Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-10-05
Mr.. KlPLlNG INTERVIEWED
Views Of the Famous Author on
World Politics.
Significance Of the Growth Of Anglo.
French lrlendshlp-A Crack Mt
German imperialism - Recent
Events In Russia.

|
her 20 prints an account of an interview
which NJ. Jules Hurct recently had with
Rudyard Kipling at the attcrs Sussex
home. The conversation opened with a
reference to the Anglo French entente
| cOrdialc.
| Mr.. Kipling asked "arc you not of opin-
ion that there are only two great powers
in Europe which are really free-Trancc
and England?"
| NJ. Tfuret agreed.
'Well." Mr.. Kipling continued "whcn
people have similar ideas they are we'll
on tho road to become friends"
You believe. then" said the interview
er. 'in the sincerity and permanence of
the entente cordialc?'
| "Assuredly." remarked Mr.. Kipling.
our two nations have had so much frc-
| ton all these centuries that their angles
have been rounded Off. The two coun-
tries have grown side by side like two
trees. Their mutual inclination is toward
the light, and what gives me faith in the
| efficacy OF the entente is that it In no
way depends upon governments. It has
| sprung among the people themselves. At
least that is how it is in England"
For long time" said Kipling, there
| existed among us vague sentiment of
fear on the subject of possible contingent
cies in a certain part of Europe. There
Caesarsm exists, and has become menace
ing. Against this retrograde and mcdiae-
| val spirit which has struggled with sue
cess against the forces of liberty there is
needed the counterpoise Of two great free
nations-England and France. Our two
countries have perceived this together
you do not imagine then" said the
| journalist. that a war could break out
between England and Germany in which
France might find itself mixed ur?''
| mot for moment" reioined the au-
| thor. 1--WE would have to be driven to
! war in spite Of ourselves"
"That would not be, you think, popu-
| lar in England?" said NJ Huret.
England is the least warlike Of ma
tions. No; We do not want war"
| NJ. Huret pointed to the idea current in
Europe as to the keen commercial riv-
airy between England and Germany.
| With a malicious twinkle from behind
his gold-rimmed glasses. Mr.. Kipling said.
Young business houses always over-ad-
vcrtise For twenty years ono has heard
of nothing but Germany: at least Germany
has done nothing but talk of herself. Let
| us take no notice Of advertising extrava-
| gances.'
| He continued: "T,iston All through
my childhood / lived in tho colonies and
every year am going to spend some time
| at the Cape because ! can see there the
| first chapter OF Genesis alive, the world in
| creation. a civilization which is being
| made out of fragments. I think then that
| I am entitled to speak MS an old colonial.
| Well Although Germany sends much to
| the Cape and India. large proportion OF
| this is overgilt mirrors tastelcss furn-
! ture. and cheap carpets. Even in the
absence of Il tariff that does not go far
at present to threaten English trade.
Later on. naturally, 1t will be possible to
deal with this matter
Moreover" he continued. do you think
| that n people can develop very far under
regime like that which exists. a me-
| diaeval regime" (he seemed to dwell on
| the word, which he repeated several
times.) "a theocratic autocracy in which
| God gives orders through the mouth OF
the monarch! Moreover. is it, after all.
so solid as all that-that autocracy?
| Here he paused, as If he feared to say too
much.
NJ Hurot asked IL It were not tho en-
| pcror who had created the German navy
and subvcntioned the steamship lines.
| rogative mood which he loves: What
do you think Of these recent events in
| Russia? Do YOU believe IL the Russian
empire were to break up. If the Austrian
emperor were to die. that something would
not also crac'. in the centre of Europe
as happens to tonrcau who's wheels
are grooming? What about Poland? And
| the socialists But. socialism apart do
YOU think that liberty as it is understood
in France and England could be impos-
sible in Germany?" He put tho question
as IL he did not expect n reply. NJ. Huret
however, remarked that. "monarchy or
republic. Germany would remain united
Germany. a new nation. overpeoplcd and
constrained by necessity to expand and
conquer
AR. Kipling replied with skcptical
| smile: "You really think that Gcrmnny's
future would he what it is mt present? Is
not its apparent solidity, after all. of
the made in Germany ORDER"
This terminated the interview proper.
but some interesting chat Of n general
nature is also given by NJ Huret. Mr.
Kiplins. speaking of French soldiers, de-
clared II love the French trooper. He
marches so splcndidly-from the hip--and
he manoouvrcs so swiftly" NJ Huret re-
minded him that the Germany army was
said to manoeuvrc superbly. oh" said
the author. with a serious air. "splcn-
dilly. superhly. extra ordinarily. They say
that in Africa, among the IIcreros. they
manoeuvre splendidly, so superbly so
| EXTRA ordinarily, that they don't seem to
catch anybody" And he laughed with a
boyish heartiness that communicated it.
self to his nearer.