Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-05-31

Great Britain you would even now be in
far more favorable position with US
than you are today. Germany wants
nothing in Morocco. Z Germanys first
and greatest wish is for a rich and pros
porous France. On the other hand. Ger
many is loyal to her friendships, and
fervent in her threats. The country
whose humiliation is a solemn charge
upon my people is Great Britain and not
France" vT
Monsieur DecheIes leaned back in his
chair. Monsieur Felix Brant never moved.
II want" Herr Freudenbergi continued.
ito have you think and consider and
weigh this matter. Why do you, great
and prosperous country, link yourself
with decaying power, against whom
before very long, Germany is pledged
to strike? These are the plainest words
that have ever been spoken by citizen
of one country to three citizens of an
other Herr Freudenberg, the maker of
toys, speaks to his three French friends
as thoughtful merchant of his country
who has had unusual facilities for i'm
billing the spirit of her politicians. Gen
temen, you do not misunderstood me?"
1T is impossible, Herr Freudenberg,"
Monsieur, Decheles said, ito misunder-
stand you for a single moment. Your
AdAu 10 NOO CAGaL anu yOuA llCNAOAo NOO
sagacious."
Then let me repeat" Herr Freuden-
berg declared, that before many years
are passed--perhaps, indeed, before
many months-it is the intention of my
country to either inflict a scathing
diplomatic humiliation upon Great
Britain, or to engage in this war the
fear of which has kept her in a state
of panic for the last ten years. Keep
II.
ship is a great thing honor is a great
thing, generosityiis a great thing, but
1 would speak to you three citizens of
France today as / would speak to her
rulers had I access to them, and
would say, DO you dare, for the sake
of an alliance out of which you have
procured no single benefit, do you dare
to drag your country into unnecessary,
fruitless and bloody war? You have
nothing to gain by it, you have every
thing to lose. Let Germany deal with
her traditionsal enemy in her own way.
And as for France, let France believe
what is, without doubt, the truth-that
she has nothing whatever to fear from
Germany l will not speak of the past.
but the greatest thinkers in Germany
today regret nothing much in the
the history of her splendid rise as that
unfortunate campaign of Bismarcks. 1t
is one blot upon her magnificent histo-
ry. Let that go--let that go and be
buried / bring you timely warning.
/ came to the city love, for her own
sake. for the sake of her people whom
1 also love. / beg you to listen to
these words OF mine, to adjust your
policy so that little Ny little you
weaken the joints which bind you to
England, so that when the time comes
you yourself may not be dragged into
a hopeless and pitiless struggle"
There was moments silence.
Then Monsieur Decheles spoke.
Herr Freudenberg," he began. what
you have said we have been in some
measure prepared for. The more ami
cable tone of all the correspondence be-
tween our two countries has been
marked of late. Yet there have been
times, and not long ago, when your
country has shown wonderful readiness
to treat with a rough hand the claims
of France in many quarters of the
world The more powerful your coun-
try, the greater she is to be feared.
Supposing France stood on one side
Great Britain fell before your arms,
what then would be the relations be-
tween France and Germany
Monsieur Brant spoke for the first
time.
Herr Freudenberg. you remind me OF
the fable of the Persian who had two
men to fight, both as strong as him
self. To the one he sent ambassadors,
with the key of his favorite gardens;
the other he fought. 1t is great pol
icy to deal with your enemies one at
time"
Herr Freudenberg stretched cut his
arms across the table.
my friend" he pronounced, without
faith, there is no genius. Without
genius, there is no government. 1 ask
You to believe only this one thing.
| Germany is not. and never has been,
the traditional enemy of France. l ask
you to study the whole question for
but one single half hour; 1 ask you to
read the commercial records of these
days. Help yourself to all the statistics
that throw light upon this question, and
1 swear that you will find that, whereas
Great Britain and Germany stand OPP
posed to one another under every con-
dition and in every quarter of the
world, there is no single bone OF con-
tention anywhere between France and
Germany Their aims are different
their destinies are written. ask you
to apply only a reasonable measure of
philosophy and common sense, reason
able measure Of faith, to the things I
say"
There was a cautious tap at the door
a whispered message. Monsieur Pelle-
man rose.
1T is my secretary" he announced.
II fear, gentlemen. that we are due
elsewhere"
Herr Freudenberg, your luncheon has
been delightful Monsieur Decheles de-
clared holding out his hand. You have
given us, as usual, something to think
of. These informal meetings between
citizens of two great countries will do,
am sure, more than anything else in
the world, to ripen our budding friend
ship"
Your words" Herr -Freudenberg re-
piled, grasping the hand which had been
] offered to him, ARE happy augury.