The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-11-17
EXPECTED SENSATION In THE
GERMAN REICHSTAG FAILED
TO MATERIALIZE.
QUESTIONS WERE ASKED
REGARDING THE FAMOUS SECRET
TREATY ENTERED INTO
WITH THE CAR.
DECLINED TO STATE
oehtrists, After some Debate, Al
lowed the Matter to Drop With
out Even u Debate.

/ BERLIN, Nov. 16-In authorization of
statement from the imperial chan
cellor, Prince Hohenlohe, on the sub
Ject of the revelations made by Prince
Bismarck, through his organ, the Ham
burger Nachrichten, regarding the Sc
cret treaty which existed between Rus
STA and Germany from 1886 to $780,
there was large attendance at the
| opening OF the reichStag today Among
those present was Count Herbert Bis
marck, eldest son of the ex-chancellor,
who, 1t was rumored, was to take an
| active part In the debate and defend
has father against attacks.
count Won HOmpreSch Centrist
leader, introduced the Interpolation
| notlce or Which was given on Wednes-
oay last. In brief, the question was
ala secret convention between Rus
sla ana Germany exist up to 1890 and
IL SO, why was it not prolonged? FL
haily, nave the recent disclosures had
lnhuence upon the Dreibund and Ger
many's relations with the other DOW
efs?' In reply, Prince Hohenlohe said:
IN regard to the negotiations between
nussla ana Germany from 1887 to 1890 it
e Gas ag sbe%d at the time that absolute
line When this obligation ceased cannot in
consequence, be defined by us alone
sition 70 g iUf tne oi moment, am not in po
| the result OF those negotiations then
rs AS regards the tendency of the German
1ssa i '1waras Russia, since the spring OF
exhaustive reply so long as that Obligation
continues, and leave it to the foreign sec
| Ietary, VINO took part in the deliberations
to- say what can be said in that resneef
AFTER careful examination of the ayaiIa
f p1e material ns l cannot help recognizing as
I UuH OF weight the motives which governed
German policy, and at the same time 7 can
express the conviction that no unfayorable
bbt aS r1 IN our relations with Russia
the time British, or, indeed any foreign in
nuences, have had contrbutory effect. must
De dismissed as devoid OF ali foundation
| (Bravo. bravo.)
AS to the effect which recent publications
nave nay nag upon the position of Germany In
Inc Dreiound and her relations with other
european powers, am glad to be able to
ueclare that the cloud of distrust which at
| tue Hfst moment was observable among snnne
classes OF the population of those countries
mas again disappeared, and our relations with
| our alIies are marked now, as before by
| absolute mutual confidence In the same
s %ays our relations with Russia have never
VAppiause from all parts of the house.)
NO REVELATIONS.
The minister for foreign affairs
baron Marschall Won Bieberstein, fol-
entering upon the subject of German mil
10y towards Russia | am perfectly alive to
the great o1fhcultfes of the task. Please do
not expect any revelations from me- 7 have
no authority to make them and moreover
| tney would probably only increase fine strife
aRu we nave enough strife in this country.
| SCr1es OF Very true.,O My task is to throw
light upon certain attacks SO far as general
~ en 5 at nome and abroad requires them
In the latest controversy, two conclusions
leaalng IN Numerically opposite directions
STAND out prominently. One is that the Ger.
| plumbers and surrendered an innortant 60
curlty Tor the preservation of peace The
otner charge, which is leveled against the
PoiIcy prior to 1880 asserts that at that time
| tnlngs were agreed upon with another state
contrary to existing treaties The latter
charge IS the most serious. for it strikes US
IN the spot where as are entitled to saw
with some PRIDE we are most susceptible
Ihear. hear) l therefore address n,yself
nrst 10 that charge and repel, with emphasis,
| mat anything was ever agreed to by Ger
many with any state whatever that is in
compatible with existing treaties. (Cheers)
| Ihat has not occurred, neither in the let
| yer nor IN the spirit, for whatever we have
| agreed to was designed to serve the inter-
ests OF peace. 1t is however, doubtful wheth-
er, Win number of alliances and treaties
| the intrinsic value OF each increases mr. da
| creases. The danger arises in multifold Sc
cnrity' that 1t may refuse it's office at a de-
| cisive moment.
! Wars which are avowedly wars of agrees
sion are Things OF the past, even between
1atlons mat believe they have reason to be
| dissatisfied with their lot. There exists aft
the present time so great desire for peace
| increased by the general system Of obIiga-
tory military service and dread of the effects
OF modern warfare, that every government
| which is resolved to make war will use every
enort for the sake of its people, to avoid the
odlum OF being the aggressor There is
more freedom nowadays to discuss the ques-
ton as to who is responsible for war: where
from 1t results that treaty Of alliance can
only be effective, in case of attack upon the
/ regard
! as the defenders of just cause and not as
the aggreSsors. This feeling cannot be set
| down IN clauses. 1t must be acquired main
tanned and cultivated 1t does NOT have its
! birth i'll treaties nor does it necessarily cease
! 20 exist on the expiration Of the treaty 1t
| is passed, IN the case of governments as we'll
| as governed, upon the KNOWLEDGE that the
maintenance OF the respective positions Of
tne aInes among the powers is their COM
mon interest ana upon the mutual convictions
that what one asks, it is itself prepared to
! grant under given circumstances
! These are the factors determining tho
actual value Of treaties In the recent reve-
| ia1ons, it was asserted that until 1890
| complete Russo-German entente existed nv
| which in the event that either was attacked
! the other would maintain benevolent neutral
! ity. Whether this is correct 1 cannot saw
But know that clause Of our treaty with
Austria pledges u.s. in the event Of a Rus
sian attack, to hasten to the aid Of Austria
with our whole military power But If thn
revelations are correct, we might be placed
| IN the position that in the event of war he
] tween our two Eastern allies we should he
| asked on one side to maintain benevolent
| neutrality and on the other to support with
all our military strength. We should then
nave TO decide who was attacked and who
was the attacker. This suggestion however
| is only valuable as an illustration
When the Austro-German treaty of 1879 was
concluded. special provision stipulated that
| in spite of the secrecy of the treaty, it might
! be communicated conhdentially to Russia
| rms communication was duly made in order
| to avert possible difficulties and misunder |
| standings arising out Of unconditional secrecy
/ IL Capr1v1 took another view of the reinsur-
ance, IL he scented dangers in unconditional
| secrecy or considered it even doubtful wbeth |
! er the guarantees of peace might not thereby
! be lessened, there might be ground for criti |
| ciS1ng his opposing this view But T main
| tain the conviction that this experienced and !
! conscientious man is above the attack which !
mas Deen made upon him. The notion that
English influence was the inconceiyabIe |
ground which induced Caprivi on that ac- |
! count, not to renew the treaty with Russia |
| Is uninteligible. The course of time has
! taught US that the omission to renew the |
| treaty has not led to diminished peace susr-
| antees for Germany.
Did the acute danger Of war arise at any
time in those years? No. 1t Is said that the |
policy embttered our relations with Russia |
| resist the temptation TO compare our re- |
lations with that country before and after |
1880. Comparison is unnecessary and useless |
and it will always rebound to the honor If |
| Prince Bismarck that he knew how in |
| difficult times, to maintain our relations with |
Russia good and friendly footing make
| them useful in case of war and serve indi |
rectly to the maintenance Of peace History |
will place these services in a still clearer
light than ] have done today. But il seams |
| like attempting to depreciate and undervalue |
Prince Bismarck's services to assert that |
the fragile pedestal of agreements which !
needed TO be renewed from time tn time Our /