The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-06-19
SUNDAY. JUNE 19. 1898.
ARE WE TO HAVE GERMANY ON
OUR HANDS ALSO?


ton al an. Il is to the effect that Ger
many has no idea of meidling with us in
our operations against the Philippine
Islands. But Germany recently seized
Kaio Chou Bay while disclaiming all idea
OF appropriating Chinese territory and
now Germany is firmly installed there
and proposes 10 remain and TO make very
large additions 10 her seizures. The rep
presentations which the English govern
ment make have been always proved, for
the last hundred years, 10 be sincere.
But the diplomacy of Continental Eu-
rope proceeds always upon Talleyrand
idea that words are used to conceal
thoughts We must pay more attention,
therefore. 10 Germany's acts than we do
10 her professions.
II cannot be denied that the Germans
are doing many things at Manila that
have an ugly look. In the first place.
there was no sort of occasion for her TO
have sent any such fleet there as she has
sent. She has not one NTH of the ships
in those waters that England has there.
and her interests I'm Manila are certainly
no greater than Englands. yet Admiral
Dewey telegraphs our Navy Department
that the German commander I'm chief OF
the Eastern Station is there with three
German warships. which are as many
less one. as England. France and Japan
have altogether there and another Ger
man warship. he tells us. is expected when
Germany viii have as many warships at
Manila as the other three powers named
have there. This OF Itself is a circum-
stance 20 noted AID kept steadily I'm
view
Again. the correspondent at Manila Of
the London Mail telegraphs his paper
that 1t is IN the air I'm Manila that the
Germans have something up their
sleeves" and he adds: 1.-THE Germans
are disposed 10 be meddlesome. Germans
and spaniards are very chummy. enter
tanning one another az dinner parties and
walking arm-in-arm everywhere There
S. no question about how the British feel.
They are watching the Germans closely.
Again. a party OF German naval officers
rode with a party Of Spanish officers to
an entertainment almost at the lines OF
the insurgents and dincd there, the in
ference being almost Irresistible that they
hoped 10 bring on row with the ma
tives and thus give the German admiral
a pretext for landing marines TO protect
mans proposed that they be allowed 10
remove the Spanish wounded TO their
ships for treatment. which Admiral De-
wey IS said TO have forbidden.
All this has an ugly look and very
ugly look. and with the well known
methods OF European diplomacy 1t counts
for infinitely more than all the profess
sions which the German government may
make. We are very sorry TO admit It.
but We fear the indications all point TO
Germany havingAmade up her mind TO
Try meddling with our affairs in the
Philippines. She has no right TO inter
fere with us there IN the slightest de-
gree. our conduct there IS TO be con-
sldered In the light OF the circumstances
that existed when war broke out It
came Ike a clap OF thunder from a clear
sky We were ready with a fleet on the
eround-or. on the sea, rather-that could
deal with the Spanish fleet. but our land
forces were seven thousand miles away
and Il necessarily required a reasonable
time for us 20 get them there and take
possession OF the territory that our feet
had put at our mercy. By all interna-
tjonal law we are entitled 10 that time
and we have been hurrying our land
forces there and will have them there
well within the time that the laws OF ma
lions give US 20 DO IL. II Germany inter
feres With our execution Of this move
rnent she will DO II in violation OF every
principle OF international law, and It viii
be an act OF war against Us upon her
pa1.
Mr. Mckinley should al once take the
most serious notice OF this state Of facts.
lie should az once notify the German
government that We have observed the
facts mentioned with the greatest con-
cern. end that We fear they are acts UNI
friendly 10 this government. But that
ihcre must be no Misunderstanding what
ever. and that II German officers inter-
fore with our lsns or laval forces in any