Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-11


which it was my recent privilege to have
with his majesty the German en,7eror.
| do SO in the hope that it may help
to remove that obstinate misconcepton of
the character of the kaiser's feelings to-
ward England which, fear. is deeply
rooted in the ordinary Englishmans
breast. 1t is the emperor's sincere wish
that it should be eradicated. He has
given repeated proofs of his desire by
word and deed.
But, to speak frankly his patience is
sorely tried. now that he finds himself so
continually misrepresented, and has so
often experienced the modification of
finding that any momentary Improvement
of relations is followed by renewed out
bursts of prejudice and prompt return
to the old attitude OF suspicion.
As have said. his majesty honored me
with a long conversation, and spoke with
impulsive and unusual frankness.
" on English he said. ARE mad, mad,
mad as March hares. What has come
given over TO suspicious quite unworthy
of a great nation? What more can
do than l have done?
Il declared with all the emphasis at
my command in my speech at Guildhall
that my heart is set upon peace, and that
1t is one of my dearest wishes to live on
the best of terms with England. Have l
ever been false to my word? Falsehood
and prevarication alien to my nature.
My actions ought to speak for them
selves, but you listen not to them, but
to those who misnterpret and distort
them. That is a personal insult which
feel and resent. To be forever misjudged
to have my repeated offers of friendship
weighed and scrutinized with. Jealous
mistrustful eyes, taxes my patience Sc
verely.
Il have said time after time that I am
friend of England, and your press-or.
at least considera BILE section of it-bids
the people of England refuse my prof
fered hand. and insinuates that the other
holds dagger. How can l convince a
nation against its wll?"
Is Friend of England.
Il repeat continued his majesty that
am the friend of England, but you make
things difficult for me. My task is not of
the easiest The prevailing sentiment
among large sections of the middle and
lower classes of my own people is not
friendly to England.
Il am. therefore, so to speak, in a mi
nor1ty in my own land, but it is minor
1ty of the best elements just as it is in
England with respect to Germany That
IS another reason why / resent your re-
fusal to accept my pledged word that 1
am the friend of England. 1 strive with
out ceaslng to improve relations. and YOU
retort that / am your arch-enemy You
make 1t very hard for me. Why is it?"
Thereupon / ventured to remind his
majesty that not England alone. but the
whole of Europe had viewed with disan
allowing the German consul to return
from Tangier to Fee. and in anticipatine
the joint action of France and Spain by
suggesting to the powers that the time
mad come for Europe to recognize Muley
Hafid as the new Sultan of Morocco.
|. His majesty made gesture of impa-
thence.
Yes" he said. that is an excellent ex-
ample OF the way in which German ac-
ton is misrepresented. First then as re-
CARDS the journey of DIR. VasseI. The
German government, in sending DR.. Vas
sci back to his post at Fec, was only
guided by the wish that he should look
after the private interests of German sub
protection after the long absence of
consular representative. And why not
send him?
Are those who charge Germany with
having stolen march on the other DOW
ers aware that the French consular renre-
sentative had already been in Fee for
several months when DR.. Vassel set out :?
Ihen as to the recognition of MuIey
Hafid
The press of Europe has complained
with much acerbity that Germany ought
not to have suggested his recognition un-
til he had notified to Europe his full ac-
ceptance of the act of Algeciras. as being
binding upon him as Sultan of Morocco
and successor of his brother
MY answer is that Muley Hafid notified
the powers to that effect weeks ago. be-
fore the decisive battle was fought He
sent, as far back as the middle of last
July an Identical communication to the
governments of Germany, France and
Great Britain. containing an explicit ac-
acknowledgement that he was prepared to
recognize all the obligations toward Eu-
rope which were incurred by Abdul Aziz
during his sultanate.
The German government interpreted
that communication as a final and au-
thortative expression of Muley Hafid's
intentions. and therefore they considered
that there was no reason to wait until he
had sent a second communication before
recognizing him as the de facto sultan Of
Morocco. who had succeeded to his BROTH
ers throne by right of victory in the
field
Attitude of the Press.
| suggested to his majesty that an i'm
portant and influential section of the Ger
man press had placed a very different in
depreciation upon the action of the Ger