Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-12-13
GERMANY WIS NEUTRAL.
Did Not Interfere in Late War-Wishes Trade
Relations Continued.

Berlin. Dec. 12.-During the coure of
the debate on foreign affairs in the
,Reichstag, today, Herr Richter. the
German Radical leader, expressed the
opinion that Emperor Williams tour
OF the Holy Land had left a mixed i'm
preston in the minds of Protestants
Continuing Herr Richter protested
agalnstthe recent expulsions from
North Schleswig as being unworthy of
a great people and expressed the hope
that the negotiations with Great Brit
ain for commercial treaty were .pro-
crossing well. The Radical member
also said that no unnecessary obstacles
should be placed in the way of the I'M
portation of American products.
he then advocated the new army bill
but said it was of such proportions
that it did not harmonic with the
sympathy expressed in the speech
from the throne on thte subject of the
cars disarmament proposals. In
conclusion Herr Ritcher severely crit
icised the treatment of the Lippe-De-
tolde island and demanded that EN-
peror Williams telegrams should be
countersigned by the responsible min
lister.
Count Posadowsky- Webner, imperial
secretary of state for the interior. re-
piled. Referring to the alleged general
unasiness as to the condition of pub
lie affairs, he said that in his opinion
the situation both at home and abroad
was favorable. In any event he could
aver that there was no uneasiness
among the federal governments of the
the empire, which We're entirely of one
mind on all important qustions. Baron
Won Buelow, the foreign secretary
dwelt at length on foreign affairs He
said the Eastern question at the pres
| ent moment was peaceful and much
less threatening to the peace of the
world, though he did not mean to i'm
ply that the problem was settled
Discussing Emperor Williams recent
tour, Baron Won Buelow said that it's
result had disproved all the stories
disseminated as to adventurous plans
and opposing claims.
The journey also showed other gov
ernments, the forcing secretary con-
tinued, that Germany does not wish
to iniure the well founded right of
others anywhere. Neither in the East
nor elsewhere did Germany oppose
French interests though of course, she
had nowhere recognized a foreign pro-
tectorate of German subjects the pro-
lection of German belonging only to
the German Emperor.
Referring to the expulsions from
Prussia, he said: international rela-
tionS will be in no way disturbed since
the eXpulsions Were an act of sover-
eighty, which, in certain special cases.
could not be avoided. Confidential,
friendly Negotiations with Austria on
the subject are proceeding"
With regard ITO Germany's relations
| to Great Britain, Baron Buelow said
there were various matters in which
Gernany could proceed in company
with England and that willingly. with
out prejudice to, and with the fullest
maintenance of other valuable rela-
tons. Then turning to Germans at
titude toward the Hispano- American
war he said: Our duty has been tu
take care that Germany's relations
With neither Spain nor America should
Zoe disturbed. Germany has no special
interest in Cuba: and it was not for
Germans to judge who was right or
who was wrong. Therefore the Ger
man government mas scrupulously OBJ
served a loyal neutrality. Never dur
ing the war did the government show
or even feel any inclination toward un-
warranted intervention.
In "a straightforward manner, with
in tie bounds of strict neutrality and
without prsjudicing our relations with
either g,eIMgerent. we did everything
in our power to prevent injury to Ger
man shipping ana trade. (Cheers).
Various differences of principle existed
in our commercial relations with Amer
lea, but the( negotiations that were
stopped during the war will be resum-
ed and i may venture to believe, that
with mutual good will the friendly re-
lations between Germany and the Cni-
ted States will be maintained in the
field OF commerce"