The Washington herald., 1913-01-24

all places could influence the dsstinIes
of Europe may seem absurd. considering
the dimlnutive size Of the prinCipality.
Yet in certain circumstances II was pre-
cisely this smallness which was its
strongest recommendation because so di-
minutive a state could not be suspected
Il harboring designs upon other coun-
tries Its ruler could speak the truth
without creating a mistrust as to his
motives The opinion of Monaco mat
tered little to the great powers, but that
of it's ruler a great deal owing to his
position and his pedigree. For when II
comes to lineage Prince Albert's is by
far the oldest dynasty in all Europe. He
Is descendant Of the Grimaldis. and
whether II be from the one who. it Is
said received Monaco from the En-
peror Otto ! in aSS or from the one who
was consul Cruler). Of Genoa in lle2, the
Grimaldis are undisputably the Oldest
reigning family in Europe. II the di-
vine right of kings goes for anything
that family should hold the first rank
owing to their antiquity. No other
dynasty is as old. for 1t was only in lZiS
that Rudolf of Hapsburg at AK Chspeue
was chosen Emperor OF Germany, his son
founding the present Austrian dynasty.
The present ruler of Monaco. Prince
Albert, a scientist and an explorer OF
acknowledged merit. is persona grata at
Berlin. as we'll as at the Elysee Palace
in Iaris The Kaiser thinks a great deal
of his intellect. diplomatic tact. and es-
pecially OF his peace policy and efforts
and il was due 10 Emperor Williams in
fuence that the International Peace Con-
gress of 1902 was held at Monaco.
Prince Albert also is a near relative OF
the King Of wurttemberg. which also
gives him easy access to the court of the
Kaiser. He can. and does, speak to the
Emperor on equal terms, and this he
utilizes wisely to tell him the truth. a
rare opportunity which is given TO but
few rulers For no matter how much
monarch may desire TO judge impartially
all questions at issue. he is often sur
rounded by those whose interest 1t is
to conceal the truth and who do not
hesitate to produce wrong impressions.
II Is therefore not surprising that
Kaiser Wilhelm should welcome a friend
who has no interest to serve by making
false representations. The Emperor lis
tens with confidence to the advice prof.
fered by Albert OF Monaco. and as re-
suit serious issues often have assumed
quite a different aspect And the very
fact of the prince being among the most
intimate counselors of the German
Kaiser. naturally enough has made the
President of the French Republic anxious
to hear what he might have TO say. Thus
Albert of Monaco on more than one oc-
casion has been able by wise counsel and
by divulging the real aspect of case to
avoid a crisis when one cabinet had been
laboring under the impression that 1t had
been misled by the other. More than once,
in recent years, the diplomatic relations
between France and Germany had reached
neither side dared
to add another word for fear of being
and causing open rupture.
On such occasions 1t was the Prince of
Monaco who travelled between the Will
and the Quai dOrsay with
arguments, explanations, or suggestions.
II these were rejected. 1t did not matter.
because the princely go-between was
neither official ambassador nor diplo-
matte agent. He did not even belong to
either country concerned. Listened to or
he could never become a
"casus beIli," which gave him dn his
exalted position) the privilege of saying
things that no official messenger would
have dared to breach, though these in
formal conversations were more apt to
result in the discovery Of a renewed
"modus vivendi.
Thus i happen to know that Prince
Albert was of great help in preventing a
clash over the Morocco difficulty and
bringing about a peaceful solution by
means of the Algeciras conference,
F'laneur readers will call to mind the
crisis when France had to sacrifice Its
foreign secretary. NJ, Delcasse. to ap-
pease Germany. Relations practically
had been broken of between the two
bellicose neighbors. 1t was Prince Albert
who. asked by the French President. un-
dertook to truthfully represent the posi-
ton and the views of the French Pre-
mier. NJ Rouvier, to the Kaiser. We
know how thoroughly he convinced the |
Kaiser that the French Cabinet was not |
IN the wrong. and diplomatic relations |
we're quickly resumed.
And yet success had hung by thread. |
L seemed that all efforts would be futile J
Prince Albert, full Of happy anticipatiou.