Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-01-12
THE TALK OF BERLIN.
Whom Is England threatening -
That's Wha. Germans Ask.
Special Gable Letter.


Special Gable Letter.
BERIIN. January 1.-THE whole tenor
of the information being Cleaned from
government quarters points to an early
restoration 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 INDUCED In
by the English newspapers. as shown by
the summaries Of thair articles tele-
craphed here. an open rupture between
the governments might be imminent. But
the Kaiser has for long time recognized
the responsibility of the diatribes OF
the English press and people, ana
though he ia deeply irritated fhereat ne
does not seem 10 believe That there
IA any possibility whatever of the out
break of war between Germany and
Great Britain over such a question as
that involved In the Transvaal disturb
ancas.
II the Emperor has any motives be-
yond mere interference in behalf OF
government asking mis- assistance IN pre-
vailing against an alien revolution anu
for the purpose OF protecting German IN
tersts. 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 slightest
alhsion to any alliances against Great
Britain. which the French and Enslish
press regard as being projected
CONTEMPTUoUS INDIFFERENCE
In Berlin the tone Of the Foreign Office
concerning the excitement OF the English
press and public. and the English naval
nd exhibition
strength. is nearly akin 10 contemptuous
Indifference. There Is a constant exchange
OF communications between the two gov
ernments, with the consequent disclo-
sure of a difference of policy at various
points OF contact, apart from the Trans
yaal but none of these disagreements
involve such a radical disturbance of the
relations Of the two Powers as would
call for an increase of armament on
either side
In official circles the view taken OF
Lord Salisbury's feet demonstrations is
that the English Premier is playing to
the mob, and that his attitude cannot
mean an attempt to influence the policy
OF the Emperor, which Lord Salisbury
well knows will take its own develop
ments, unaffected in the slightest degree
by menacfs or demonstrations 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 a suZerain of the Govern
ment OF Queen Victoria, and as proof OF
this assertion calls attention to the fact
that since 1854 the Transyaal Government
has appointed ENJOYS and consuls 70
foreign States without consulting the
Government OF Great Britain, and also
that the Boer Government sent a dele
gate an an independent Power to the In
ternational Postal Congress a; Vienna.
without the slightest complaint from
England that such a proceeding on the
part OF the Transyaal Government was
IN excess OF its authority and an IN
frlngement upon the rights OF Great Bril-
tain.
UNOFFICIAL PRESS COMMENT.
The semi-official press generally refrain
from any expansive comment upon the
war preparations which the English Gov
eminent Is so oStentatlously making, but
the journals which are not hampered by
official connections DO not.
The Vossische Zetung asks the ques-
ton: "Whom Is England threatening.
Germany or the Transvaal republic?'
The National Zeitung attaches no espe-
cjal importance To England's naval de-
monstrations. but suggests that the gov
eminent ought 10 ask the meaning OF
them. nevertheless.
The Tageblatt says II understands that
Count Won Hatzfeidt. German Ambassa-
dor TO Great Britain. has been Instructed
by the German Government to inform
Lord Salisbury that these manifestations