Birmingham state herald., 1896-01-12
TENDING TOWARDS PEACE The War Excitement Has Nearly
 ... Died Out.
 # f.'a.,-z5E.i. ALL SERENE IN GERMANY
 A -------- Enoland'c Prnnarafinn lfnr War Is a pInu Ia 4ho
Englands Preparation for War ls Play to the a Gallery
T DOES NOT WORRY THE EMPEROR
the English Newspapers, but Pays No Attention to Them-Opinions of the German Press.


 Berlin, Jan. 1.-The whole tenor of the information being gleaned from govern ment headquarters point to an early res toration of amicable relations between Germany and England. If the emperor. his ministers or the German people were influenced in the least by the savage and unrestrained language indulged in by the English newspapers. as shown by the summaries of their articles telegraphed here, an open rupture between the two governments might be imminent. But the kaiser has for a long time recognized the Responsibility of the diatribes of the English press and the English peo- pie, and though he is deeply irritated thereat. he does not seem to believe that there is any possibility whatever of the outbreak of war between Germany and Great Britain over such a question as that involved in the Transvaal disturb ances. If the emperor has any motives beyond mere interference in behalf of a government asking his assistance in pre- vailing against an alien revolution and for the purpose of protecting German tn- terests. there is no indication here that would afford the slightest clue to them. The semi-official newspapers certainly discuss the question of the isolation of England, but they make not the slight est allusion to any alliances against Great Britain, which the French and English press regard as being projected.
 In Berlin the tone of the foreign office concerning the excitement of the English press and public and the English naval demonstrations and exhibitions of sea strength is nearly akin to contemptuous indifference. There IS n constant ex- change of communications between the two governments, with consequent dis closure of a difference of policy at va rious points of contact, apart from the Transvaal, but none of these disagree ments involve such a radical disturbance of the relations of the two powers as would call for an n'increase of armament on either side. e. 'sts Etf
 In official circles the view taken of Lord Salisbury's fleet demonstrations is that the English premier is playing to the mob and that his attitude cahHmean no attempt to influence the policy of the emperor, which Lord Salisbury we'll knows will. take its development unaf- fected In the slightest degree by menaces or demonstra tions from any quarter.
 The North German Gazette prints an article which Is obviously inspired, which reiterates the German contention that the South African republic. under the terms of the convention of 1884, be came no longer suzerain of the govern ment of Queen Victoria, and as proof of this assertion calls attention to the fact that since 1884 the Transvaal government has appointed envoys and consuls to for eign states without, consulting the gov ernment of Great Britain. and also that the Boer government sent a delegate as an independent power to the internation- al postal congress at Vienna without the slightest complaint. from England that such proceeding on the part of the Transvaal government was in excess of it's authority and an infringement upon the rights of Great Britain.
 The semi-official press generally re- frains from any expansive comment upon the war prepara tions which the English government Is so ostentatiously making, but the Journals which are free handed and are not 11ampered by any official ob- legations or connections do not
 The Vossisehe Zeitung asks the ques- tion: (Which, is England threatening, Germany or the Transyaal republic?"
 The National Zeitung attaches no espe- cal importance to England's naval dem onstrations, but suggests that the gov ernment ought to ask the meaning of them nevertheless, ss
 The Tageblatt says 1t understands that Count Won Hatzfeldt. German ambassa- dor to Great Britain has been instruct ed by the German government to inform Lord Salisbury that these manifestations are supposed to be directed against Ger many, and are likely to provoke serious consequences.
 The Boersen Courier concludes that the English excitement has we'll nigh fizzled out, and the crisis is drawing to an end, everything tending toward peace.
 Apart from purely -Prussian opinion, which the kaiser unquestionably repre- sents, the sentiment pervading the whole of the German states continues to uphold the emperor's action in interfering In the Transvaal. and it will be a bitter na- tional disappointment if the imperial government shall retire single step from the position 1t originally assumed. The entire press of Bavaria. Saxony and wurtemburg. and even the Gotha Gazette and the Coburg Gazette the official or gans of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Duke of Edinburgh) are warm in the approval of the course the emperor has taken, though from no quarter is war advocated.
 The National Zeitung accurately re- fleets the universal feeling upon the con- tinuance of good relations between Ger many and England saying that Germay will be found oftener than hitherto allied with England's opponents in disputes af- fecting English interests. until. the British government shows itself con vinced that Germany's friendship Is more desirable than her enmity. and that Germanys interests need fear but little from the policy of England.