The Tomahawk., 1915-12-02

fRg and unraveling the mixed motives
sH1Tange animal-man.
1t least, tnat was the fascination Of
lao diplomatic life to me, during my
years of service.
And when, through an indiscretion,
y combination of events which over
came my prudence, I was unable to
serve his majesty longer in an &C
credited post, found the old oppor-
sunity for psychological observation in
no way diminished. AS an ambassa-
&nr-at-Iarge, with less responsibility
and more freedom, engaged upon
aask that carried me from capital to
sapital, l was able to study the minds
az many men who previously had
been unknown quantities to me.
Take, for example. the case of John
Redmond, in many ways perhaps the
most unique figure in Europe.
Leader of movement having for it's
Immediate purpose the autonomy Of
ireland, and for it's ultimate the almost
nvOWed object Of Irish independence,
I'm any country but Great Britain he
would have been a plotter, an exile,
Fugitive. Yet here ne was, Great Brit
Minis chief antagonist, a man behind
whom were ranged the voices Of ten
million dissatisfied subjects of the
xruwn, banqueted, feted, in firm al
Nance with great political party, and
holding the fate of England In the hol-
Now OF his hand.
10 could take up all the reins of in
rlgue that restrained the FESTIVE
hrses of the imperial charioteer: Ire
hand, India, Egypt Irish America, and,
greatest of all, Germany. A word from
him could encircle England with a
host of foes; a word, too, could link
Irelan1's destinies with England's ire
socably.
Although in the early months of
1914 the usual peace talk was unusual
IL to the fore, it was no secret among,
the well Informed that Germany was
planning gigantic coup, having for
HI object her hegemony in Europe and
the destruction of the British empire.
Often enough had Germany been
naxyed to the point of throwing down
the gage, but always prudence had
WON against hate and envy Now,
however, certain facts had to be taken
Into consideration which were not
Hxescnt at other crises.
In the first place, the recently
formed money trust, represented In
Austria by the Weisknopfs; and domi.
aant in other capitals, had come to
tho conclusion that by German vic
s1ry it could best carry out its
schemes for the financial domination
u3 the world.
Secondly, it had always been an
axiom among Germany's rulers that
xnr alone could consolidate her posi-
tlon. The philosophy Of her Treitsch-
kes, Bernhardis and Tirpitzes was the
antichristian PRONUNCIATION of Metz
sche. that might was right, and "Vae
VIctig"
Thirdly, the upkeep Of gigantic
army and navy had become too great
10 be borne, and the cannonmakers de-
uaanded a fresh output that should
aelipse all their previous productions
and stimulate their business. So did
their shareholders, among whom were
men prominent in court circles.
Add the fact that Russia was reor-
Eznizing her army, that report read
In the French senate had demonstrate
m frances unreadiness for war. Add
that the Kiel canal had just been
aeepened to accommodate the largest
dareadnaughts, and that for Germany
II was case Of now or never.
But consider most of all that Ireland
Vas on the verge of civil war, and that
Engiand, Germany's most formidable
antagonist, was believed thus to be
Aopelessly crippled.
And that is why say that in John
Rcdmond's hands lay the destinies Of
TIA British empire.
had fulfilled the first part of the
sash assigned to me by the British for
rsxn minister, Sir Edward Grey. had
discovered these secret springs of war
and had warned the British govern
nsent of what was in preparation. But
I had reason to believe that the gov
eminent, perplexed and distracted by
ahe Irish question. paid less respect to
my warning than was necessary.
Meanwhile, in Berlin, in the Ball
psxtz. all eyes were turned upon VI
sssr. The Importance which the Irish
ifikculties assumed in the eyes OF con-
sinensal statesmen may be gagged
from the fact that the day when an
IrSsa settlement was officially an
nnunced to be impossible-July "a
Vas the day when Austria launched
hsr preposterous ultimatum against
Serbia.
II will be remembered that the con-
ference which his majesty called at
Buckingham palace, in last despe-
rate attempt to avert civil war in Ire
land, lasted two days. On the second
day, while London was filled with va.
syins rumors, was seated in the club
xraolning room, listening to the ami
mated conversatiek OF a number OF
Tor