Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-03-26
The German Government and the


The Norddeutsche AlIgemeine Zeitung. of
Berlin, the official organ of the imperial
government of Germany, says in regard to the
French arms sales:
''The last mail from the United States has
brought us an account of the acrimonious de-
bate that has taken place in the American senate
at Washington on the motion of Senator Sum-
ner, a distinguished member of that body, de-
handing an investigation of the sales Of muskets
and cartridges by the government of the United
States TO certain persons who afterwards turned
out to be agents ofthe French government during
the war between Germany aud France.
"Some of last evenings papers have comment
ed upon this account in a manner THAT would
seem 10 call for an explanation on the part of
the imperial government. We believe we are
well informed when we say that our government
takes no interest, or, at the most, only mega
tive one in the question which Mr.. sumner has
brought before the American senate.
"When the fact of these sales during the war
was brought to the notice of our department of
foreign affairs thorough investigation of the
subject took place, and our government arrived
at the conclusion that it would not be justified
in complaining of the course pursued by the
authorities of the United States in reference TO
this affair. Irregularities, such as were alluded
to during the recent debate in the American sem
ate, have undoubtedly occurred; but they were
certainly not important enough to be regarded
as violations of International courtesy, much
less of fragrant breaches of neutrality. No
complaints were addressed, in consequence, by
our government to the cabinet of Washington at
the time when the transactions in question
took place, and none will be made now, especial
ly as the government of President Grant has
uniformly conducted itself toward this country
in a manner so friendly and upright that the re-
lations of the two governments have been, and
are now, of the most cordial nature.
"There are two other points which should not
not be overlooked in forming an opinion upon
the question brought up by Senator Sumner.
That gentleman, during the war, took sides with
France, ana delivered elaborate addresses, full
of very hostile sentiments towards this govern
ment. His present course we have no reason TO
believe to be dictated by friendier feeling to-
ward Germany.
"Mr Sumner is, moreover, a decided enemy
of the present administration of the United
States. On account of his unfriendliness to-
ward President Grant, he had to be deprived of
the influential position of chairman of the SEN
ate committee on foreign affairs, and his present
movement is again intended to prejudice the
American people against the president. The
presidential election takes place next fall in the
United States, and everything is brought for
ward TO prevent the continuance of President
Grant in his present position.
"a French agent the Marquis de Chamhrun,
seems to be mixed up with this affair. 1t is but
natural that the French people and their gov
ernment should he enraged at the uneXampled
venality and rapacity of their agents during the
war. Consul Victor Place, who had his dis
honest hands likewise in this American bust
ness, was but a type OF the French scouudrels
who made money out of the terrible distress of
their country.