Omaha daily bee., 1908-03-10
TEMPEST In TEAPOT
Lord Rosebery's Characterization Of
Row Over Kaiser's Letter.
BLAME FOR YELLOW PRESS
Country is Accused Of Making Itself
Ridiculous Over Affair.
TEXT WILL NOT BE GIVEN OUT
Cabinet Announces that the Incident
is Closed.
VIEW
ACCEPTS
OPPOSITION
Lord TweedmOuth Consulted Sis
Edward Grey Before Replying
20 Message from the

LONDON, March Scs. .ie government has
decided to keep priva, q ~ PERSONAL letter
written by Emperor "a to LORD
Tweedmouth, first lord n admiralty
in which II was charged z NJ LONDON
Times that his majesty a, y Y to IN
fluenee legislation in the ma ~ naval
estimates Of Great Britain. I. =, rs de-
cision, which was announced in ises
Of Parliament this evening. win easss the
country remains to be seen. As Bal our
speaking for the opposition. endorsed the
policy of the cabinet II may be predicted
that the public may consider the incident
closed,
The remark made by Lord Roseberry
that the nation was making Itself ridiou-
lous over this affair finds much support
The discussion today was brief and dry
All the participants proceeded as II they
were walking on eggs, for criticism OF the
ruler OF another nation is a delicate busi-
ness. The fact that Lord Tweedmouth
consulted Sir Edward Grey, the foreign
secretary. before replying to Emperor VIII
Hams letter. was the only new fact brought
out, and It goes far 10 diminish the crlt-
csm Of Lord Tweedmouth because II re-
lieves him of all suspicion Of anything re-
sembling disloyalty to the interests Of the
navy.
The character Of Emperor williams let
ter Is now generally understood. The
speciest passage is believed to be the refer
ence 20 Lord Esher--that he had better
occupy himself with drainpIpes and keep
his hands off the navy. Lord Esher was
engaged in improving the drainage system
Of Windsor castle when Emperor William
was there Recently.
An amusing feature of the affair is that
all the sensational newspapers Of London
are lecturing the Times for its sensation
alIsm in exploiting the story.
Letters VIII Not ne Given out.
The hope that the letter sent last month
by Emperor william Of Germany to Lord
Tweedmouth, first lord of the admiralty.
in which It has been charged his majesty
attempted to Influence Great Britain's
naval ostlmates and the British minister's
reply thereto would be made public for the
edification OF the people, was quickly dis
PEELED by Mr.. Asquith. chancellor of the
exchequer, IN the House of Commons this
afternoon.
In couple OF curt sentences Mr.. Asauith.
who was acting as premier told A. ]. Bal
four and his other questioners that he had
nothing TO add to his statement Of Friday,
and that so far as he knew Tweedmouth
had nothing, to add 10 his declaration be-
yond the fact that Immediately upon the
receipt of Emperor williams letter the
first lord OF the admiralty showed II to
Sir Edward Grey, the foreign secretary.
who agreed with the recipient that the let
ter had no official character and should
be treated as a private communication.
Later. In the House OF Lords. the first
lord OF the admiralty was somewhat more
communicative, but he threw no light on
the real contents Of the correspondence
He did. however. describe the letter from
Emperor william as quite informal and
very friendly.
lord Tweedmouth expressed surprise al
what he called the extraordinary out
burst of the press" during the last few
days in connection with this matter. Con-
tinuine. he vouehsafed the information
that he had on several occasions received
letters from the German emperor which
had come IN the ordinary way through
the postoffice. The particular letter now
under discussion was a private and per
sonal one, Lord Tweedmouth declared
very friendly in tone and quite informal
The feature Of the session In the House
OF Lords was speech by Lord Rosebery
who had the prince OF Wales in a seat be-
side him. The former premier made an
attack upon the yellow Journalism OF
England. with special reference to the in.
ferences drawn by the London Times from
the letters. I'VE have witnessed" Lorc
Esosebery said, "the whole world drawing
the absolutely insane inference that thC
German emperor was attempting TO influ.
ence Lord Tweedmouth, with the view Of
cutting down the naval estimates and check
ing the Increase OF British armaments The
country has been placed in an unseemlS
and ridiculous position, and 1 am quite sur,
the idea mentioned never entered Emperor
Williams head or the head of any educated
person entitled to remain outside of a luna.
tic asylum.
There 10 a section OF the press which
seems anxious TO create bad feeling betweer
these two countries. and there is an i'm.
presslon abroad that because Great Britain
has arrived at a friendly feeling will
France, 1T should be hostile to Germany
This section OF tho press took up this trivia
,sncident to excite morbid suspicious between
7 Nthe two countries. suspicious which. in my
opinion. gradually are developing int,
danger for the peace Of Europe"
''Thoughtfpl observers" said Lord Rose
berry. should not overlook the fact tha
the German army OF 100000 men repre-
sent practically the German nation. Re
fore any German government however
powerful, would be able 10 declare war OF
any country, Il must have the support o.
this nation behind H. and il could onl,
have the support OF the German nation n
a war against Great Britain when the feel
Ing OF the nation had been so exasperateC
ss 70 render a continuance OF peaceful con
ditions impraotieable"
Incident a. Closed.
So far as the British government is con.
cernod. the statements made this Afternoon
IN the House Of Commons and the Hous.
Of Lords IL regarded as closing the incident
OF Emperor Williams letter TO Lord Tweed
mouth. There Is no truth in the report thai
an exchange OF views is going on between
the two governments concerning this core
spondence or dealing with a possible reduc
tion in naval ornaments. The suggestion
which has been advanced IN several quar-,
CONTINUED on seOond Passl