The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1918-07-02

20, 1914. Nothing appears more
clearly from this diary than the fact
that DR.. Muehlon consideration ex-
cellent reasons, based on facts which
he cites in detail-that Austria, her
intolerance and unconciliatoriness
generally, were mainly responsible
for the outbreak of war, and that the
individual most responsible for rush
ing Europe into it was the German
emperor. l do not know whether
pro-Austrianism is defunct yet in
Great Britain and the United States;
but, if not, then this book, which |
hope will soon appear in English,
ought to give it its death-blow. l
should like to cite many passages of
this work, but until it appears | must
refrain from much quotation. More
over, it is so interesting that to select
any particular passages for citation
is difficult.
Opinion of Austria
In the first part of his diary DR..
Muehlon refers to Austria as IAN
antiquated, harsh, self-seeking,
greedy, hypocritical form of state,
colossus with feet of clay" The
famous conference between the Aus
TRANS and certain highly-placed per-
sonages in Berlin was held early in
July, 1914, just before the kaiser
left for his annual cruise. OF this
conference DR.. Muehlon says he
learned on July II from very
highly-placed parsonage, who said
that at the conference 1.-The kaiser
told the Austrians that this time he
would support them thru thick and
thin"
At this conference, also, with con-
sent of the German government, the
Austrians decided to send Serbia a
sharp note. The Viennese govern
ment received carte blanche to send
whatever sort of note they liked to
Serbia, however unconciliatory in
tone and form, and even if virtually
an ultimatum. Another highly
placed Berlin parsonage told DR..
Muehlon that he had just been talk
ing with Ibis friend the secretary of
state for foreign affairs" about the
fact that the responsibility for the
note was left to Vienna, and that
Germany was placed in the position
of having to take the consequences
of whatever Vienna might think fit
to do. The secretary of state for
foreign affairs further stated that
the German government had thought
of asking to be allowed to help draft
the note to Serbia, but that the
kaiser had been in such a hurry to
promise Austria Internationally
everything she wanted that the Ger
mans could do nothing.
Finally, the German secretary of
state consoled himself with the re-
Election that he could still make a
good impression in Paris and st.
Petersburg by stating that he knew
nothing of this note.
To show how full of interest is this
diary of DR.. Huehlon, l will give one
quotation, under date September 5,
1914:
To-day two Turkish officers called
upon me. They were very well
pleased with the course the war was
taking, because they said it was
again making Turkey mistress of
Islam. Everything was going on as
we'll as could be; the sublime porte
and Germany were one, and Turkey
was only waiting for a hint in order
to join in the fray. The Turkish
fleet, commanded by Germans, would
first of all set matters right in the
Black sea. Large numbers of Turk
ish troops had been going for some
time past to Trebizond, and even by
sea, without being in any way mo-
Tested. Russian Armenia and all ter
ritories, including the Caucasus and
far beyond it, would soon be freed
from Russian domination. They
were in touch with Persia, Afghani-
stan, and the Mohammedan popula-
ton of India. They had come to a
complete understanding with the
sheiks in Arabia, who at sign from
the caliph would invade British
territory. An army was being
formed in Damascus to march on
Egypt. A general rising in all coun-
tries united by religious ties with
the sultan would abolish the govern
menL OI LHe HuSSldHS anu LHe EHS-
lish."
DR.. Muehlon remarks that these
two Turkish officers looked on Ger
many as the true friend and savior
of Turkey, but as in the spring of
1914 he had been twice in Constan-
tinople, he could hardly believe his
ears.
Since then however, Germany has
been sending quantities Of very val
liable war material by rail via Rou-
mania and Bulgaria to Constantine
ople, and in these few months, or
even weeks, the Turks had COM
pletely turned round.
The work of the Germans in Bel