The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-10-07

NihStOH Churchill, minister OF the
navy, since the question was a naval
/ one. Then the Chancellor arranged
further with him that the unofficial
method should be retained and that
Balm should undertake to transmit
all the news regarding the matter
/ which should emanate from England
/ Sir Ernest expressed his lively
gratitude for his cordial reception and
! his satisfaction at the tenor of our
lreply. Later Balm informed me from
\ his hotel that Cassel had expressed
himself as completely satisfied over
the successful outcome of his mission,
and that he would report to his gov
! eminent the good impression made
upon him.
When l thereupon conferred on the
matter with Admiral Won Tirpitz we
both agreed that the naval bill was in
/ danger and, therefore, that we must
be very careful
Diplomatic Preparedness
In perfect secrecy the material was
collected which Admiral Won Tirpitz
was to present at the negotiations; it
consisted of a short historical sketch
of the development of the fleet and of
the increasingly difficult tasks de-
volving upon it; the naval law and it's
aims, nature, enactment and extern
sion; finally, the contemplated naval
bill, its meaning and the method of
putting it through.
The Chancellor asked that the main
negotiations should be conducted at
the palace in my presence. In addi-
ton, | agreed with Admiral Won Tir-
pitt that he should speak English, as
far as possible, and that l, in case of
difficult technical expressions, would
interpret.
Until England made known the
name of the negotiator our time was
spent in suggestions, and Balm in
/ formed US of combinations in connec-
ton with which a number of names,
even that of Grey, came up.
At last the news arrived, through
Balm, that Haldane-the minister of
war, previously a lawyer-had been
entrusted with the conduct of the ne
/ gotiations and would soon arrive Gen
eral amazementl Just imagine, muta-
tbs mutandis, that Germany had sent
her minister of war Cat that time Won
Heeringen) to London, instead of Ad-
miral Won Tirpitz, for the discussion
of naval matteri
When this point was discussed with
a
suppositions were advanced; the Chan
cellor said that Haldane was known
in England as a student of Goethe and
as man versed in German philosophy
and knowing the German language, so
that his choice was a piece of polite
ness toward US. Tirpitz observed that
Haldane had formerly spent some time
in Berlin and worked with General Won
Einem at the war ministry, and hence
knew the state of affairs in Germany
l suggested that all that was very well,
but that the choice of Haldane showed
that England looked upon the ques-
ton as purely political, since he knew
only specifically about naval affairs i;
that the whole thing was probably di-
rected against Germany's naval policy
in general and the new naval bill in
particular; that it would be we'll, there
E fore, not to forget this, in order that
the whole thing might not develop into
a foreign assault upon our right OF
self-determination as to the strength
of our defensive measures.
Haldane arrived and was received
as an imperial guest. Balm, who ac
companied him, solved the riddle OF
{ Haldane's choice on the basis of in
J formation received by him from Eng
land
/ He said that when Cassel had got
| back to London, reported on his recep
= ton, and handed over the German re
! ply, the impression made was so fav
orable that no further doubt was en-
: tertained there as to the satisfactory
: course of the negotiations and theil
: conclusion in the form of an agree
, ment; that, thereupon a keen dispute
, IN oriS he Se.+1
, pecially between Churchill and Grey
as to who should go to Berlin and af
: fix his name to this great historical
. document, in case the object should be
5 achieved of making Germany com
pletely give up the further develop
: ment of her fleet; that Churchill
t thought himself the right man for the
: job, since he was at the head of the
r navy. But Grey and Asquith would
not let their colleague reap the glory
2 and, for this reason, Grey stood for {
t while in the eground-anothel
2 proof that it was politics rather thar
{ the number of ships which was Il
f play the leading role.
Selection of Churchill.
: After while, however it was de
z cided that it was more fitting tt
: Grey's personal and official import
= ance to appear only at the termination
D Of the negotiations, to affix his name
/ to the agreement, and-as it was pu
|, in the information transmitted from
t England to Ballin-"to get his dimes
!. from the emperor and to come in 70
e his part of the festivities and fire
: works which, in good German
means to enjoy the Bengal light il
e Elimination"
: AS it had been decided that Churh
d i'll was not to get this in any event, i
e was necessary to choose somebod,
for the negotiations who was close Il
k Asquith and Grey and who, posses
sing their complete confidence, wa.
/ willing to conduct the negotiations a
n far as the beginning of the fire
l. works; one who, moreover, was al
b ready known at Berlin and not
/, stranger in Germany. Churchill, to b.
e sure, qualified in this, for he had beer
t present a few times at the imperia
r manoeuyres in Silesia and Wurttem
l. berg as a guest of the emperor Bal
|. lin guaranteed the reliability of hi
d London source of information.
: Before the negotiations began
G once more pointed out to Secretary O
S State Won Tirpitz that Hadlane, Il
h spite of being just then minister 0
h war, probably had prepared himsel
G for his task, and had surely receives
d careful instructions from the F'ngIisi