Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1914-10-22


mains and possessions, wants rounding
up. England has not been able in the
past, and certainly In mot 10 present
to supply herself and her colonies In
Germany she has firas-ciass work.
man: Germany manufactures what
England needs Germany's building OF
her navy was never meant as real
menace to Great Britain II was cole
iy a means to impress the English that
Germany would make q powerful and
valuable ally In every shape and form.
Conversely. 1t was threat that she
would be dangerous opponent.
Shoulder to shoulder. Germany and
England Germany, OF course, includ-
Ing Austria. and probably Italyl could
dictate 60 the rest OF the world. There
was enc stumbling block This was
France.
WelIinforrued FTenchInen have
known and feared this for long time.
They have, of course, never mentioned
IL In public. With all her gallantry.
historical patriotism, and wealth,
France would never be able 70 hold
out against Germany alone To secure
Russiats friendship she loaned enor
nous sums Of money. But the Japar
nase war end internal troubles tenn
porarily eliminated Russia as high
class ally. She was at the time Of the
Black Forest conference but q see
ondary power. so France did her ut
most 10 soiidffy the entente cordials
fostered by the late King Edward VII
under the stress Of public opinicu IN
England.
| What They Ar Wantsd.
/ As I made clear last week In my
story of my secret mission to the cap
tain OF the German cruiser Panther,
the Moroccan question showed Eng
Hand ready to back up France In war,
bat now came this meeting in the
Black Forest, Germany pointing out to
and apparently convincing England OF
the greater advantage OF German
English coalition. and France was
frozen out-at least so Germany was
led To believe, and with what error
England's support of France and Rus
STA In the war with Germany makes
all too glaring. England. with her ira
ditional shrewd alertness to make the
most profitable deal, Germany rea,
soned. was not slow to see the ad.
vantage of the German proposition.
In nutshell. II was this:
Germany must have the Iowland
ports. Holland would not be adverse
to coming into the German federation.
Belgium would be adverse, but could
be snuffed out as easily as a candle.
But French public opinion would never
tolerate under any circumstances this
German aggression. France would
fight, even though knowing 1t to be q
losing fight.
So much for what Germany would
get cut of 1t. Austria wants to round
up her empire In the Balkans, Aus
tria was to have outlets I'm the Mediter
ranean. England, for standing by Ger
many, was to be rewarded with French
Northern Africa and the Dutch East
India possessions. What was to be.
J come OF Francef Reconstruction, par.
, titioniRg, possibly little ktngdom
probably under the Orleans regime.
know these things, for possess
them in black and white. But what ]
; do not know Is whether England en-.
: tered this memorable conference in
} order to play the spy on Germany ant
) her Austrian ally in behalf of herself
/ and France. or whether she really &C
/ coded to the isolation OF France tenn.
| porarily for secret purposes OF her
! own. knowing that Germany would not
) be ready TO strike for some time ia
come. But strongly suspect that she
l dealt doubly with Germany, and that
/ France knew or her ancient enemys
! proposition to England within q very
few hours after Lord Haldane and
B Winston Churchill had heard it, and
! began forthwith to make herself aa
/. ready as possible against the day when
d Germany, her plans all perfected and
|. falsely relying On England's aloofness
would try TO put them into effect. De
you recall how Germany, at the very
:. beginning of the great war, began I'd
v huri her army corps upon France b
! way CT neutral Belgium? cannot hell
i believing that to the last Germany fell
! herself safe In 50 doing--secure In thu
4 belief that England would not object.
4 and all because of that secret meeting
! in the Black Forest have told you OF
= Il --------~---------------4--& Easss