South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-11-23
InstaIIment Two.

InStallmcnt Two.
LONDON, Nov. 22.-Alshough the
negotiations Of 1906 and 1907. al
ready recorded, had no definite re-
suit 1 assisted in promoting in
creasing frankness between the two
foreign Offices, and other things
went with more smOothneSs. Sir Ed
ward Grey kept France and Russia
informed Of all we did. and he was
also very open with the Germans.
Until we'll on in 1911 all went
satisfactory. In the early part of
that year the emperor came 20 Lon
don 20 visit the present king. who
| had b. that time succeeded TO tho
| throne. 1 had venttured to propose
10 the king that during the emper-
or's visit l should. as war minister.
give luncheon 10 the generals VINO
were on his staff But when the en-
peror heard of this he sent a mes
/ sage that he would like to come and
lunch with me himself and to meet
people whom otherwise he might
not see
\ when he came TO luncheon at ny
house in Queen Anne's Gate there
was a somewhat widely selected
party of about q dozen 10 meet
\ him. For il included not only Lord
| Morley, Lord Kitchener and Lord
/ Curzon. who he was sure to meet
/ elsewhere, but Mr.. Ramsay Mac
/ Donald, who was then leading the
| labor party, Admiral Sir Arthur
! Wilson, our greatst naval command
er; Lord Houlton. Mr.. Edmund Cos
so, Mr.. Sargent. MFR. Spender the edi-
ton of the Westminster Gazette and
| others representing varied types of
British opinion. The emperor engaged
in conversation with everyone. and
all went with smOothness.
Causes of Tension.
In July of that year the Panther
was sent to Agadr. and the crisis
I followed again severely strained An
| glo-German relations. My visit to
Berlin in the following February.
was undertaken with a view TO ex-
/ ploring. and. if practicable. soften
| ing, the causes OF tension.
! Ny first interview was one with
Herr Won Bethmann-Holweg. the
/ imperial chancellor. We met in the
British embassy, and the conversa-
ton, which was quite informal was
a full and agreeable one. NV i'm
pressiOn-and 1 shall still retain It
was that Bethmann-H ollweg. was
then as sincerely DESTROYS Of avoid
| ing war as I was myself. I told him
of certain dangers quite frankly, and
he listened and replied with what
| seemed TO me TO be a full undr-
standing of our position. I said
that, the increasing action of Prus-
STA in piling up magnificent arma-
ments was, OF course, within the
| unfettered rights OF the German peo-
pie. But the policy had an inevita-
Bile consequence in the drawing to-
gether Of other nations in the in
terests of their own security. This
was what was happening. told him
frankly that we had made naval
and military preparations. but only
such as defence required. and as
would be considered in Germany
| a matter of routine. I went on 10
observe that our foes we're not
against aggression by any nation.
and ] told him. what seemed TO re-
lieve his mind. that we had no Sc
cret military treaties.
Could Not BE Neutral
But, ] added. II France were at
tackled and IN attempt made TO oc-
cupy her territory. our neutrality
must not be reckoned on by Ger
IL L
vious that our position as an island
protected by the sea would be affect
ed seriously IL Germany had pos
session of the Channel ports on the
northern shores of France. Again,
We were under treaty obligations 10
come 10 the aid OF Belgium in case
of invasion, just as we were bound
20 defend Portugal and Japan in
/ certain eventualitles. In the third
place owing 10 our dependence on
freedom OF sea communications for
food and raw materials, we could not
sit still II Germany elected 10 de-
velop her fleet 20 such an extent
as to imperil our naval protection.
she might build more ships. but
Britain should in that case lay down
Two keelS Tor each one she lalO
down.
The chancellor said that he did
not take my observations at all in
bad part. but I must understand
that his admirals and generals were
pretty difficult. I replied that the
difficulties would be felt at least as
much with the admirals and gen
erals in my own country.
The Kaiser And TirpitZ.
left the chancellor with the
sense that l had been talking with
an honest man struggling somewhat
with adversely. However. next day
was summoned 10 luncheon with
the emperor and empress at the
| SchlosS. and afterwards had a long
Interview. which lasted nearly three
hours. with the emperor and Ad-
miral Won Trpiz in the emperor
, room. The conversation was in
/ German. and was confined 10 naval
questions. My reception by the EN-