he 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 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 wea