Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-04-20

Germany. On the other hand. they
would be quite power.ess to prevent it.
The emperor and his ministers bave
the affair in their own hands. A slight
break in our diplomatic relations. some
trifie seized hold of by the press and
magnified at once into an insult, and
the war torch is kindled. Today war
does not come about by the slowly
growing desirerof nations. The threads
of fate are in the hands Of a few diplo-
matists at Berlin and London-a turn
of the wrist. and there is tension
which breath can turn either way.
You ask me why the emperor should
choose England for attack. There are
many reasons. First, because Eng
land alone could repay him for the
struggle Secondly, because he is in
tensely and miserably Jealous of our
own king, who has avoided all his own
hot headed errors and has yet played
great and individual part in the
worlds affairs. Thirdly. because Eng
land is most easily attacked. i could
give you other reasons If you wanted
| them"
"Quite enough" Duncon'he answer
ed. What do you suppose would be
| the 'casus belli|"
1.-THE progress of the Russian fleet
| through English waters Lord Runton
| answered promptly. "Russia'S interest
in such misunderstanding would be.
| of course, immense. She has only to
| fire on an English ship, by mistake, OF
| course, and the whole fat would be in
the fire. England probably would in
sist upon the squadron being detained.
| Germany would protest against any
such action. We might very well be
at war with Russia and Germany with
in ten days. Russia would immcdi-
| ately either make terms with Japan
or abandon any active operations in
Manchuria and move upon India. Ger
many would come for us
rs this all purely Imagination"
| Duncombe asked, "or have you any
thing to go on?"
80 far as l am concerned" Lord
Runton said slowly, 81, of course.
know nothing, but have Il strong idea
that the government has at least n sus-
picion of some secret understanding
between Russia and Germany Their
preparations seem almost to suggest it
OF course, we outsiders can only guess,
after all, at what is going on. but II
| seems to me that there is chance to
day for our government to achieve q
diplomatic coup"
"In what direction?'
IAN alliance with France. Mind. !
am afraid that there are insurmount.
able obstacles. but if it were possible
it would be checkmate to our friend
the emperor, and he would have moth
ing left but TO climb down. The trou
| BILE is that in. the absence of any def
mite proof of an understanding be
tween Russia and Germany, France
could not break away from her ALI
ance with the former. Our present ar
rangement would insure, l believe. &
benevolent neutrality, but an alliance
if only it could be compassed, would bC
the greatest diplomatic triumph of oul
days. Hello! Visitors at this hour
| Wasn't that your front door bell, Dun
combe"
at sounded like it, Duncombe an
swered. Perhaps it is your man."
Like his check, if it ISL Lord Run
ton answered, rising to his feet anj
strolling toward the sideboard Il tolt
him 1 would telephone round to tn,
is rather late though. / shan't apollo
gize for keeping you up
81 hope you won't" Duncombe an
swered. Il have never been more in
/ terested in my life-for many reasons
Don't bother about your man. Grove
: will see to him"
I There was Il knock at the door, an,
: the butler appeared.
There are three gentlemen outside
t sir, who wish to see YOU" he announc
ed to Duncombe. "They will not Civ
their names, but they say that thei
. business is important or they woult
I not have troubled you SO Late
, Duncombe glanced at the clock. /
| was past midnight
d "Three gentlemen" he repeated, "a
q this time of night. But where on cart
have they come from, GrovesT
'They did not say, SIR" the man ar
!, swered. zone of them 1 should judg
!, to be a foreigner. They have a motto
: car outside"
Lord Runton held out his hand
"Well, it's time 1 was off, anyhow,
!. he remarked. Come over and hav
: lunch tomorrow. Don't bother abou
me. I'll stroll round to the stables an
start from there Good night"
Duncombe hesitated He was on tn
: point of asking his friend to stay. bJ
before he could make up his min
{ Runton had lit cigarette and strolle
;. away.