An
American address to the German Kaiser,
Considers
the risk of peace coming too early,
Before
the crushing of that militaristic state.
For
over forty years German militarism,
Has
been a threat to the civilised world.
Germany
has developed her industries
With
borrowed capital, using own resources,
To
build a monster of a military machine –
Whose
desires are to rule across the world.
The
Kaiser has blatantly taught his people,
To
dream, think, write and prepare for war.
All
nations might consider themselves,
As
possible victim of Germanic ambition.
Even
the United States, has twice been
On
the edge of hostilities with Germany.
The
Monroe Doctrine of USA foreign policy,
In
opposing influence of powers outside
The
America’s, seems to be a scrap of paper,
To
be torn up by imperialist Teutonic warlord.
Just
one word from the Kaiser himself,
Would
have mediated any Austro-Serbian
Conflict
- but saying nothing put the world
Into
war -To talk of peace would rest on -
What
terms? To be little more than a truce?
A
scrap of paper on which German Autocracy,
At
any time the Kaiser might wish to violate.
Militarism
would hang over all nations still -
War
would begin again after five or ten years,
Upon
gaining new resources for a new war.
In
the 'Court of Cannon' The Kaiser submitted
Issues
that cannot be withdrawn – the result,
Written
in iron and blood – Europe, Germany,
Or
their people, cannot be free until that very
Monster
of Militarism is completely destroyed.
A
Comparison made to the American
Civil
War - says peace, is no more possible,
And
has to be more than ‘paper peace’ –
The
American view calls for Emancipation,
And
proclamation to break the shackles,
Of
military autocracy - any sacrifice of blood,
And
suffering will be in vain, without
Beginning
a new freedom in the world.
by
Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1914.
'Court of
Cannon’ – America’s reply to Kaiser Wilhelm. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 14 Sept. p.7. Col.7. Available
at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11077879/Daily-Telegraph-September-14-1914.html
[Accessed: 14 September 2014].
Mann, J., 2014. 100
years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication, 14
September 2014).
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