Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-03-12
BRITISH EXCITED
German Emperor has Written a
Letter to First Lord Of Admiral
~ Regarding the Navy.
DO NOT KMOWITs CONTENTS
A Suspicion That Il 10 An Attempt Il
Dictate 40 to Naval Program
Causes Resentment--pub-
lleatlon Demanded.

London. Mar. 1.-THE letter from
ne German emperor 10 purely a per
sonal communication. There is nj
reference therein to the British nava
estimates"
This 10 the reply Lord Tweedmouth
FIRST lord Of the admiralty, makes to
the request made by the Times Friday
morning for the production Of a let
ter Emperor William sent to Lord
Tweedmouth on the subject Of the
British and German naval policy, to.
gether with the admiralty lords re-
ply thereto, on the ground that EN-.
peror Williams motive was to in.
fuence those responsible for the
British naval policy in the interest OF
Germany.
Lord Tweedmouth intimated that
further information on the subject
would be given out in the House OF
Lords on March Q.
Lord Tweedmouth's statement that
the communication from Emperor Will
liam was personal and not sent him
in his capacity Of first lord Of the
admiralty has done nothing to allay
British suspicious that Emperor vii.
liam is guilty Of designs on the in.
dependence of the country. The cpl
sode has caused widespread excite
ment, and there are lnsistent demands
that the matter be fully aired in par
lament.
It has been suggested that a pos
sible explanation Of the incident ia
that the British government attempt
ed to secure mutual limitation in the
matter Of manipulating by direct
negotiation with Emperor William; in
other words, to achieve by indirect
diplomacy what the Hague peace con
ference failed to bring about. The
critics Of Lord Tweedmouth, however,
point out that any such negotiations
ought to have been carried on through
the foreign Office, and there is con.
siderable anxiety to know how far the
alleged irregular proceedings have
gone.
According to one version, Emperor
Williams letter to Lord Tweedmouth
gave executive details OF the compare.
tive strength Of the navies of Great
Britain and Germany, and basing his
opinion on this comparison, the EN-.
peror said he thought the German
feet could not be considered more
than one-fifth as strong as that Of
Great Britain! This being SO, he
.hought Great Britain had no need
% fear any rivalry in naval supre-
macy from Germany, and that con-
there was no need of in
,rease in the shipbuilding program Of
sreat Britain.
In ofhcial circles II 10 pointed out
hat 1t would be contrary to all eti.
|uette to publish Emperor Williams
sitter without the consent Of the writ :
r. It 10 believed furthermore that .
ling Edward will have to be consulted !
efOre publication is possible. I
Berlin, Mar. IA considerable sen. 4
ation has been caused here by ale !,
atoms published in the London b
ines with reference to the letter
ont BY Emperor William In February
} Lord Tweedmouth, frst Lord Of the
ritish admiralty.
The foreign Office said It was quite
Orrect that Emperor William some !
me ago wrote a letter to Lord Tweed .
louth bat the assertion made by the
ondon Times that his majesty :
nd endeavored to interfere in the :
avail plans Of Great Britain was char. :
cterized a. untrue.