The Washington herald., 1908-03-10
PEERS CROWD HOUSE
London Anxious tc Hear Lord
TweedmOuth Speak.
AMBASSADOR REID IS THERE
Prince of Wales Among Those on
Floor, Paying One of Infrequent
Nisits-<aiser's Att Is Out
Iined-Said to Feel HLy that He Is
Not Taken at His word.

London. March s.-If anytB IL we're
needed TO demonstrate the de, nd uni
versal interest in tue Kaiser Incident it
would be furnished by the scene In the
House Of Lords tonight
IN anticipation Of Lord Tweedmouth's
statement, the peers attended in most un-
usual numbers, and Jostled one another
at the entrances like a theater crowd.
The Prince of Wales who, it is under
stood, is going to visit his imperial cousin
at Berlin in a fortnight took the occa-
sion TO make one of his comparatively
infrequent appearances in the House. He
exchanged greetings with many of the
peers as he passed TO his seat. which was
next TO that OF Lord Rosebery. with
whom he became Immediately engrossed
in conversation.
The women's gallery was packed with
me wives Of the peers and the female
relatives and friends. The space allotted
10 foreign diplomats was overfilled.
Ambassador Reid There.
Ambassador Reid. by early attendance,
obtained good place. where he was
soon between his OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Several diplomats were unable to get into
the House at all. A crowd outside the
open door stood on tip-tOe TO see and
hear. The space provided for nOnpeer
ministers. privy councillors. and members
Of the House of Commons was uncom-
fortably crowded.
When Lord Tweedmouth rose not a
whisper broke the intense expectant 81
lence. and. except for occasional cries of
Hear hear" and cheers from the peers
themselves. the attentive quietude was
unbroken throughout
When Lord Rosebery returned TO his
seat. after his speech. everybody craned
TO see who would follow him, but no
fresh speaker rising, the tension was
broken, and AT an outburst of general
chatter the excited crowd OF onlookers
melted away. The Prince Of Wales then
went TO Lord Tweedmouth and cOnversed
with him animatedly for some time.
The Kaiser's Attitude.
The following. from an authoritative
source in Berlin, describes the Raiser's
ATTITUDE on the discussions in Great Brit
ain on the development OF the German
navy:
The Emperor thinks it extremely unjust
that in the English press responsibility for
the increase in the material expenditures
involved by the augmentation Of arma-
ments has always been laid at Germany's
door during the past eight years.
The German naval programme was de-
cided upon in 1900 and Germany has
strictly adhered 90 il since then. in spite
of the demands of the German Navy
League. All she has done has been TO
replace her old ships Germany is only
=.
ments for defense Of her trade, and Great
Britain is free to lay down as many ships
yearly as she wants and nobody has a
right to say a word to her.
The Emperor. it is declared. feels him
self so much an Englishman that ne
doubly rcsents the doubts cast upon Ger
manys sincerity Of motive. seeing in
them distTUst OF his own word
TweedmOuth Explains.
In his speech. Lord Tweedmouth said:
Il should like to.anticipate any cues
tiOns- II is fact that on Tuesday, Feb
ruary IS received a letter from his i'm
periaI majesty the German Emperor. The
letter came by ordinary post and was
private and personal. Tt was very friendly
IN tone and quite informal. When I re-
ceived the letter I showed it 10 Sir Ed
ward Grey. and he agreed with me that
IL should be treated as a private letter
and not as official. Accordingly on
Thursday, the 2eth. I replied to him in
the same sense as that in which his letter
had been directed to me-that is. I'm q
friendly, informal manner. All I shall
say further Is this: That 7 beg TO assure
your lordships / firmly believe the course
I have adopted Is a good one and calcu-
lated 10 do what we all so much desire
which is TO do all We may to foster the
good understanding between the German
Emperor and ourselves"
Incident Is Closed
Lord Rosebery said: There is no
earthly reason why our friendship with
France should mean a hostile attitude
toward Germany. Both the English and
German press should realize their respon-
sbility and not be allowed TO lash the
two nations into a state of soreness.
which some day might amount to exas-
peratiOn. rendering further peaceful rela-
tons impractiCable.
The incident then closed.