New-York tribune., 1908-03-08
A COMEDY OF MANNERS
TWEEDMOUTH LETTER.
Importance Exaggerated. Because
T'rO Na1,af Factions 4re at Odds.
TSperiai by French Gable to The Tribune
ltnnHric hi lglA by The Tribune ASSoclatloh

by Gable to The Trlbuhe-I
copyright. 1905. by The Tribune Association
London March THE Importance OF the
Kaiser's letter to Lord Tweedmouth Is eHas-
gerated because there are two naval 1ac''ohs
fighting for supremacy, and any stick Is soou
enough for beating q rival sea dog Ihe power
full press gang which has been attacking Or
John Fisher has not hesitated to describe MN
as marplot whom the German Emperor mas
wished to keep in control of the BRUSH Az
mralty a long possible. 1t now mas prooi
) that the Kaiser has been in correspondence
with Lord Tweedmouth, and draws the inference
that he is repeating Bismarcks nsidious policy
of interfering with the domestic administration
of foreign countries.
A private letter from the Emperor to- any
body in the Admiralty an indiscretion'
since he might have known that all the naval
martinets would be gossiping about II ana
that there would be leakage into the press
If his object to convince the Admiralty 'ha'
it taking too serious view OF German
naval construction, and that 1t was unnecessary
to swell the cost of armaments. it was good ad-
vice from a suspicious quarter. like England
own offer to the Hague congress to suspend the
construction of single Dreadnought II there
could be a general scheme for disarmament,
Malcontents will seize the opportunity for as
sailing Sir John Fisher the man who is doing
the German Emperor's work in mismanaging
the British navy.
It is not an edifying sequel to the recent
efforts for improving the relations between Eng
land and Germany. While there is no evidence
that either Admiralty estimates or construction
plans were influenced by the letter, 1t Will be re-
scented as a meddlesome act. analogous to Bis
fnarck's intrgues for the control of the Foreign
Office through Lord Granville. 1t will be more
difficult than ever to convince the suspicious
Briton that Germany is not an enemy always to
be distrusted AS for Lord Charles Beresford
and the naval faction, 1t will have a Roman
holiday at Sir John Fishers expense even If it
turns out that the Emperor has resented Lord
Esher's inference that the downfall of a power
ful sea lord would be welcomed In Berlin.
The most practical of the many portentous
morals drawn by leader writer's to-day is that
j foreign sovereign ought to seek communication
with a friendly government through the only
proper channels, the diplomatic service and the
Foreign Office. The correspondence may show
that the Emperor indiscreet in honoFlng
any British official with confidence. or that
Lord Tweedmouth undignified in not re-
senting any interference, but the attempt to
make grave International crisis out of minor
questions of taste in comedy of manners is
distinctly farcical. l. N. f.
,Bv The Associated PressD
Williams letter TO Lord Tweedmouth in which, it
is charged his majesty made an attempt to in
ruence legislation the British naval estimates
is expected until Lord Tweedmouth makes MS
promised statement In the House of Lords next
Monday
There is much conjecture whether or not the
First Lord of the Admiralty will read what EN-
peror William wrote. Even II the substance OF
the letter is inorensive, the language may be SO
informal that the Emperor would prefer that 1t be
hofor he I
If is still held to-day that the immediate cause or
the Funeror's letter another letter written by
Lord Esher. who is close friend of King EDWARD
10 the Maritime League, in which ne said:
.There is not in Germany from the En-
ns-or downward who would not welcome the fail
of Sir John Fisher Sir John is Senior Naval Lord
Of the Admiralty
Hugh Cecil Lea Liberal member from St Pan
cras East has given notice OF a question 10 the
r,rer,.er which will conclude with the following
words: Having In view the number Of persons
to whom this letter has been shown and the inter
., y has for the country at large that under the
circumstances full publicity should be given to the
matter will he consent to lay the whoe OF ths
o-resnondence on the table and explain fully the
circumstances and facts connected with the pro-
ceed,nes?" Several other members have given no.
tice of similar questions
Reriin March TT was learned to-day that the
- +h.+ Emperor William had written letter to
ord Tweedrnouth was known to small circle
of Rerlin diplomats before The London Tines
,1rplis
neror told several persons close to him that he
haa written to Lord Tweedmouth. Official circles
here continue scout the inputaton that the En-
,aror tried to influence Great Brttains naval plans.
| The German government thinks that the publca-
+,on Of the letter would be the best way to dissi
maize the excitement among certain classes in Eng
iand The government explicitly declines however,
70 believe that the excited utterances in The
Times" and several other British newspapers rep
resent correctly the feeling OF the English people.
Decisive action the part OF the government ap-
narentlv is impeded by the Emperors absence at
WiIhemshaven-
Cologne March THE ''K0nische Zetung'
prints an inspired dispatch from Berlin rejecting
the satisfaction in Berlin political circles at the
nrornDtness with which the English people have
refused to accept The Times's' version of the
aror's letter, and saying that Germans can be
fIln,, satisfied with the comments on this subject
AZ a., r1rsfsh and other foreign newspapers.
.rbo 5,cnatch then refers to the position taken by
.o,ara, English papers that IL is improper for
monarch TO hold private correspondence with
iister of a foreign power. This dictum it
sorts is imuosSibe of acceptance IN so sweeping a
form In support of this 1t points to the memoirs
of ouoen Victoria. which contain correspondence
with foreign personages often touching political
matters The dispatch concludes with the
mont that nothing is known in Berlin with refer
.nce to the statement appearing in the English
newspapers that negotiations have been going
between the British and the German governments
for a mutual restriction Of warshp building plans.
-&--
WIlHELMiNA WOELFLING INSANE.
Vienna March 7.-Wihelmna Woelfing the
divorced wife of former Archduke Leopold Saliva
for has been removed n asylum The woman