Part 20 (1/2)
The pa.s.sage in the German Emperor's Speech from the Throne which refers to China is not calculated, it would seem, to appease Great Britain's irritation. ”Germany's Colonies,” said the Kaiser, ”are in a state of prosperous development. At Kiao-chao steps have already been taken to improve the economic conditions of the protectorate. The frontier has been definitely settled by agreement with the Chinese Government. A free port has been opened and work upon it has begun. The construction of the railway which will link up the Protectorate with the Hinterland, will be commenced in the near future. Relying on the old treaties still in force, and on the new rights acquired under the treaty concluded with China on March 6, 1898, my Government will also endeavour in future, whilst carefully respecting the lawful rights acquired by other Powers, _to develop economic relations with China, which, year by year, will become more important, and to secure to German subjects their full share in the activities directed towards opening the Far East to Europe, from the economic point of view_.”
Nor is the influence acquired by William II and his subjects in the Ottoman Empire, emphasised by this same Speech from the Throne, of a nature to rea.s.sure England with regard to her projects in the East. In the Near, as in the Far, East she sees herself being supplanted by Germany, and this by methods identical with her own, against which, therefore, she fights more disadvantageously than against France and Russia, more foolishly chivalrous.
William II, who had replied with insolent sharpness to a legitimate claim advanced by a certain princeling of the Confederated States--the Regent of Lippe-Detmold, Count Ernest von Lippe-Biesterfeld, has had occasion to see that public opinion severely condemns his unjustifiable action. The Confederated Sovereigns and Princes perceive therein a menace to themselves, and have rallied energetically in defence of one of their number. The ma.s.ses, seeing an insignificant princeling oppressed and threatened by the biggest of them, have sided with the weaker. On his return from Jerusalem, William found the situation extremely strained, and he endeavoured to relieve it by concessions of various kinds. None of them, however, were regarded as adequate.
Thereupon, with the suppleness which costs him so little when it is a question of sacrificing his most devoted and valuable servant, the Emperor, King of Prussia, sacrificed Herr von Luca.n.u.s, the head of his private household, an almost legendary personage who had had a hand in every important act of William's life. It was he who carried the Imperial ultimatum to Von Bismarck and escaped unhurt from the hands of the infuriated giant.
Herr von Luca.n.u.s had not been sacrificed to the violent sarcasms of the Chancellor after his reconciliation with William II; he seemed to be una.s.sailable until, simply for having addressed a few improper lines, at the Emperor's dictation, to a minor prince, he is removed from the anonymous post which was one of the occult powers of Potsdam. The august Confederates may consider themselves satisfied.
[1] _La Nouvelle Revue_, January 15, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[2] _La Nouvelle Revue_, February 16, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[3] _La Nouvelle Revue_, March 1, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[4] _La Nouvelle Revue_, March 16, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[5] _La Nouvelle Revue_, April 1, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[6] _La Nouvelle Revue_, June 16, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[7] _La Nouvelle Revue_, July 16, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[8] _La Nouvelle Revue_, August 1, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[9] _La Nouvelle Revue_, August 16, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[10] _La Nouvelle Revue_, September 15, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[11] _La Nouvelle Revue_, October 1, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[12] _La Nouvelle Revue_, November 1, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[13] _La Nouvelle Revue_, November 15, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[14] _La Nouvelle Revue_, December 1, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
[15] _La Nouvelle Revue_, December 15, 1898, ”Letters on Foreign Policy.”
CHAPTER VII
1899
Our diplomatic situation in 1899--William II visits the _Iphigenie_--The Hague Conference--Germany the only obstacle to the fulfilment of the humanitarian plans of the Tzar.