The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-05-20


! with a retraction, II we we're not pre-
] pared 10 start world was our
attitude urthcrcd the Russian-JHpanese
aud the Russian British alliances In
I the face OF the German peril all other
considerations faded into the background
| The possibility of another war between
! France ana Germany had been evident,
and such war could not leave out Rus
sIu or England. up I'm 1870 BE
fore DclD1sscs rdl. and before tho Al
Errlrus conference. We could have OBJ
tanned hJrhurszHud bases on the west
coast of Africa, but that was no longer
possible
mnuN's ambassador II WIS Gormanys
threat of war that united the European
nations against her iu Africa II was
not thrlr union that lead TO the German
threat
.eouland's Attempts at Friendship.
Nevertheless Lichuowsh goes on TO
slN London quoted down on the Mo
rurgu mmr" The HnldRne mission
had gun" to Berlin tu come TO an UNDER
studIUE with Germany, and that mission
lUl'd, lIuhuOWsl,N COnfesseB, because
We demanded promise OF neutrality"
iiuW Great Britain ia the event OF Eu-
ruu'Iu war, Instead OF being satisfied
with a trcgtN which secured us against
British attack or against any attack with
Brii"n support lie continues. How
i.F'.'. E".N IHlNtIV NrftN nlN not given up
lh" idea Of coming to an understanding
with us. and his first attempts In that d.
r,DiIuu were In connection with matters
relating 10 trade and colonies Z"
Mi'r reaching settlement with France
and Russia on the old utfeHtions In dis
puJ, the British statesman intended TO
como to similar agreements with us
What he aimed nj WAS not to isolate us
but rather 10 have us. as much nH posi-
me-. take share In the existing partner
hlps Having succeeded In bridging over
tho differences which existed between
England and France md between England
Hud Russia, he also wanted to remove nE
well as might be-. tho differences be-
tween England and Germany, and TO IN
sure thr peace OF the world by means
of q network OF treaties which should
ultimately also include n settlement Of
lh" miserable naval question. whereas
M" consequences Of our own furTtEn pol
1r} up 70 then hnd been the formation OF
lhr entente partnership IN which these
nations pledged themselves TO render
mutual support In case of war As he
himself expressed n. Grey's policy WIS
mus without infringing on the existing
friendly relations with France and Rus
sIu which ln themselves contained no
aggressive elements and no binding oh
legations for England to seek 20 achieve
H moro friendly rqpproChemcnt with Ger
many. nnd TO bring the two groups nearer
together
British Concessions In the Balkans.
That this abatement Of Enghnds policy
was not mere pretcnsc. Prince Lich-
uOwsky proves I'm his long account OF the
negotiations arising out OF the Balkan
war anu tho establishment of Albania.
AT the outbreak OF that war" he SAYS,
we Germany had unfortunately dc
clncd the proposal Of the French govern
ment TO join In a declaration Of disinter-
estedncss and impartiulity ON the part
OF tho powers ON the other hand he
saws OF Lord Grey. From the beginning
tho British statesman took the stand that
England had no interest In Albania and
was therefore unwilling to be involved IN
II war over this question. He wished sim
ply AZ nn honest broker TO mediate be
tween the two groups and settle difficult
ties. Thus he In no wise placed himself
on the side OF the entente Chis alles) and
during tho negotiations, which lasted
about eight months, by virtue Of his good
viii and weghtv influence. ne contributed
not u lttle toward bringing about concord
and agreement lnsteay Of taking posi-
ton similar to that OF the English we
assumed the attitude prescribed
to us from Vienna. on every
point, including Albania the Serbian har-
bors, In the AdriutiC, SCutlri and the def
milton OF thu Albanian frontiers We were
on the side Of Austria and italy, whilst
Sir Edward Grey hardly ever took tho
French or Russian point ot view on the !
contrary, he nearly always took our part
in order to give no protext for war II |
was with his help that King Nicholas |
was induced 10 leave SCutari Otherwise |
there would have been war over this mat |
ter, rs we should never have dared to !
ask our allies to make concessions
Sir Edward Grey Was Calm.
Lord Grey conducted tho negotia-
tions with circumspectlon. calmness,
ana tact Whenever n question threat
ened 10 become involved. he would draft
mn appropriate formula OF agreement
which invariably proved acceptable to ali
HIS personality commanded equal conf
dence among all the members Of tho
Once more we issued sue
CcSsfullv from one Of those numerous
tests ~ strength which are Charactcris- |
tie Of our foreign policy Russia had |
had 10 yield to us at every point. 80
that she was never in position 10 fur |
ther Serbian ambitions Albania was
created nm Austrian vpssal state and
Serbia was driven from the sea The re-
suit uf the conference was therefore a
fresh humiliation for Russian self-con-
sCioueness"
British Concessions In Africa.
Similarly. when Germany sought con-
cessions In the Portuguese colonies In
Africa. England, as the protector Of
Portuguese interests in Africa. assisted
Germany In obtaining all she wished
Thanks to the ohllEing attitude OF the
British government" Prince Ichnow-
sky writes. Il succeeded tn giving the
new treaty n form which fully coincid-