theodore roosevelt-第37章
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Now at first； as I have suggested； his chief duty was to continue President McKinley's policies； which concerned mostly the establishment of our insular dependencies； and the readjustment of our diplomatic relations。 I have described how he closed the dispute over the Alaskan Boundary； over our joint control with England over the Isthmus of Panama； and how he circumvented the attempt of the Colombian blackmailers to block our construction of the Canal。
We must now glance at a matter of almost equal importanceour relations with Germany。 The German attack on civilization； which was openly delivered in 194； revealed to the world that for twenty years before the German Emperor had been secretly preparing his mad project of Universal Conquest。 We see now that he used all sorts of base tools German exchange professors； spies； bribers； conventional insinuators and corrupters； organizers of pro…German sentiment； and of societies of German Americans。 So little did he and his lackeys understand the American spirit that they assumed that at the given signal the people of the United States would gladly go over to them。 He counted on securing North and South America by commerce and corruption； and not by armed force。 The reaffirmation of the Monroe Doctrine by President Cleveland in 1895 seriously troubled him； for he contemplated planting German colonies in Central and South America without resistance； but the Monroe Doctrine in its latest interpretation forbade him or any foreign government from establishing dominion in either American continent。 Still； two things comforted him： the Americans were； he thought； a loose； happy…go…lucky people； without any consecutive or deep…laid policy； as foolish republicans must be； and next； he knew that he had the most powerful army in the world； which； if put to the test； would crush the undisciplined American militia at the first onset。 He adopted； therefore； a double policy： he pretended openly to be most friendly to the Americans； he flattered all of them whom he could reach in Berlin； and he directed an effusive propaganda in the United States。 In secret； how ever； he lost no occasion to harm this country。 When the Spanish War came in 1898； he tried to form a naval coalition of his fleet with those of France and England； and it was only the refusal of England to… join in it which saved this country from disaster。 The United States owe Mr。 Balfour； who at that time controlled the British Foreign Office； an eternal debt of gratitude； because it was he who replied to the Kaiser's secret temptation： 〃No： if the British fleet takes any part in this war； it will be to put itself between the American fleet and those of your coalition。〃
The Kaiser expressed his real sentiment towards the United States in a remark which he made later； not expecting that it would reach American ears。 〃If I had had ships enough；〃 he said； 〃I would have taken the Americans by the scruff of the neck。〃 As it was； he showed his purpose to those who had eyes to see it； by ordering the German Squadron under Diederichs to go to Manila and take what he could there。 Fortunately before he could take Manila or the Philippines he had to take the American Commodore； George Dewey； and when he discovered what sort of a sea…fighter the mountains of Vermont had produced in Dewey； he decided not to attack him。 Perhaps also the fact that the English commander at Manila； Captain Chichester； stood ready to back up Dewey caused Diederichs to back down。 The true Prussian truculence always oozes out when it has not a safe margin of superiority in strength on its side。
The Kaiser was not to be foiled； however； in his determination to get a foothold in America。 As the likelihood that the Panama Canal would be constructed became a certainty； he redoubled his efforts。 He tried to buy from a Mexican Land Company two large ports in Lower California for 〃his personal use。〃 These would have given him； of course； control over the approach to the Canal from the Pacific。 Simultaneously he sent a surveying expedition to the Caribbean Sea； which found a spacious harbor； that might serve as a naval base； on an unoccupied island near the main line of vessels approaching the Canal from the east； but before he could plant a force there； the presence of his surveyors was discovered； and they sailed away。
He now resorted to a more cunning ruse。 The people of Venezuela owed considerable sums to merchants and bankers in Germany； England； and Italy； and the creditors could recover neither their capital nor the interest on it。 The Kaiser bethought him self of the simple plan of making a naval demonstration against the Venezuelans if they did not pay up； he would send his troops ashore； occupy the chief harbors； and take in the customs。 To disguise his ulterior motive； he persuaded England and Italy to join him in collecting their bill against Venezuela。 So warships of the three nations appeared off the Venezuelan coast； and for some time they maintained what they called 〃A peaceful blockade。〃 After a while Secretary Hay pointed out that there could be no such thing as a peaceful blockade； that a blockade was； by its very nature； an act of war； accordingly the blockaders declared a state of belligerency between themselves and Venezuela； and Germany threatened to bombard the seacoast towns unless the debt was settled without further delay。 President Roosevelt had no illusions as to what bombardment and occupation by German troops would mean。 If a regiment or two of Germans once went into garrison at Caracas or Porto Cabello； the Kaiser would secure the foothold he craved on the American Coast within striking distance of the projected Canal； and Venezuela； unable to ward off his aggression； would certainly be helpless to drive him out。 Mr。 Roosevelt allowed Mr。 Herbert W。 Bowen； the American Minister to Venezuela； to serve as Special Commissioner for Venezuela in conducting her negotiations with。 Germany。 He； himself； however； took the matter into his own hands at Washington。 Having sounded England and Italy； and learned that they were willing to arbitrate； and knowing also that neither of them schemed to take territorial payment for their bills； he directed his diplomatic attack straight at the Kaiser。 When the German Ambassador； Dr。 von Holleben； one of the pompous and ponderous professorial sort of German officials； was calling on him at the White House； the President told him to warn the Kaiser that unless he consented； within a given timeabout ten daysto arbitrate the Venezuelan dispute； the American fleet under Admiral Dewey would appear off the Venezuelan coast and defend it from any attack which the German Squadron might attempt to make。 Holleben displayed consternation； he protested that since his Imperial Master had refused to arbitrate； there could be no arbitration。 His Imperial Master could not change his Imperial Mind； and the dutiful servant asked the President whether he realized what such a demand meant。 The President replied calmly that he knew it meant war。 A week passed； but brought no reply from Berlin； then Holleben called again at the White House on some unimportant matters； as he turned to go the President inquired； 〃Have you heard from Berlin？〃 〃No；〃 said Holleben。 〃Of course His Imperial Majesty cannot arbitrate。〃 〃Very well； 〃 said Roosevelt； 〃you may think it worth while to cable to Berlin that I have changed my mind。 I am sending instructions to Admiral Dewey to take our fleet to Venezuela next Monday instead of Tuesday。〃 Holleben brought the interview to a close at once and departed with evident signs of alarm。 He returned in less than thirty…six hours with relief and satisfaction written on his face； as he informed the President； 〃His Imperial Majesty consents to arbitrate。〃
In order to screen the Kaiser's mortification from the world； Roosevelt declared that his transactionwhich only he； the Kaiser； and Holleben knew aboutshould not be made public at the time； and he even went so far； a little later； in speaking on the matter as to refer to the German Emperor as a good friend and practicer of arbitration。
Many years later； when Roosevelt and I discussed this episode we cast about for reasons to account for the Kaiser's sudden bac
