The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1908-04-24

49, - nn,,st be within 48 hours OK
thav would not be permitted to pass
the border line. These discomn.eu
diplomats either FASTENED to the near.
est harbor, em%barking upon the las.
steamer leaving, or chose to remain
within the country.
The maritime nations OF Europe
aghast at what they termed the lnso.
lence Of the United States. discussed
means of bringing her to book anu
compelling her to open her roau'
.teads: but found a lack Of unanimlty
"a to method. Great Britain, jealous
Of Germany, but fearing q swift on
slaueht from the kaiser's realm, hesl'
tated to take the initiative and thus
leave her own coasts exposed to at
tack. France, with the memory OF an
earlier war, remained passive. Russia
smarting under the recollection OF ner
own defeat. refused to take any steps
which directly or indirectly might
aid Japan. And the smaller nations
awaited a leader.
England was placed in the most Pc
culiar and trying position OF all. ms
last official utterance OF the unlteo
states to a foreign power had been to
her. In the positive assertion nat,
come what might, she of all nations
need have no fear of being embro1led,
and that under no circumstances neeo
she ~apprehend war with America.
The English ambassador, who was
n of the last to take timely ao'
VANTAGE of his opportunity and seek
a emporary residence in Montreal
cabled his country q frank admission
that the policy of the United States
was completely beyond his compre'
hension, and that whatever OF the sltu'
alton might be known from personal
observation would be explained by his
secretary, Guy Hitler, due at any mo-
ment in London. The ears of Europe
were therefore open for such eommu-
nications as might be impaired by his
young man, who for the moment be-
came of paramount importance.
Thus it was that Hitler, arriving at
the Liverpool docks, found himself the
center of all interest. A swarm OF
newspape correspondents, more or
less distinguished in their profession,
sought interviews; but, warned In ad'
vance by wireless telegraph, he de-
| clined all conversation. The wharf
was black with people, who a%nxiously
craned their necks to catch sight OF
the man who was expected to eluci-
date the greatest mystery of the age.
A guard of constables formed a hollow
square round him and forced their
way up the long, tunnel-like shed lead.
ing to. the train which was to convey
him to London.
When he had gained his seat in a
compartment reserved for his use, and
the train whirled away past neatly
walled farms, prosperous villages and
| great cities, he wondered at the
strange trend of events which had
thrown him so prominently into the
foreground. He smiled in irony as he
reviewed his own actual knowledge OF
the situation, and realized how little
he had in the way of information in
comparison with what he was ex-
pected to divulge.
At Euston station he was escorted
to a carriage, and whistled a soft note
Of surprise as he recognized on the
panels the prime minister's coat of
arms. Plainly he was to be subjected
to what in America he had heard
called the Third Degree" Surrepti.
tious mods were interchanged by a
crowd of loungers, and such comments
as That's him!" and "'E's the bloke
watts goin' to tell US abaout it,"
'foated to him as the footman slammed
the door behind, mounted the box
and whipped the team into a gallop.
He was ushered into the sacred pre-.
cincts of the prime minister's private
chamber, and found awaiting not only
that important person but the foreign
secretary, and a lord of the admiralty
as well. The ponderously sealed
packet from his ambassador was torn
open and read aloud. 1t contained the
following startling statement from his
perturbed and irate superior:
II have the honor to inform your
lorG,ship that I am in a country evi.
IDENTIFY inhabited by maniacs. l have
pa%instakingly sought a logical expla.
nation for the acts Of this government,
and frankly admit that l am unable to
understand either its attitude toward
his majesty's government, its proposed
plan of campaign, or what the effect
of this var will be upon other nations.
l have been per~sistently refused any
intimation as to what has taken place
or is Intended In a personal inter.
view with his excellency, the presi.
dent of the United States, I have been
positively informed that his country
will under no circumstances permit
any demonstration against Great Brit.
ain, but that it may become necessary
to, suspend intercourse for q time. I
cannot tell what is meant by this, nor
would he give me further information.
The attitude of the administration,
backed up by congress, is that Of su.
preme egotism and self-suficiency,
despite the position taken by the PEG.
pie and the press, as shown in news.
papers which are SEN herewith. In