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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 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