
tiation.
NJ. Delcasse yielded 10 the extent Of as
suring Germany that he was willing to give
the fullest explanation Of the French policy
and intentions. Germany replied with a
bitter newspaper campaign against France
and England and the suggestion Of the ap-
pointment Of an international commission
In reference to Morocco which would ignore
the French understanding In regard To that
country.
This would have been equivalent 10 can
ceiling this agreement, and NJ. Delcasse
would not consent 10 abandon the French
position. The support Of his colleagues
was 90 lukewaTm that the Foreign Minister
10 resign.
It was q weak and dangerous action on
the part Of the greatest Of European dip
except 20 far as It Il justified by
results Had be retired, Germany would
have had q sIsnAl diplomatic victory and e
would have led 20 far reaching consequences
in European history. It was indeed the
thing most hoped for among the effects Of
the Berlin Vaccinations.
NJ. Delcasse, however, retains bis post
With q free hand. This he demanded as an
absolute condition Of the retention Of his
portfolio, and Il Il a good thing for France,
"A for the rest Of the world, that full author
ity has been granted him in foreign affairs.
Ills retirement at this critical moment
would have been an irTeparable blow TO
the cause Of peace.
The world scarcely appreciates lie in
debtedness 20 this man for his great SER
vices for the past seven years. He has
done for France almost - valuable work a.
John Hay has for the United States. MoiS
than once both men have Sverted compl-
cations In the present war which would
almost inevitably have caused Il TO spread
into a general conflict. He has been a
true captain Of peace In Europe just a.
Secretary Hay has been In America and
King Edward in Great Britain.
These three men, indeed, form a peace
'riumvirate which may yet carry the world
safely through the grave crisis now pend