iser and to Prussia. Our
interest, our twofold interest, was not to have a war with England, and
to let Germany see that it was to her interest that we should not be
deprived of our maritime power which _protects_ the free development of
German expansion.

We possess at this moment a third of Africa, a portion of Asia and
Madagascar; before trying to add to these possessions, let us endeavour
to make the most of their wealth.

To sum up: our position has never been better, if we _know how to wait_
and not to make ourselves cheap. As the faithful Allies of Russia,
either England or Germany will have need of us.

* * * * * *

And so, the German Emperor, King of Prussia, has added another chapter,
and not the least astounding, to the volume of his swift changes and
contradictions. The author of the telegram to President Krueger has
received at Berlin Mr. Cecil Rhodes, the instigator of Jameson, invader
of the Transvaal! William II has been negotiating with him in the
matter of the telegraph line and the railway. If any one had foretold,
on the day that he sent his famous telegram concerning the rights of
the South African Republic, that the paladin who signed this chivalrous
message would come to discuss "business" with Sir [_sic_] Cecil Rhodes,
or that the latter would have dared to present himself, in a check
suit, before the Kaiser wearing his winged helmet--such a prophet would
have been regarded as a dangerous lunatic. Nevertheless, so it is.
Mr. Rhodes entered the Imperial Palace quite simply and naturally,
conveying to the Emperor the affectionate regards of Queen Victoria. I
do not know whether they shook hands. Between business men,
shopkeepers ready for a deal, etiquette is superfluous and a ready
understanding easy. Shake!

Herr von Buelow, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs communicated the
news to the Reichstag, promising further information on the subject
before long. And now, what becomes of the hope of a rupture with
England, anticipated by our worthy apostles of the Franco-German
Alliance against perfidious Albion? Not only does William II flirt
with old England and give her pledges, but he opens his arms to the
most dangerous, the most enterprising, the most compromised of
Englishmen, the Napoleon of the Cape!

April 27, 1899. [3]

Were it not for Alsace-Lorraine, we should be the ally of colonial
Germany. Were it not for Alsace-Lorraine, we shou