theodore roosevelt-第38章
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Many years later； when Roosevelt and I discussed this episode we cast about for reasons to account for the Kaiser's sudden back…down。 We concluded that after the first interview Holleben either did not cable to Berlin at all； or he gave the message with his own comment that it was all a bluff。 After the second interview； he consulted Buenz； the German Consul…General at New York； who knew Roosevelt well and knew also the powerfulness of Dewey's fleet。 He assured Holleben that the President was not bluffing； and that Dewey could blow all the German Navy； then in existence； out of the water in half an hour。 So Holleben sent a hot cablegram to Berlin； and Berlin understood that only an immediate answer would do。
Poor； servile； old bureaucrat Holleben！ The Kaiser soon treated him as he was in the habit of treating any of his servile creatures； high or low； who made a fiasco。 Deceived by the glowing reports which his agents in the United States sent to him； the Kaiser believed that the time was ripe for a visit by a Hohenzollern； to let off the pent…up enthusiasm of the German…Americans and to stimulate the pro…German conspiracy here。 Accordingly Prince Henry of Prussia came over and made a whirlwind trip； as far as Chicago； but it was in no sense a royal progress。 Multitudes flocked to see him out of curiosity； but Prince Henry realized； and so did the German kin here； that his mission had failed。 A scapegoat must be found； and apparently Holleben was the chosen victim。
The Kaiser cabled him to resign and take the next day's steamer home； alleging 〃chronic illness〃 as an excuse。 He sailed from Hoboken obediently； and there were none so poor as to do him reverence。 The sycophants who had fawned upon him while he was enjoying the Imperial favor as Ambassador took care not to be seen waving a farewell to him from the pier。 Instead of that； they were busy telling over his blunders。 He had served French instead of German champagne at a banquet for Prince Henry； and he had allowed the Kaiser's yacht to be christened in French champagne。 How could such a blunderer satisfy the diplomatic requirements of the vain and petty Kaiser？ And yet！ Holleben was utterly devoted and willing to grovel in the mud。 He even suggested to President Roosevelt that at the State Banquet at the White House； Prince Henry； as a Hohenzollern； and the representative of the Almightiest Kaiser； should walk out to dinner first； but there was no discussion； for the President replied curtly； 〃No person living precedes the President of the United States in the White House。〃
Henceforth the Kaiser understood that the United States Government； at least as long as Roosevelt was President； would repel any attempt by foreigners to violate the Monroe Doctrine； and set up a nucleus of foreign power in either North or South America。 He devoted himself all the more earnestly to pushing the sly work of peaceful penetration； that work of spying and lying in which the German people proved itself easily first。 The diabolical propaganda； aimed not only at undermining the United States； at seducing the Irish and other hyphenate groups of Americans； but at polluting the Mexicans and several of the South American States； and later there was a thoroughly organized conspiracy to stir up animosity between this country and Japan by making the Japanese hate and suspect the Americans； and by making the Americans hate and suspect the Japanese。 I alluded just now to the fact that German intrigue was working in Bogota； and influenced the Colombian blackmailers in refusing to sign the Hay Herran Canal Treaty with the United States； and peered about in the hope of snapping up the Canal rights for Germany。
Outwardly； during the first decade of the twentieth century； the Kaiser seemed to be most active in interfering in European politics； including those of Morocco； in which the French were entangled。 In 1904 the war between Russia and Japan broke out。 Roosevelt remained strictly neutral towards both belligerents； making it evident； however； that either or both of them could count on his friendly offices if they sought mediation。 At the beginning of the war； it was generally assumed that the German Kaiser shed no tears over the Russian reverses； for the weaker Russia became； the less Germany needed to fear her as a neighbor。 At length； however； when it looked as if the Japanese might actually shatter the Russian Empire； Germany and the other European Powers seemed to have had a common feeling that a decided victory by an Asiatic nation like Japan would certainly require a readjustment of world politics； and might not only put in jeopardy European interests and control in Asia； but also raise up against Europe what the Kaiser had already advertised as the Yellow Peril。 I have no evidence that President Roosevelt shared this anxiety； on the contrary； I think that he was not unwilling that a strong Japan should exist to prevent the dismemberment of Eastern Asia by European land…grabbers。
By the spring of 1905； both Russia and Japan had fought almost to exhaustion。 The probability was that Russia with her vast population could continue to replenish her army。 Japan； with great pluck； after winning amazing victories； which left her weaker and weaker； made no sign of wishing for an armistice。 Roosevelt； however； on his own motion wrote a private letter to the Czar； Nicholas II； and sent George Meyer； Ambassador to Italy； with it on a special mission to Petrograd。 The President urged the Czar to consider making peace； since both the Russians and the Japanese had nearly fought them selves out； and further warfare would add to the losses and burdens； already tremendous； of both people。 Probably he hinted also that another disaster in the field might cause an outbreak by the Russian Revolutionists。 I have not seen his letterperhaps a copy of it has escaped； in the Czar's secret archives； the violence of the Bolshevistsbut I have heard him speak about it。 I have reason to suppose also that he wrote privately to the Kaiser to use his influence with the Czar。 At any rate； the Czar listened to the President's advice； and by one of those diplomatic devices by which both parties saved their dignity； an armistice was arranged and； in the summer of 1905； the Peace was signed。 The following year； the Trustees of the Nobel Peace Prize recognized Roosevelt's large part in stopping the war； by giving the Prize to him。
Meanwhile； the irritation between France and Germany had increased to the point where open rupture was feared。 For years Germany had been waiting for a propitious moment to swoop down on France and overwhelm her。 The French intrigues in Morocco； which were leading visibly to a French Protectorate over that country； aroused German resentment； for the Germans coveted Morocco themselves。 The Kaiser went so far as to invite Roosevelt to interfere with him in Morocco； but this； the President replied； was impossible。 Probably he was not unwilling to have the German Emperor understand that； while the United States would interfere with all their might to prevent a foreign attack on the Monroe Doctrine； they meant to keep their hands off in European quarrels。 That he also had a clear idea of William II's temperament appears from the following opinion which I find in a private letter of his at this time： 〃The Kaiser had weekly pipe dreams。〃
The situation grew very angry； and von Billow； the German Chancellor； did not hide his purpose of upholding the German pretensions； even at the cost of war。 President Roosevelt then wroteprivatelyto the Kaiser impressing it upon him that for Germany to make war on France would be a crime against civilization； and he suggested that a Conference of Powers be held to discuss the Moroccan difficulty； and to agree upon terms for a peaceful adjustment。 The Kaiser finally accepted Roosevelt's advice； and after a long debate over the preliminaries； the Conference was held at Algeciras； Spain。
That Roosevelt understood； or even suspected； the great German conspiracy which the Kaiser's hire lings were weaving over the United States is wholly improbable。 Had he known of any plot he would have been the first to hunt it down and crush it。 He knew in general of the extravagant va
