Evening star., 1917-09-16
KAISER INSISTED
ON RUSS ALLIANCE
Would Have Forced France to
Join to Oppose British
{ Government.
lSWOLSKY TELLS OF PACT
~ the~Associated Press.

PARIS, September 15.-Some of the
statements made by Emperor William in
. telegram to Emperor Nicholas OF Rus,
sia, one Of a series of recently published
messages exchanged by the two rulers In
1904-05 brought forward to show that a
secret agreement had been reached be-
tween them to attempt an alignment OF
Germany. Russia and France against
England. are challenged in an inter
view in the Temps by Alexander p. Is
wolski, former Russian ambassador to
France.
Quite incidentally. apparently. NJ.
1swolsky 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-Lorraine as dead is
sue. France failing to take up the chal-
len9e to fight Germany when Germany
threw down the gauntlet during the Mo-
roccan crisis early in 1905
Denies Kaiser's Claim.
NJ. Iswolsky. who was the Russian
minister at Copenhagen at the time in
question, admits that he had an inter-
hagen in July, 1905, but declares that he
did not express himself represented by
Emperor William in a telegram of Au-
gust 2, 1905, to the effect that should war
come and an attack be made on the Baltic
sea by a foreign power the Danes would
be likely to resign themselves to an occu-
patton Of Denmark by Germany and Rus
sia.
NJ. Iswolsky recalls that Emperor
William solicited the interview through
Baron Won Schoen. German minister at
Copenhagen, at the end of July, shortly
after NJ. Iswolsky had successfully ne
gotiated with Denmark the passage
through the grand belt adjacent to
Danish shores of Admiral Rojestven-
eky'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
sfa against Danish neutrality.
Struck by Insistence.
Emperor Williams dispatch on that
subject which you have just shown me
10 entirely erroneous on that point
said NJ. Iswolsky. Il have a very pre-
else recollection of my conversation
with the German emperor. I was struck
by the insistence with which he ex-
plained the necessity of an alliance be-
tween Russia. Germany and France
against England.
The real guarantee of solidly
established peace the emperor said,
is to be found in the close collabora-
tion of the three great continental
powers Such an alliance would pre-
clude British hegemony and assure the
entire world the benefits of peace.
Deemed Impossible.
THE realization of that vast prof.
ect appears to me absolutely impos-
sible.' replied. because France would
never consent to enter into such an al
lance
Why wouldn't she consent: asked
the emperor.
because there is an unsettled oues-
tion between France and Germany
replied The question Of Alsace and
Lorraine
Pardon me- rejoined the emperor,
but that question is settled
IT don't understand. SIRE said 1.
1t is indeed settled said the en-
peror. In the Moroccan affair I threw
down the gauntlet to France. France
refused to take it up. She refused to
night me. Consequently the question of
Alsace-Lorraine no longer exists be-
tween U.S.
In reply to doubts that 1 expressed"
continued NJ. Iswolaky in the inter-
view, tho emperor developed the idea
that 1t was necessary, so to speak, to
0onstratn France to accept a Russo
German alliance and to oblige her
willingly or not. to Join it,"
Gear Stands Firm.
NJ. Iswolsky reveals that prior to the
meeting between Emperor William and
Emperor Nicholas at Swinemuende in
the summer Of 1907, when they were
accompanied by NJ Iswolsky and
Prince Won Buelow, the German chan
cellor. Emperor Nicholas, broached the
subject of the secret treaty declared
to have been signed at Bjoerke in July
1909. and expressed his firm determi-
nation not to reconsider the canceua-
tion of it. which NJ. Iswolsky says he
subsequently informed Prince Won Bue-
low that the treaty was null and void
and that the chancellor made no pro-
Rest.