Evening star., 1911-08-13
KA|SER'S BIG BLUFF
Germany Had no Desire for /.
War With France.
TREAT TO GERMAN VOTERS
Helped Party in Power Overcome
Home Popularity.
SPAIN MADE BIG MISTAKE
Quick to Offer Apologies to France
When Germany Shows No De-
sire to Fight France.
TREAT TO GERMAN VOTERS
SPAIN MADE BIG MISTAKE
Special Cablegram to The Star.


going to be particularly hot for the
statesmen OF Europe, has fortunately
proved itself quite harmless. The war
CLOUDS which seemed to gather every
where in the Balkans. in Morocco and
along the Pyrenees have again disap-
peared. after a display of brilliant bur
harmless lightning
When the kaiser left on hts mana,
norwegian summer cruise every one i'm
fneuiately realized that no crisis was
expected, and that the Morocco ques-
tion was to be settled without the roar
or cannons. France was to he scared
little. partly because the German gov
ernment, In view of an approaching
election, wished to impress upon the
minds of her voters the inadvisability
or being too harsh with a set of states
men who, III not popular at home at
least had succeeded in making Germany
respected and feared abroad. and part
ly because the German government con-
sloered the moment opportune for add
ing TO German possessions i'm Africa
Peace Not in Danger.
In reality international peace was not
In danger for single moment. Ger
many was perfectly sure OF what would
happen. She knew that England would
back up France, and this was why no
German troops were landed at Agadir,
which might have embarrassed a Ger
man diplomatic retreat, should IL be-
come necessary.
The stratagem was a success. The
German voters were treated to the sight
OF France in state of terror and con-
fusion because the German eagle tapped
its wings, and, this done, the good eff
fect was driven home with faint
clankfng of swords and a beating of
military drums in the press.
The final and most conclusive proof
that the whole affair was arranged for
dramatic effect was given when Russia,
in the very midst or the crisis" and
before anybody knew officially the result
or the conversations" contracted to is
sue q ndred-million-mark loan in
Germany. BY opening negotiations for
this loan. the czar's government plain
ly showed that in st. Petersburg at
least nobody considered the Agadir in
cident as anything but piece of inter
national blum. A country that is think
ing of going to war is not the place to
place uninvested cash.
Slow to See Point.
In England. where brains always seem
to work slower than anywhere else in
Europe. 1t was much later realized that
German action was not meant to be an
insidious attack upon the Franco-British
entente, and the much-discussed speech
of Lloyd George, in which he issued a
veiled warning to Germany, shows that
even this clever statesman had been
taken in. 1t will, therefore, probably
be some time before England realizes
that the entente is considered favorable
to Germany. because 1t is anticipated
that thereby Germany will be able to
obtain British acQuiescence in any
agreement arrived at with France.
In Spain the mistake was made, dur
ing the earlier stages of the Morocco i'm
broglio, of considering 1t in too serious "A
light. and the government tried the rather
risky experiment OF playing to the gallery
by series OF more or less deliberate in
suits to France, which came dangerously
near provoking q war. Evidently the
Spanish government thought to please
Germany, and many were those who saw
in Spain nothing but a German agent
provocateur. Germany, however, lost no
time in warning Madrid, and as soon "a
1t was realized that Spain would have 20
tumbled all over each other In their
eagerness to apologize to France.
In France a war with Spain would
have been popular. because many French
patriots believe that victorious war Is
just what their country needs to arouse
it from its present unsettled state. The
French people as a whole dote on their
army and consider Ii the finest and
strongest in the world. They hesitate
TO measure its strength against Germany.
for the memories of 1870 are still too
vivid, but with Spain 1t would be an
other matter, and Canalejas did we'll
when he stopped irritating the Gallo
fighting cock.
Portuguese Not Happy.
Portugal is heroically trying to make
the world believe that the republic is now
firmly established and that a return OF
the dynasty Braganza is altogether I'M
possible, but somehow European dipio-
mats hesitate to believe that the Portu-.
guese people are happy and satisfied
with the new form Of government. The
fact is that were a referendum to SET
tie the matter II would undoubtedly be
seen by the Portuguese vote that the
country was in favor of the re-eStap-
fishing OF the monarchy, not because it
has any particular love for its profiigate
young ex-king, but because the people
are devout Catholics and the priests are
preaching day and night that the present
republican government Is in league with
the evil one and must not be supported
by any true Christian
To Offset the exhortations OF the clergy
the government is trying to provo that
Manuel and his whole family are traitors
to Portugal. But somehow stories Ike
the one recently circulated-that trunk
had been found In the royal palace con-
tanning papers in which the king promised
and England all the Portuguese
colonies IL they would crush the revoiu-
not find credence in Portugal.
That the republican form OF government
is far from being firmly established Is
amply proved by the reluctance OF Eng
land and Spain to recognize the Portu-
guese republic.
Famines in Russia.
os. ,a ,torx R,,ssfan local faYudnea
with their strange. almost incredible con-
cOmitants amongst the stil benighted
peasantry, is being repeated again this
summer From the interior come re-
ports Of attempts to drown old women
persing the rain clouds. Of watering
graves where village drunkards have been
buried and similar medieval follies.
At the meeting ten days ago of the ex
change committee of the town OF Tomsk.
where the first Siberian exhibition win be
olete famine is expected in western Sc
,eria, the great granary of Siberia in
zeneral. This years harvest is estimated
1t so per cent below that of last year. In
many districts there will be no seed for
sowing.
The ministry Of the interior has OBJ
aimed the following particulars from
,ther regions:
Northeastern European Russia. ex-
bad crops In tie province O.
Perm. total failure OF wheat and grass.
Region OF Tomsk. in a similar condition.
n several of the Volga provinces the
.rops are 60 and 75 per cent below last
,ear's Weld. Odessa and Rostoh re-
lions, 80 to 40 per cent less.
On the other hand. the harvests In the
central and western provinces promises 70
,e very satisfactory.