Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-16
KAISER WANTED TO FORCE
FRANCE into AGREEMENT
In 10O4-19O5 Attempted Alignment
OF Germany, Russia and France
Against England.
sLAv ENVOY TELLS STORY
Quite incidentally, Makes Declara-
ton That Secret Agreement Was
Cancelled in Fall OF lOO5-Em.
peror's Statements Challenged.
IBy Associated Press. I,

PARIS. September 15.-Somc Of the
statements made by Emperor William
In a telegram to Emperor Nicholas Of
Russia. In one Of series Of recently
published messages exchanged by tho
two rulers In 1904-O5 brought forward
to show that secret agreement had
been reached between them to attempt
an alignment Of Germany. Russia and
France against England, are challenged
In An interview in the Temps by Alex
ander P. Iswolsky. former Russian am
bassador to France.
Quite incidentally. apparently, NJ.
Iswolsky makes the declaration that
this secret agreement was Cancelled In
the fall OF 1905, and was not renewed
He states also that Emperor William
told him during the Interview that he
regarded the question of Alsace -Lor-
raine as dead issue, France failing
to take up the challenge to fight Ger
many when Germany threw down tho
gauntlet during the Moroccan crisis
early in 1905.
81. lswolsky, who was the Russian
minister at Copenhagen at tho time in
question. admits that he had an inter-
view with Emperor William at Copen-
hagen in July. 1905. but declares that
he did not express himself as repre-
scented by Emperor William in a tele-
gram of August .. 1905. to the effect
that should war come and an attack
be made on the Baltic Sea by foreign
power. the Danes would be likely to
resign themselves to an occupation of
Denmark by Germany and Russia
INTERVIEW SOLICITED
BY EMPEROR WILLIAM
NJ 1swolsky recalls that Emperor
William solicited the interview through
Baron Won Schoen. German minister at
Copenhagen. at the end of July, shortly
after III. Iswolsky had successfully ne
gotiated with Denmark the passage
| through the Grand Belt adjacent to
Danish shores of Admiral Rojetven-
| sky's fleet on It's historic cruise to the
Pacific In the Russo-Japanese war. and
| says that In view of the friendly way
! Russia has been treated by Denmark.
he certainly could not have considered
with the Emperor an eventual agrees
sion by Germany against Denmark or
any military action whatever by Rus
sia against Danish neutrality.
Emperor Williams dispatch on that
subject which you have just shown me
Is entirely erroneous on that point"
said NJ. lswolsEy. Il have a very pre-
else recollection Of my conversation
with the German Emperor. 1 was
struck by the insistence with which he
explained the necessity Of an alliance
between Russia. Germany and France
against England.
THE real guarantee of a solidly
established peace the Emperor said
| is to be found In the close collabora-
ton of the three great continental
powers. Such an alliance would pre-
clude British hegemony. and assure the
entire world the benefits of peace
The realization Of that vast pro-
| ject appears to me absolutely impos-
sible,' I replied, because Franch would
never consent to enter into such an
alliance
why wouldn't she consent" asked
the Emperor.
ALsAcE AND LORRAINE
QUESTION SETTLED
Because there is an unsettled cues
ton between France and Germany I
replied. The question of Alsace and
Lorraine
Pardon me- rejoined the Emperor.
but that question is settled
don't understand. SIRE ! said
1t is indeed settled said the En-
peror In the Moroccan AFFAIR I threw
down the gauntlet TO France. France