Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-15
KAISER SORRY
HE BLUNDERED
FORCED FRENCH-ENGLISH AL
LANCE
German Diplomats Regret Bullying OF
France Last June-NeW Triple
Alliance Is Now an
ImpossibiIty
Special Cable to The Herald.


LONDON, Oct. Alt has become
abundantly clear this week that it is
Germany's earnest desire to form new
triple alliance of Russia, France ana
herself 1t is equally clear that her
efforts will meet with failure, If for no
other reason, because of her egregious
blunder in bullying France last June.
She bitterly repents her folly ON that
occasion 1t is difficult to say which
was more stupid her attempt then TO
frighten France away from England
or her present clumsy overtures of
friendship.
Chancellor Won Buelow has been the
principal contributor to the Paris press
this week, and the burden of his COM
munications has been to show how
really cordial are the German sentt-
ments and German policy toward
France. The effect of his utterances
has again been the opposite of what
was expected.
The French press almost tells him
with one voice that tEey will neither
be bullied nor cajoled. The leading
Paris journals go further. Count Won
Buelow's Establishments have melted
them to publish full details of the
kaiser's savage campaign against
France. with the implication of war in
connection with the Morocco incident.
dispatches to American newspapers
point by point as it occurred, but the
European press has remained silent re-
garding its most sensational features
on account of the critical nature of the
situation. It's publication now arouses
intense resentment in France, and it
is quite sufficient to cancel any over
lures Germany may make.
The announcement of Great Britain's
DrOO1nt offer TO iOiO forces with
France the moment Germany should
make a hostile move has greatly
strengthened popular friendship for
England among the French people.
The weeks developments furnish
another evidence of the amazing ignor-
ance of German diplomacy in attempt
ing to deal with self-governing peo-
pie. 1t seems hardly credible that a
man OF Won BueloW's or the kaiser's
political cleverness should imagine that
the overtures they are now making
would succeed when the memory of
their threats of last June is still fresh
in the minds of all Frenchmen.
They did succeed, however, in win
ming Russia's consent for a new drei-
bund as an offset to the AngloJapan-
ese alliance. Russia, through Foreign
Minister Lamsdorff, urged France to
consent to some form Of combination.
M. ROuvier, the French prime minis
ter. has sufficient wisdom and inde-
pendence to reply Categorically that
France under no circumstances would
consent to the inclusion of Germany
in the present alliance. On the other
hand, he urged Russia to seek a better
understanding with Great Britain and
offered his good offices to this end.
The French reply was so emphatic
that the idea has been abandoned at
st. Petersburg, but Germany apparent
ly has not yet given up hope.
The German attitude at the present
moment, however, almost suggests that
her policy is adrift. She will. of course
make every effort to secure an indie
pendent entente with Russia, otherwise
she will become hopelessly isolated.
Most of all will she strive to pre-
vent a rapproaChement of Russia and
Great Britain, for that would mean
the defeat of all the kaiser's amb-
tions.
The situation is one of the most in
tense interest and gravest Importance in
its influence on future history. The de-
sire of France to bring Russia and
Great Britain together has many sup
porters in this country The present
government would welcome such a de-
velopment, and would go far toward
seeking it's realization. French influence
at st. Petersburg, however was appre-
C1ably weakened during the war, While
Germany gained peculiarly strong
position there.
There is little doubt that the kaiser
would gladly supplant France in a dual
alliance with Russia if 1t could be ac-
complished when he has realized, as
soon he must that a triple alliance is
Then the czar must choose
between French and British friendship
on the one hand and a combination of
Germany with the doubtful support of
Austria Hungary on the other. No
one can forecast the czars decision
under such circumstances.
A wise, peace-loving statesman
would scarcely fail to stick to his pres
ent ally, but the kaiser's personal in
huence with his imperial cousin Is an
factor in the situation.