The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-02
Ambassador White and a Foreign
Official interviewed at Berlin by
the New York Stats Zeitung's Man.
GERMANS NOT LYING In WAIT
WITH THE VIEW OF AMBUSHING
AND HARMING AMERICANS.
Relations of the Two Governments
Friendly, and Sentiment of the PeO-
pie Said to BE Misrepresented.

Stats Zeitung.
BERLIN, Aug. LIN view of the deplora-
BILE fact that the attitude and sentiment Of
both the German officialdom and populace
have been, and still are, grossly misrepre-
scented in a large portion of the American
press, have undertaken to obtain informa-
ton from competent quarters on this mat
ter. l have asked Mr.. Andrew D. White
the diplomatic representative of the United
States in Germany. for an explicit state
ment, and Mr.. White was kind enough to
grant my request in the most satisfactory
manner. Al ether valuable statement of a
highly official character was furnished to
me in the German Foreign Office. These
two statements leave no room for the
slightest doubt that the official relations be-
tween the two countries are the very best.
From the beginning the German govern
ment has maintained the strictest neutral
!ty-in fact, a benevolent NATURALIZATION the
United States The vast majority of the
German populace is decidedly friendly dis
posed to the Americans. Only the Agrari-
ans and the anti-Semites show a defiant
attitude. There are, to be sure, quite a
number of journals that have published un-
favorable criticism on the American war
fare, but this is of no meaning whatever,
those papers only having in mind to keep
up their right to criticise,' which is, as gen.
orally known, an essentially German pc
culiarity.
Mr.. Andrew d. White said to me verbally:
1.-THE relations between the German and
American governments have been, and still
are, excellent. AS simple matter of fact
no person acquainted with the matter will
deny that the German government has
treated ours with fairness, or claim that it
has been wanting in courtesy to our gov
eminent, as to it's representative in Berlin.
There is no exception to this statement. AS
to the German people at large / am salts
fled that the substantial thinking part of
them are on the whole friendly to America.
/ am receiving letters every day which in
dictate this OF course there has been on
the part of a considerable number natural
sympathy with Spain as a weaker power
fighting stronger one; quite likely, too,
considerable portion of landed propretors
and of leading manufacturers have had
prejudices against the United States caused
by what they have considered interference
with their prosperity; and it must be con-
fessed that a very large majority of the
German newspapers have been more or less
hostile to the United States. But it is per-
fectly evident that German sentiment is i'm
real character of the struggle is more and
more clearly seen.
SOME PROVOCATION.
There have been unquestionably some
provocations from the American side; some
of our boosters and tall takers have been
taken too seriously here. There have also
been utterances regarding Germany from
time to time, even in some of our most re-
al a lie Wh hax CT Gor-
man resentment in some quarters. Indeed.
on both sides Of the Atlantic there seems
to have been an elaborate and long con-
tinued effort to misrepresent everything in
both directions so as to stir ill feelings. Who
is responsible for this on this side of the
ocean or the other / cannot undertake to
say; but, this much is certain-that most
absurd charges have been telegraphed to
the United States and widely spread.
Leading Americans, too suppose that
the German government and the German
people generally We're treating the Amer
leans badly, whereas the very opposite is
the case, and, on the other hand, letter
writers have frequently sent to the leading
German papers statements from America
alleging that the Americans were treating
the Germans there badly and showing
general hatred of them. One or two Incl
dents may be taken as typical of many.
Shortly after my arrival here some one ca
bled to America a story that the feeling
against America was was SO strong mere that
order insisting that official people must pre-
sent themselves at my receptions. AS a
matter of fact the So-called order was SIM
ply the usual official notification always
issued when a new ambassador arrives and
is ready to give his three regular recep-
tons. The most courteous conduct and
kind feeling was shown by all concerned.
80, too at one of the closing sessions
of the Reichstag, l was present in order to
hear a most interesting debate. TO my
amazement, shortly afterward / learned
that a story had been widely circulated in
America that the secretary of the Amer
lean embassy and myself had been grossly
insulted from the floor by Conservative
members of Parliament In this, also.
there was not the shadow of truth; on the
contrary, one leading Conservative member
of the Bundesrath came up to the diplo-
matte box, sat with us and kindly pointed
out various interesting men on the floor;
other members saiuted us kindly from their
seats. Neither then nor at any other time
has there ever been toward the American
indication of personal ill feeling.
THE IRENE INCIDENT.
ST could mention certain other examples
of kilograms evidently intended to stir up
ilfeeling equally unfounded and absurd. 1t
is clear that the so-called Irene incident was
used by persons wishing to stir up strife in
the same manner. There was nothing in it
to create the slightest antagonism between
the two countries. The same may be said re-
garding the alleged alteration between Adj
miral Dewey and Admiral Diedrichs The
whole details were an invention. l neither
assert nor deny that leading men in Ger
many have large plans for the extension of
the commercial influence of the empire. /
regard such plans not only natural but
praiseworthy. Nothing has been done yet
in furtherance of such plans of which we
can complain. My own feeling is that there
is nothing Incompatible in an extension of
the commercial spheres of Germany and
other great European powers in the East
with our own interests. On the contrary,
believe that, properly managed, such inter-
ests may be made to help each other, and
that America will be all the stronger and
richer for the extension of the civilizing in
fuence of Germany and other great enlight-
ened powers in those regions. Thinking men
In Germany realize more and more that this
is the feeling of the American government
likely TO be promoted by maintaining friend
~ relations with us than by unpleasant in
reference whatever. This is not mere sur
mise my part: everything / know regard
ing the relations of the two countries shows
me that this proper feeling towards us ex-
sentiment toward us growing worse il is
steadily growing better"
The foregoing was shown to a functionary
in the German Foreign Office holding re-
sponsible position. He fully confirmed Mr..
Whites statement. and added: I'VE can
cially those emanatng from English
sources, have been met with a prompt de-
NAL. and have therefore collapsed This ap-
plies also to the so-cailed Irene affair. The
taking on board neutral ships of women and
children is nothing unusual. The official re-
ports received by this office show that
neither the Americans nor the insurgents
a lea ret a h.