has only to read it, in order
to understand the inducements which the Government of William II holds
out to informers. The end of this article runs as follows: "Every
individual having knowledge of such an infringement, and who shall fail
to notify the authorities, is liable to imprisonment."

To hear these Germans, one would think that France and Russia are
flooding the Empire with spies, whilst Germany never sends a single one
of them to France or Russia. In the first place, all these statements
are purely cynical; and in the second Germany can very well afford to
dispense with professionally selected spies, inasmuch as every German
prides himself on being one at all times in the service of the Fatherland.

April 12, 1892. [22]

William II makes a solemn promise to his august grandmother, Queen
Victoria, and to the "best beloved" of his Allies, the Emperor of
Austria, that he will restore the Guelph Fund. Francis Joseph has
obtained from the Duke of Cumberland the somewhat undignified letter of
renunciation, which we have all read, and now it is either up to Rogue
Scapin or Bre'r Fox, just as you please! William II says that he never
meant to give back the capital, but only the interest! It is easy to
imagine the effect produced on those concerned by the revelation of this
astonishing mental reservation. But this is not all! The King of
Prussia--always short of money, always in debt on account of his
extravagant fancies and expensive clothes, and half ruined by his mania
for running to and fro--had made certain arrangements for meeting his
creditors by means of the Guelph Fund, but with the proviso, needless to
say, that they affected only the interest!!

It is said that the heir of the House of Hanover has written a second
letter which evoked a sickly smile from William II, and of which
Councillor Roessing has suppressed the publication with some difficulty.

Amongst other things, William II has had quick-firing guns, supplied to
the people of Dahomey by slave merchants. The Berlin _Post_, directly
inspired by the Emperor, tells us exactly what is his object in so doing--

"England and Russia will not help France to settle her difficulties in
her colonies. These two Powers are far too pre-occupied with the
struggle for supremacy in Asia. France is, therefore, reduced to looking
to Germany as her sole support. If France consents to work together with
Germany, Africa will be won for civilisation