Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-21
KAISER'S STAND
FORCED BY SON
Pan-Cerman Speech Made
Necessary to Retain I'M
perial Position
CROWN PRINCE JEALOUS
Incidents Show Antagonism of
Years Is Real, French
Senator Declares
Special Cable TO Erening Public Ledger

Special Cable to Erening Public Ledger
Copyright, i9tS. BY Ncw York Times Go.
Paris. June 81.
There has been much speculation here
as TO what was the underlying reason
for the kaiser's recent remarkable
speech in which he threw off the mask of
a lover of peace and boldly proclaimed
himself an apostle of Pan-Germanism.
1t has long been obviously impossible
for the Kaiser to refrain permanently
from replying to the Allies repeated de-
mands for a statement Of the German
war aims. and the Emperor. it is held.
has now cut the Gordan knot by plainly
stating the enemys objects. simply
Cold-blooded effort to dominate the rest
Of the world.
But why. ii is asked. was the En-
peror induced. especially at this june
ture. to make a statement which has
condemned Germany in the eyes Of tho
civilized world beyond the power of cs
cape? II could not be because the
enemy was so sure of victory that the
admission of policy so Ylonstrous and
tyrannicaI could only spoil the pros
pective triumph by dividing his own
people and alternating his allies.
The suggestion that this speech came
arch. who foresaw inevitable defeat and
was attempting final bluff in order to
frighten the Allies, is also dismissed as
untenable.
Senator Henry BerenEer. in an article
published here. thinks the real reason
tween the Emperor and the Crown Prince.
lies in that long -smoldering jealousy be-
, Indications arc not wanting. he points
out. that the belief in the existence OF
bitter anita gonism between father and
son for many years past has very real
foundation in fact. The incident of Sa-
bern and the scene in the Reichstag just
before the war. when the Crown Prince
openly showed his hostility to his
fathers alleged pacifst inclinations, are
| cases in point
Only few weeks ago the Pan-Ger-
manic policy was pressed forward to
such an extent in Germany that n league
was actually formed "to protect the
| person and the will of the Emperor
against the steps being taken to bring
about a peace which would not be a
| German peace." In other words, n
/ league was formed to curb Pan-Germa an
| ism in the interest of the Emperor The
Pan-Germans. however. proved too
strong for William. and it is suggested
that he. seeing with anxiety the growing
strength Of his son and rival as the self
proclaimed head of aggressive move
ment. suddenly resolved to spike the
guns of his successor by boldly putting
| himself forward as the real head Of the
| Pan-German ambitions TO the full est ex-
tent Nobody. not even the Crown
! Prince, he decided. should outdstancc
/ him in aPn-Gcrmanisn.
| The time and place. Mr.. Bercnger
points out. We're well chosen. The place
/ was the headquarters of the German
general staff, the heart of Purssian mill
/ tarism. and the time was the anniver-
sary Of his reign. which began with the
| present Emperor in bitter opposition to
his father. Frederick III, whose right to
ascend the throne he disputed.
NJ. Berenger repeats a striking anec-
dote told by a French statesman. wAch
/ emphasizes the antagonism existing be-
tween the Emperor and the Crown
/ Prince. Some years before the war at
an official reception in Berlin the Crown
| Prince spoke to the French Ambassador
of the immense admiration he felt for
French cavalry. and expressed a desire
to visit ncognito the great French cav
airy school at Samur. The ambassador
pointed out that the French Government
would have to give permission.
oh replied the Prince, you can
look after that"
Then there will be the Emperor to
convince" said the ambassador.
"Ah," murmured the Prince gloomily,
that man is always getting in my
way"
Once more, it is suggested, the Crown
Prince has found his father in the way.