The New York herald., 1874-08-21
Baron Gerolt and the st. Domingo
RumOrS.
MINISTER TO THE FRONT.
He Would Tell All Fie Knows,
A BOURBON MYSTERY.


Fish to your correspondent yesterday regarding
the cesson OF Porto Rico by Spain to Germany
| may considered sufficient, still, Baron
Schlozer, the Minister of the German Empire, is in
Washington, thought II would be well to hear
| what the Baron had TO say. Calling at the Lega-
| tiOn this Afternoon was cordially received and
learned that he had just returned from the State
| Department, where he had been in consultation
with Secretary Fish upon matters pertaining to
| the Legation. AS O rule diplomatists avoid Wash
| ington interviewers, expressions OF opinion by
them not being considered proper while they hold
Official relations with our government. Fortified,
however, with the significant utterance of Mr.
Fish, there was reasonable nope of hearing the
| Baron on the same subject.
| The object OF the visit was very plainly stated.
| This opened the door Of the reception room, and
| from the hallway to delightfully."- cool apartment
! the Baron led the way.
''You have seen,' asked, 'the article published
| in the HERALD in reference to the proposed ces-
sion Of Porto Rico to your government?''
A INDUSTRIOUS ABsURDITY.
! All the emotional nature OF the diplomat came
! to the surface. and his eyes Mashed Indignation
| and his shoulders shrugged nervously. as he re-
| Piled
''Yes, and a more m0nstrous absurdity could not
| be conceived. l have scarcely patience when l
think OF the mischief the alsenood Is designed to
create. AS told you moment ago, was at the
Stale Department this morning to see the Secre-
tary, but not on this matter, though 1t was incl
denralIy mentioned, and we joined In hearty
laughter over the wonderful story. Now let me
give you the best OF reasons why there Is
NOT THE REMOTEsT TRUTH IN THE CONCOCTED
STATEMENT
of the FTeens1n'S Journal. My country has but
one ambition, and that IS to establish itself on
foundation OF lasting peace. Such an encroach-
ment, therefore, as is now the subject OF ne VS.
paper discussion would directly antagonize the
policy or the Empire. The German people are not
aggressive. War is distasteiul to us in whatever
form it comes, and while we are always prepared
for war we never wish it, Twice. however,
! Prussia was compelled to take up arms. The
! Schleswig .Holstein controversy made war neces-
sary IN order TO defend the honor OF my country
against the claim oil Austria, While the last war
was imposed upon US and IN no way our seeking.
| say this much as preface to what l
will have to say in lew minutes
! when we go to war the industrial and
| agricultural interests are paralyzed Every able
/ bodied man must respond whatever his position
| in lie. The result of the Franco Prussian
| to unite Germany, bringing under the new form
! of government an area OF territory requiring the
greatest care. In all parts-of Germany the war
blight had been severely iet, and when peace was
| assured every energy was expended in restoring
the wealth and strength OF the country. Ispeak
with absolute certainty when say
THE ONLY AIM OF GERMANY
| now Is to make It's consolidated governments more
compact, to develop its institutions, everywhere
| encourage the arts OF peace and secure to our
selves an tmpregnable position among the nations
by unfying and s0lidifyng the interests Of the
! whole Empire.
"You will argue then that such departure as is
| V INV gOy ynr
ment from this policy of maintaining friendly reia-
tions with all nations put 1t in hostile attitude
and endanger the security which il now enjoys
from encroachment upon its borders. or such a
course say unequivoc ally my government is an
uncompromisng enemy.
THE COLONIAL POLICY.
"Now, in regard to the acquisition Of foreign
territory can speak with equal positiveness. we
LOOK upon wnat Is called the colonial policy as q
relic OF the eighteenth century, source or weak
ness and in no way acceptable to the German peO
pie. / am trying 10 explain what l know the
policy OF my government is, and, therefore,
can speak, not from conjecture but as
one who has q right to correct evil re-
ports against 1t. Now. TO lnaugurate the 'col
onial policy as reported, would be a matter O
impossibllity to the Empire. We will grant thai
the Spanish people are opposed to parting witt
any of their American colonies That opposition
could not possibly be stronger nor more defan
than is the sentiment OF the German people agains
accepting any new territory especially an islant
remote from Europe. You can express 1t as EN-
phatlcally as you please, that the policy, wisdom
sentiment, the very patriotism of the people rep
resent Is hostile to enlarging our domain. No,
WHAT WE SEEK is THE QUIET OF PEACE.
We want no ontangling alliances, and how any on
who knows the only aim OF the Empecor and hi
advisers which 10 as have stated, could expect t.
be believed in representing contrary policy, It il
impossible for me to understands
Your correspondent then remarked:-
'sBut 1t was asserted you may remember. b!
the st. Domingo commissioners that German In
nuence was extending steadily throughout tn
island, and that the Governor OF the Saman
province told the commissioners tnar the Germa
governments action in seeking information
about The island had caused considerable excite
J ment at st. Domingo"
GERMAN INFLUENCE ST. DOMINGO.
Baron schlozer promptly answered IL kne'
all tnat. But what does it sgnlty9 My countr!
men are engaged in commercial relations with tn
island, and the export OF tobacco is a large bus
ness with Germany. What more natural tha
that Germany, just then emerged from war, shou
!, take into consideration the welfare of all her SUI
= ects wherever located, and officially seek
know the position which they occupied in
Il country which 1t was thought would short
u be annexed to the United States. can asso1
you 1t meant nothing more. Why, in this countl
there are 100000 Germans whose relations wi
the mother country overwhem this legation vii
business matters innumerable, and Keep me at n
= = post while Others can leave Washington duril
the summer season. Would 1t not be as reaso
-. able to say that Germany is looking TO the acqu
y ton Of the United States as 1t would be to suppo
/. that other interests in another country as car
., fully regarded by the German government mea
{. an extension of the eHplreP Oh, moi DO not b