The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-12-20
CHAPTER w.



| America Disappoints Kaiser.
The kaiser assembled the throne
1888. For twenty-six years his reig
was unmarried by a single war, q
though twice during that period. ono
In 1905 and again in 1911, he nearl
succeeded in precipitating conflic
Subsequent developments hav
brought out clearly enough that durin
all these years Of peace, the kaise
was only awaiting the opportune me
ment to bring on war.
Germany's preparation consisted no
merely In building up her army ant
navy and developing military spiri
In her people, but in trying to estab
lish friendships abroad where the,
would do the most good in the even
Of world war.
The German military preparation
was more or less obvious. The kaiser
was always its warmest advocate an6
frankly admitted that 1t was his inten
ton to remain armed to the teeth, al
though he protested to me many times
that his sole object was to maintain
the peace of the world.
In 1913, for instance, I was in The
Hague when Carnegie delivered q
speech at the opening Of the Peace
palace, in the course Of which he de-
clared that the kaiser was STUN
bling-block in the way of world peace.
When I got back to Berlin mention
ed the fact to the kaiser, hoping to
draw him out.
"Yes, I know exactly what Carnegie
said at The Hague" he replied rather
testify, land I don't like the way he
spoke at all. He referred to me as the
war lord and said / was standing in
the way of world peace. Let him look
at my record Of twenty-five peaceful
years on the throne! No, the surest
means to maintain the peace OF the
world is my big army and navy Other
nations will think twice before going
to war with usI" The fact that he had
accepted 100000 marks
from Carnegie for the furtherance of
universal peace didn't seem to occur
to him.
And the world at large learned more
or less Of German intrigue and propa-
ganda since the war, but It is not gen.
orally known that the same sort OF
thing was going on even more actively
n time of peace. Countless measures,
Of the most subtle and insidious char
acter, were taken to lull into sense OF
false security the nations she intended
eventually to attack and to inspire fear
In or command the respect Of nations
which she hoped would remain neutral
Or might even be induced to throw In
their lot with hers in the event OF
war.
In this phase Of Germany's prepare
hon for war, the kaiser took leading
part.
It IL a fact, for instance. that prac-
Ideally every officer In the Chilean
army IL q German. and the kaiser has
spared no pains to foster the friend
hip of the South American republics,
and automatically.
One Of the South American minis
ers told me Of an ex-president Of
Peru who had visited Berlin. This
Peruvian had previously visited Lon
lon and Paris and had received little
Y no Official attention In either Of
hose capitals. For reasons best
.nown to himself, the kaiser decided
. cater to this gentleman, and accord
Ugly arranged m audience.
In the discussion which took place
hen they met, the kaiser displayed
UGH . remarkable acquaintance With
'eruvian Affairs and the family his
Dry and political career Of his visitor
hat the South American was stunned.
When he returned home he carried
nth him Z most exalted idea Of the
wisdom of the German
mperor. To what extent the kaiser
I'D spent the midnight oil preparing
3r this interview l have no knowledge,
ut knowing the importance he placed
pom making Z favorable impression
t al times have . mental picture Of i
d delving deeply into South AneeF
IN lore In prsparatioo for he guest
TbMo y nothimg aeDre9 - - kn1oog !