Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-03-18
Kaiser Wants Treaty Stronger

"Neues Palais, Nov. II, 1914.--Dear-
est Nicky: Your kind letter shows
once more that the localization of the
actual war and the avoidance of
European war are the guiding prin-
cip1e of our mutual exertions. I
take the liberty of abusing your kind
permission in our mutual interest to
propose two changes; one is to mod
ify my proposal, the other the final
clause of yours.
"It may be possible that the sem
tence, "A fin de localiser la guerre
Russo-Japanaise' Tin order to localize
the Russo-Japanese wary, if through
the publication officially or by indis-
erection secretly the contents of the
treaty became known, could be in
terpreted by other powers as mean
ing that the treaty was valid only
in case England went to war as ally
of Japan. e., directed as a menace
of procative meaning solely against
her. In reality and practically it is
so, but Tout verite nest pas bon a
dire cit is not good to tell the whole
trutho. We now see the British pub
lie in state Of nervousness nearly
bordering on lunacy, Of which it has
just given US all some delightful
proofs. 1t would in this mood look
upon this treaty as a, direct provoca-
ton and straightaway urge on the
final catastrophe we both are try
ing to avoid or to postpone at least.
Therefore, 1 suggest sentence used
by yourself, a fin d'assurer 1e MAIN
tien de la paix en- Europe Gin order
IN IA mo int Of
in EuropeD, which would answer per-
fectly to our purpose and can on no
account be looked upon as a provo
cation. We only think of ourselves
and refrain from pointing with fin
gers at anybody (Which besides is
looked upon as a want of manners
in society. Nobody with clean
conscience n. bias any right to
feel annoyed at such a treaty, and it
will be very difficult for the irate
jingoes in England to turn it's con-
clusion into 'casus helli.'
This change in the wording of the
treaty, to my belief, necessitates a
certain limitation of time-either a
short one with an abrogation limit,
at any moment or year or, if you like
it better, a longer term. The pro"
longation would, in case-as I fer
vently hope-the treaty meets the
wishes of and proves boon to the
two nations, go on quite by itself
automatically. This can be arranged
exactly as you like it.
keep America Out of It."
"The next change refers to the
newly added final clause of the trea-
ty. 1t must be borne in mind that
should you, for instance, wish the
treaty to remain unpublished, indis-
cretions are possible--walls have
ears and diplomatists tongues that
will wag-under such circumstances
the meaning put upon this sentence
would be that l had precisely bound
myself to help you to defend the
conquests of Russia, which would
tend to Immediately replace article /
in purely aggressive light. This
would lead the whole political world
to infer that we had-instead of con-
Guiding a defensive alliance-formed
a sort of chartered company limited
for annexation purposes, possibly in
volving secret clauses for the pri-
Vate benefit of Germany. The gen.
eral mistrust ensuing would gravely
Imperil our mutual situation, because
America would Immediately join Eng
land-Which on no account must be
allowed-acting under the suspicion
that Russia and Germany were on
the move for aggressive operations
to further selfish ends. But it will
just be the main task of Russian and
German diplomatists to stop America
joining England. Should the treaty
become known either by official pub
LEGATION or indiscretions, Buelow-in
answering questions in parliament
must be able to declare that no Sc
cret clauses exist able to harm
the defensive nature Of the treaty or
assuring Germany-au detriment des
autres Ito the detriment OF the 9TH
ers)-anything else beyond the help
in the defense of the peace of Europe.
if it were endangered by anybody
else. This is why I submit a differ
ent wording of the sentence.
THE ruling idea in 1t is the con-
tinuous polemic of the Russian press