The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-11-19
THE KAISER MUZZLED.


THE KAISER MUzzLED.
The climax of the squabble over the
interview of the German Kaiser has
reached its zenith by the promise OF
the emperor to his subjects that ne
will not again engage in international
proceedings without first consulting
with his ministry, and that henceforth
all diplomatic utterances will proceed
from the diplomatic channels.
It is a little hard for an American 10
understand the circumstances which
have led up to this trouble. In brle1,
1t may be said to have been occasion
ed by the departure of the Kaiser
from the custom of his father and
grandfather in regard to his attitude
toward the ministry and particularly
the chancellor. 1t was the custom OF
both William | and Frederick Ill to
leave all the blood and iron" OF inter
national negotiation to his chancellor,
Bismarck. They went on the prlncl-
pie which is said to have been insti-
tuted by French marquis when he
said, II inculcate insolence in my lack
eys to save myself the trouble of be-
ing arrogant But the present Kaiser
has ever been unwilling to have his
chancellor as an intermediary. 1t will
be remembered that this was the main
cause Of the breach between him and
the Iron Chancellor. BismarK.
All has gone fairly smoothly until
the London Telegraph incident came
up. That in brief was the statement
of an Englishman in that paper, that
the Kaiser had expressed to him his
friendship for England and as proof
of 1t advanced the statement that he
had mapped out the successful CAM
paign for the English war Office which
Lord Roberts subsequently followed.
Nor is this all. He processes to have
frustrated a scheme by which the
French, German and Russian govern
ments were to have interviewed in the
Boer war and come to the aid of Kru-
ger. These are the main points,
Now comes one Mr.. Haldane and
says that war Office of Great Brit
ain lover which he presides) has never
heard of the campaign mentioned as
proposed by the German Kaiser and
that there is no such note as that i'm
perial gentleman describes reposing in
the archives, and more, he says it has
never been there
M. Delcasse of the French foreign
ONCE says on behalf of his government
that the statement that France con-
templated in the remotest way any
such Intervention as the Kaiser men
lions and says he averted, is utterly
without foundation.
Naturally, this places the German
foreign office in great state of ex.
citement, inasmuch as it had not been
consulted about any of it. The Ger
man press was not slow to realize that
this was a big story and they gave it
all the space 1t was worth. This had
the effect OF rousing the German peo-
pie, particularly the democratic party
and sources of discomfort,
1t is just possible that the Kaiser
may have had some Interior motive in
doing what he did. 1t has never been
believed that the Kaiser is absolutely
incapable. But whatever his object. he
has placed himself in a most embar-
RAISING position. The population which
he governs looks at him as one who
has made fool of himself. They de-
mand that he be removed from his
sphere OF unbridled interference with
international affairs
So less than a month after the in
terview In the London telegraph
which caused all the trouble, the Kais-
er is requested to withdraw. And he
has done So
One OF the most interesting of the
events which the trouble has brought
forth is the spectacle Of absolute sub
servience to the crown, which VIII
helms chancellor. Won Buelow, has
made before the world in his effort to
shield the Kaiser. His attitude ap-
parently that it was his duty to grovel
In the dust. This in reality made the
Germans much more indignant with
their Kaiser than If he had from the
first shouldered all the blame.
The question narrows down to
whether from now on the reign of
personal policy" is to continue; or
whether the empire as represented by
the chancellor is to have its share in
the government and the conduct Of in