The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-07-26

firmly believe that for commercial rea- |
sons Germany would never seek quar-
rel with US. / will agree with them so |
far as to say that / do not believe that
a war with England would be popular
amongst the bourgeois of Germany on
the other hand, they would be quite |
powerless to prevent it. The emperor !
and his ministers have the affair in
| their own hands. \ slight break In
our diplomatic relations, some trifie
seized hold of by the press and magni-
| fed at once into an insult, and the war
| torch is kindled. Today war does not I
come about by the slowly growing de-
sire of nations. The threads of fate are
in the hands of a few diplomatists at
Berlin and London-a turn of the wrist,
and there is tension which breath can
! turn either way. You ask me why the
emperor should choose England for at
tack There are many reasons: first,
| because England alone could repay him
for the struggle; secondly, because he
| is intensely and miserably jealous of
our own king, who has avoided all his
own hot-headed errors, and has yet
played a great and individual part in
the worlds affairs; thirdly, because
England is most easily attacked. /
could give you other reasons II you
wanted Them
! Quite enough" Duncombe answered.
What do you suppose would be the
casus belli?"
The progress of the Russian fleet
| through English waters" Lord Run
ton answered promptly. "Russia's in
terest in such misunderstanding
would be. of course, immense. She has
only to fire on an English ship, by mis-
take. of course, and the whole fat
| no ir,t no firp England nrnh1 hlV
would insist upon the squadron being
detained Germany would protest
| against any such action. We might
very well be at war with Russia and
Germany within ten days. Russia
would Immediately either make terms
with Japan, or abandon any active op-
eratiOns in Manchuria and move upon
India Germany would come for us"
rs this all purely imagination"
Duncombe asked, "Or have you any
thing to go On?'
so far as l am concerned" Lord
Runton said slowly, Il, of course, know
nothing. But have a strong idea that
the government have at least a sus-
picion of some secret understanding
between Russia and Germany. Their
preparations seem almost to suggest
Il. OF course. we outsiders can only
guess, after all, at what is going on.
but il seems to me that there is a
chance today for our government TO
achieve a diplomatic coup"
In what directiOn?"
IAN alliance with France. Mind, /
am afraid that there are insurmount-
able obstacles, but if 1t were possible
it would be checkmate to our friend
the emperor, and he would have moth
ing left but to climb down. The trou-
BILE is that in the absence of any def
| mite proof of an understanding between
| Russia and Germany, France could not
break away from her alliance with the
| former. Our present arrangement would
insure, l believe, a benevolent neutral
ity, but an alliance, if only it could be
compassed would be the greatest dip
lomatic triumph of our days. HullOi
Visitors at this hour. Wasn't that your
front door bell, DuncOmbe?"
1T sounded like it," DuncOmbe an
swered Perhaps it is your man"
Like his cheek. if it ISL Lord Run
! ton answered. rising to his feet and
| strOlling toward the sideboard. Il told
him l would telephone round to the
| stables when l was ready. / suppose
| it is rather late. though 1 shan't apollo
gize for keeping you up"
Il hope you won't" Duncombe an
swered. I have never been mode in
| terested in my life-for many reasons.
Don't bother about your man. Groves
will see to him. Help yourself TO an
other whisky and soda, and |ome and
sit down"
There was knock at the door, and
the butler appeared.
There are three gentlemen outside,
sir. who wish to see you" he an
nounced to Duncombe. They will not
give their names, but they say that
their business is important, or they
would not have troubled you so late"
Duncombe glanced at the clock 1t
was past midnight.
Three gentlemen" he repeated, lat
this time of night. But where on earth
have they come from, Graves"
"They did not say, SIR" the man an
swered. "One of them I should judge
to be a foreigner. They have motor
car outside"
Lord Runton held out his hand.
well, it's time I was off, anyhow
he remarked Come over and have
lunch tomorrow. Don't bother about
me- I'll stroll round to the stables and
start from there Good night"
Duncombe hesitated. He was on the
point of asking his friend to stay. but
before he could make up his mind Run
ton had lit a cigarette and strolled
away.
You can show the gentlemen In
here, Groves" Duncombe said.
VERY good, SIR
The man disappeared. Duncombe,
after a moments hesitation, crossed
the room. and opening an oak cup
board, slipped a small revolver into his
| pocket.