It was placed, in confidence, before certain members of the Cabinet, and is still in the archives of the Confidential Department.
The report in question, I obtained—more fully6 than I can here reproduce it—from an intimate personal friend, who happened to be a high functionary7 in Germany, and closely associated with the Kaiser. Germany has spies in England; we, too, have our friends in Germany.
Shortly after the Zeppelin airship had been tested and proved successful, a secret Council was held at Potsdam, in June, 1908, at which the Emperor presided, Prince Henry of Prussia—a clever man whom I know personally—the representatives of the leading[Pg 23] Federal States, and the chiefs of the army and navy—including my informant—being present.
I regret that I am not at liberty to give the name of my informant, for various reasons. One is that, though a German of high position, he holds pro-British views, and has, in consequence, more than once furnished me with secret information from Berlin which has been of the greatest use to our Intelligence Department. Suffice it to say that his identity is well known at Whitehall, and that, although his report was at first regarded with suspicion, the searching investigation3 at once made resulted in its authenticity8 being fully established.
That the Kaiser had decided9 to make war, the British Government first knew by the report in question—notwithstanding all the diplomatic juggling10, and the publication of Blue Books and White Books. The French Yellow Book published in the first week of December, 1914, indeed, came as confirmation11—if any confirmation were necessary—from the lips of King Albert of Belgium himself.
Now at this secret Council the Kaiser appeared, dressed in naval12 uniform, pale, determined13, and somewhat nervous and unstrung. For more than two hours he spoke14 of the danger confronting the German Empire from within and without, illustrating15 his speech by many maps and diagrams, as well[Pg 24] as some well-executed models of air-craft, designed for the war now proceeding.
At first, the Emperor's voice was almost inaudible, and he looked haggard and worn.
[1]"Gentlemen," the Emperor, in a low, hoarse16 voice, commenced, "in calling this Council this evening, I have followed the Divine command. Almighty17 God has always been a great and true ally of the House of Hohenzollern, and it is to Him that I—just as my august ancestors did—look for inspiration and guidance in the hour of need. After long hours of fervent18 prayer light has, at last, come to me. You, my trusted councillors and my friends, before whom I have no secrets, can testify that it has been, ever since I ascended19 the throne, my most ardent20 desire to maintain the peace of the world and to cultivate, on a basis of mutual21 respect and esteem22, friendship and goodwill[Pg 25] with all the nations on the globe. I am aware that the course followed by me did not always meet with your approval, and that on many an occasion you would have been glad to see me use the mailed fist, rather than the silken glove chosen by me in my dealings with certain foreign nations. It was a source of profound grief to me to see my best intentions misunderstood, but bulletproof against public censure23 and criticism, and responsible only to the Lord above us for my acts, I calmly continued to do what I considered to be my holy duty to the Fatherland. True to the great traditions of Prussia, and the House of Hohenzollern, I believed in the necessity of maintaining a great army and an adequate navy as the best guarantee of peace. In our zeal24 for the preservation25 of peace we were compelled to keep pace with the ever-increasing armaments of our neighbours, until the limit seems now to have been reached.
"We find ourselves now face to face with the most serious crisis in the history of our new German Empire. Owing to the heavy taxation26, and the enormous increase in the cost of living, the discontent of the masses is assuming alarming proportions, and even infecting the middle and upper classes, which have, up to the present time, been the strongest pillar of the monarchy27. But worst of all, there are unmistakable signs that the discontent is spreading even among the[Pg 26] troops, and that a secret well-organised anti-military movement is afoot, calculated to destroy all discipline, and to incite28 both my soldiers and sailors to open disobedience and rebellion. As, according to the reports of my Secret Service, a similar movement is making itself felt in nearly all the states of Europe; all indications point to the fact, which admits, indeed, no longer of any doubt, that we have to deal with an international revolutionary organisation29 whose voiced object is the overthrowing30 of throne and altar, and the establishment of a Republican government.
"The gravity of the situation can, in no way, be underrated. In the last session of the Reichstag it was openly admitted that never before had there been among the German population so many friends of a republican form of government as at the present time, and the idea is rather gaining ground, not only among the masses, but also the classes, though I have given the strictest orders to my Government for its suppression. The fact, however, remains31, and I cannot afford to ignore it.
"'Breakers ahead!' is the call of the helmsman at the Imperial ship of state, and I am ready to heed32 it. How to find an honourable33 and satisfactory solution of the problem is a question to which I have devoted34 the closest attention during these last months. The outlook is, I admit, dark, but we need[Pg 27] not despair, for God, our great ally, has given into our hands the means of saving our Empire from the dangers which are threatening its happiness and welfare. You know what I mean. It is that wonderful invention which His Excellency Count Zeppelin was enabled, through the grace of the Lord, to make for the safeguarding and glory of our beloved Fatherland. In this invention God has placed the means at my disposal to lead Germany triumphantly35 out of her present difficulties and to make, once and for all, good the words of our poet, 'Deutschland, Deutschland über alles!' Yes, gentlemen, Germany over everything in the world, the first power on earth, both in peace and war; that is the place which I have been ordered by God to conquer for her, and which I will conquer for her, with the help of the Almighty.
"This is my irrevocable decision. At present we are, thanks to our airships, invincible37, and can carry at will war into the enemy's own country. It goes without saying that if we want to maintain our superiority and to use it to the best advantage, we cannot postpone38 the necessary action much longer. In a few years our good friend, the enemy, may have a fleet of airships equal—if not superior—to our own, and where should I be then? Great Britain has thrown down the gauntlet by declaring that she will build to each German, two English Dreadnoughts, and[Pg 28] I will take up the challenge. Now is our time. The attack has always been the best defence, and he who strikes the first blow generally comes triumphant36 out of the fray39. To find an outlet40 for the discontent of the nation; to nip the growing republican sentiment in the bud; to fill our treasury41; to reduce the burden of taxation; to gain new colonies and markets for our industries across the seas; to accomplish all this and still more, we simply have to invade England.
"You do not look at all surprised, gentlemen, and I see from the joy on your faces that my words have found an echo in your hearts. At last this idea, which is so popular with the greater part of my people, and to the propagation of which I am so much indebted to the untiring efforts of my professors, teachers, and other loyal patriots42, is to become a fact—a fact certainly not anticipated by the English panic-mongers when first creating the scare of a German invasion. Our plans have been most carefully laid and prepared by our General Staff.
"Another von Moltke will, true to his great name, demonstrate to the world at large that we have not been resting on our laurels43 of 1870 and 1871, and that, as the first condition of peace, we have been preparing all the time for war. The glorious deeds of our victorious44 armies will, I fear me not, be again repeated if not surpassed on the battlefields of Great Britain and France, assuring in their ultimate[Pg 29] consequences to Germany the place due to her at the head of nations. I need not go into details at the present moment. Suffice it to say that preparations have been made to convey, at a word, a German army of invasion of a strength able to cope with any and all troops that Great Britain can muster45 against us. For the safe transport of the army of invasion we shall, to a considerable degree, rely on the fleets of fast steamers belonging to the Hamburg-Amerika Line and the North-German Lloyd, two patriotic46 companies, whose officials, employees, and agents have—throughout the world—proven their zeal and devotion to the cause of the Empire, and whose tact47 and discretion48 have already helped my government in many an embarrassing position. Herr Ballin, Director-General of the Hamburg-Amerika Line, whom I received but a few days since on board my yacht 'Hohenzollern' at Swinemünde, is truly a great man and verily deserves something better than to be nicknamed 'the Napoleon of German Shipping'—as his enthusiastic compatriots call him. His activity, his energy, and his brains accomplish the most difficult things, and when the day of invasion arrives, he will reveal his plans.
"Of course it is too early yet to fix the exact date when the blow shall be struck. But I will say this, that we shall strike as soon as I have a sufficiently49 large fleet of Zeppelins at my disposal. I have given orders[Pg 30] for the hurried construction of more airships of the improved Zeppelin type, and when these are ready we shall destroy England's North Sea, Channel, and Atlantic fleets, after which nothing on earth can prevent the landing of our army on British soil, and its triumphant march to London. Do you remember, my Generals, what our never-to-be-forgotten Field-Marshal Gebhard Lebrecht von Blücher exclaimed, when looking from the dome50 of St. Paul's Cathedral upon the vast metropolis51 at his feet. It was short, and to the point. 'What a splendid city to sack!'
"You will desire to know how the outbreak of hostilities52 will be brought about. I can assure you on this point. Certainly we shall not have to go far to find a just cause for war. My army of spies scattered53 over Great Britain and France, as it is over North and South America, as well as all the other parts of the world, where German interests may come to a clash with a foreign power, will take good care of that. I have issued already some time since secret orders that will, at the proper moment, accomplish what we desire. There is even now, as you are all aware, a state of private war existing between our country on the one side, and Great Britain and France on the other, which will assume an official character as soon as I give the word. It will become the starting point of a new era in the history of the world, known[Pg 31] to all generations as the Pan-German era. I once pledged my word that every German outside of the Fatherland, in whatever part of the globe he might live, had a just claim to my Imperial protection. At this solemn hour I repeat this pledge before you, with the addition, however, that I shall not rest and be satisfied until all the countries and territories that once were German, or where greater numbers of my former subjects now live, have become a part of the great Mother-country, acknowledging me as their supreme54 lord in war and peace.
"Even now I rule supreme in the United States, where almost one half of the population is either of German birth, or of German descent, and where three million German voters do my bidding at the Presidential elections. No American administration could remain in power against the will of the German voters, who through that admirable organisation, the German-American National League of the United States of America, control the destinies of the vast Republic beyond the sea. If man ever was worthy55 of a high decoration at my hands it was Herr Dr. Hexamer, the president of the League, who may justly be termed to be, by my grace, the acting56 ruler of all the Germans in the United States.
"Who said that Germany did ever acknowledge the Monroe doctrine57? The answer to this question was given by the roar of German[Pg 32] guns at the bombardment of the Venezuelan fort, San Carlos, by our ships. The day is not far distant when my Germans in the Southern States of Brazil will cut the bonds now tying them to the Republic, and renew their allegiance to their former master. In the Argentine, as well as in the other South American republics, a German-Bund movement is spreading, as is the case in South Africa, where, thanks to the neighbourhood of our colonies, events are shaping themselves in accordance with the ultimate aims of my Imperial policy. Through my ally, the Emperor-King of Austria-Hungary, I have secured a strong foothold for Germany in the Near East, and, mark my word!—when the Turkish 'pilaf'-pie will be partitioned, Asia Minor58, Syria and Palestine—in short, the overland route to India—will become our property, and the German flag will wave over the holy shrines59 of Jerusalem.
"But to obtain this we must first crush England and France. The war will be short, sharp and decisive. After the destruction of the English fleets through our Zeppelins, we shall meet with no serious resistance on the British Isles60, and can, therefore, march with nearly our whole strength into France. Shall we respect the neutrality of Holland? Under the glorious Emperor, Charles V., both Holland and Belgium formed part of the German Empire, and this they are this time to become again. We shall have two or three battles in[Pg 33] France, when the French Government, recognising the impossibility of prevailing61 with their disorganised, mutinous62 regiments63 against my German 'beasts,' will accede64 to my terms of peace. After that, the map of Europe will look somewhat different from what it does now. While our operations are going on in England and France, Russia will be held in check by Austria-Hungary.
"The Empire of the Tsar is still suffering from the effects of its unfortunate war with Japan, and is, therefore, not likely to burn its fingers again, the more so as it is conscious of the fact that any warlike measures against Germany would at once lead to a new outbreak of the revolutionary movement—the end of which no man could possibly foresee. Thus, you will agree with me, we have no real cause to fear Russia. After the war, it will be time to set things right in America, and to teach my friends over there that I have not forgotten the object-lesson which Admiral Dewey saw fit to give me some years since, when we had the little altercation65 with Castro.
"If God will help us, as I am convinced He will, I trust that at the end of the coming year the Imperial treasury will be filled to overflowing66 with the gold of the British and French war indemnities67, that the discontent of our people will have ceased, that, thanks to our new colonies in all parts of the world, industry and trade will be flourishing as they[Pg 34] never were before, and that the republican movement among my subjects, so abhorrent68 to my mind, will have vanished.
"Then—but not before—the moment will have come to talk of disarmament and arbitration69. With Great Britain and France in the dust, with Russia and the United States at my mercy, I shall set a new course to the destinies of the world—a course that will ensure to Germany for all time to come the leading part among the nations of the globe. That accomplished70, I shall unite all the people of the white race in a powerful alliance for the purpose of coping, under German guidance, with the yellow peril71 which is becoming more formidable with every year. Then—as now—it must be 'Germans to the front!'"
The notes before me describe, in vivid language, the effect which this speech of the Emperor had upon his devoted hearers.
The old white-headed General von K—— even knelt before his Majesty72 to kiss the hand which was gracefully73 extended to him.
"It is truly the voice of God that has spoken out of your Majesty," he cried in deep emotion. "God has chosen your Imperial Majesty as His worthy instrument to destroy this nightmare of British supremacy74 at sea, from which Germany has suffered all these many years—and God's will be done!"
The blasphemy75 of it all! In the subsequent Council, which lasted nearly five hours through[Pg 35] the night, the Kaiser arrived with his advisers76 at a perfect understanding regarding the best ways and means to be adopted for a successful carrying out of his Majesty's secret campaign for war.
And Prince Henry of Prussia soon afterwards organised a British motor-tour in Germany and throughout England. And he became the idol77 of the Royal Automobile78 Club!
FOOTNOTES:
[1] The German Government, by some means, learnt that I was in possession of a report of this secret speech of the Kaiser's, and a curious incident resulted. It was my intention, in September, 1908, to write a book pointing out that Germany meant war. With that object I gave to my friend Mr. Eveleigh Nash, the publisher, of Fawside House, Covent Garden, the opening chapters of the manuscript, together with the speech in question. He locked them, in my presence, in a drawer in his writing-table in his private room. Two days later, when Mr. Nash opened that drawer he found they had been stolen! German Secret Agents undoubtedly79 committed the theft—which was reported in certain newspapers at the time—for I have since learnt that my manuscript is now in the archives of the Secret Service in Berlin! This, in itself, is sufficient proof as showing how eager the Kaiser was to suppress his declaration of war. It was fortunate that I had kept a copy of the Emperor's speech.
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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confidential
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investigation
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investigations
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| （正式的）调查( investigation的名词复数 )； 侦查； 科学研究； 学术研究 | |
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thither
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fully
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functionary
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authenticity
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decided
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juggling
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confirmation
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naval
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| adj.海军的，军舰的，船的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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illustrating
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hoarse
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almighty
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fervent
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| adj.热的，热烈的，热情的 | |
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ascended
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ardent
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mutual
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esteem
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censure
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zeal
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preservation
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taxation
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monarchy
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incite
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organisation
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overthrowing
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remains
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heed
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honourable
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devoted
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triumphantly
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triumphant
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invincible
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postpone
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fray
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outlet
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treasury
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patriots
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laurels
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victorious
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muster
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patriotic
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tact
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discretion
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sufficiently
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dome
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metropolis
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hostilities
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scattered
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supreme
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worthy
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acting
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doctrine
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minor
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shrines
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isles
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prevailing
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mutinous
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regiments
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accede
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altercation
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overflowing
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67
indemnities
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| n.保障( indemnity的名词复数 )；赔偿；赔款；补偿金 | |
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68
abhorrent
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| adj.可恶的，可恨的，讨厌的 | |
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69
arbitration
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| n.调停，仲裁 | |
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70
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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71
peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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72
majesty
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| n.雄伟，壮丽，庄严，威严；最高权威，王权 | |
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73
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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74
supremacy
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| n.至上；至高权力 | |
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75
blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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76
advisers
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| 顾问，劝告者( adviser的名词复数 )； （指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授 | |
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77
idol
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| n.偶像，红人，宠儿 | |
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78
automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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