New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-07
WHAT THE KAISER IS AFTER
Secret Understanding Over Spells Be.
tween Russia and Germany.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: 1t seems that the action Of the
German Emperor in srrsying himself
against al of Europe would proclaim
him a mailman who is beyond the con-
idence Of his nation and should be put
in a straitjscket. But that is not his
reputation. He has proven himself by
the way. he has built up the German
ration in the last thirty-five years a
genius at nearly everything that he
puts his hand to. IL is beyond belief,
therefore, now that he has reached the
ripest age Of his wisdom, that he should
commit such an act Of folly as 10
plunge his people into a war Of de-
struction which would mean the an
inhalation of everything German, as
we'll as the royal family.
There would seem therefore to be
some reason underneath this apparent
precipitate action which would Justify
what otherwise becomes a career OF
lunacy. If he should win in his effort,
which appears the first thing next 20
his heart by the active campaign
against the French-if he should be able
to reach Paris within six or seven
months, as Bismarck did, what then
would be the result? BE could only
obtain war indemnity. The consoli-
dated forces of Europe would finally
close in around him, as they did around
Napoleon, and a mere indemnity would
be without value to Germany and with
out adequate return for the blood and
money and time expended.
This is not like the German Emperor.
There must be some other motive
which would allow him to acquire terri
tory, and allow him to have the fruits
of his victory after he had gained IL
more satisfactory than a mere in
demnity of money, which never could
recover for him his loss Of prestige
and the destruction Of power and COM
merce which he would suffer.
Ii can only be explained by some I'M
known and perhaps secret understand
ing between Russia and Germany BY
which there is a common cause in this
action against France and England.
France has been the greatest rival and
enemy Of Germany in the commercial
world during the time that the En-
peror has spent in building up German
commerce, and England has been the
deadly foe of Russia for three genera
tons. Russia cannot forget her effort
thwarted by England when the English
inspired the Japanese to take away her
ports on the Pacific Ocean. and Russia
cannot forget that long before now
she would have been on the Mediter-
ranean but for the aid and support
that England had given TO the Turks.
If therefore underneath this energy
OF madness that the German Emperor
has shown there should be secret IN
Outstanding between him and the Gar
that after France had been conquered
and Germany had acquired as her in
demnity the coast of France fronting
the English Channel and the French
fleet to add to her own, there would be
no one TO say mo" to the settlement,
except England and Russia, and If the
German Emperor and the Gar by a
secret understanding would stand to.
gether on this settlement France would
be destroyed as a power and England
would face triumphant German En-
peror, joined with the Russian Empire,
who now By secret arrangement with
the Kaiser would have whatever they
wanted in the Mediterranean, including
the port of Constantinople.
England would be left alone 10 tight
two foes so vast in their resources that
she would hesitate 60 keep up such an
unequal war, This stake, il seems,
would be worth fighting for.
This seems wild guess. But is any
thing more wild than peaceful hu.
rope turned upside down and engaged
in deadly warfare all within the space
of thirty daysg TOO-IONiC.
New York, Aug. 8, 1914. -