Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1918-10-09
age" he soiiloquized, 'and must re.
build the whole Of Europel'

age" he soliloquized, 'and must re-
build the whole Of Europel"
Although the kaiser so freely admit
ted his designs on the world at large,
he was impatient of any expansion
on the part of other nations. He often
spoke of England's grabbing" pro-
pensity and viewed with suspicion our
annexation of Hawaii and the Philip
pines and our development of Cuba
after the Spanish-American war. He
professed to see in our new policy
striving after world power which was
inconsistent with the principles upon
which our government was founded.
He objected to our interference in
Mexican affairs, although, as was dis
closed by the Zimmerman note to Won
Eckhardt, he was making every effort
to have Mexico interfere with ours.
"What right has President Wilson
to attempt to dictate the internal poll
cies of Mexico?" he asked. "Why not
let them fight their battles out aloneY
Abiding to Americas threat to en-
ter the present war, he asked: what
right has America to insist upon the
Monroe doctrine Of America and then
mix in European affairs? Let her rec
ognize also Monroe doctrine Of Eu-
rope and keep her hands out Of this
conflict"
There is no doubt that the kaiser
imagined that the great army and navy
he had built up would enable him to
carry out his ambitious program with
out effective resistance.
The one power he most feared but
for which he professed the utmost con-
tempt was England. He had an idea
that England would never dare to
measure swords with Germany and
that he could provoke war when the
opportune moment came without much
fear of England's Intervention.
In 1911, when the international stu
alton over the Moroccan affair was
particularly acute as result Of Ger
many's having sent gunboat to Aga
dir to demonstrate that she was Sc"
GUS in her demands, the kaiser had
great hopes that war with France
might thus be precipitated and he was
confident that England would keep out
of it.
England would be afraid to war
with u.s. he told me at the time, " for
fear of losing Egypt, India and Ireland.
Any nation would think twice before
fighting my armies, but England par
ticularly because she would not dare
to risk the loss of her overseas colo
Mes"
When the kaiser's ambitious project
to dominate the world is considered,
his consistent opposition to the univer-
sal disarmament proposals is easily
understood. Without superior army
and navy, his whole plan would have
to be abandoned and his dream Of
worldwide dominion would be shat
tered.
On one occasion when we were dis
cussing the Carnegie peace efforts,
the kaiser disclosed very positively
Just whereShe stood on the proposition.
'Look at the history of the nations
of the world" he declared. 'The only
nations which have progressed and be-
come great have been warning nations.
Those which have not been ambitious
and gone to war have amounted to
nothing"
Shortly after Wilson had pointed the
way to peace in Europe in one Of his
notes to all the belligerent powers the
kaiser called to see me professionally
and we discussed that latest phase of
the situation.
'"The way to peace now seems per
fectly clear" I ventured. "Only your
majestys ever-increasing army and
navy stands in the way. If Germany
will give up her armament, it seems,
we would soon have peace"
"rhat is out of the question for Ger
many" replied the kaiser, decisively.
Eve have no mountains like the Pyre-
nees to protect us. We have the open
plains of Russia with their vast
hordes endangering us. No; we shall
remain armed to the teeth foreverw
CHAPTER X.