The Portland daily press., 1898-11-14
VISIT MEANS NOTHING.
Emperor Williams Call on Spain
Entirely Unofficial.
VOLUNTARY ASSURANCES BY TIE
BERLIN GOVERNMENT

Stop at Cadiz Largely Health Precaution
Part of Empress-German Govern
ment Making Great Effort to Prevent
Unfriendliness Between That Country
and America.
Washington, November l8.-It is under.
stood that assurances have been given by
the German government that the visit of
Emperor William of Germany to
Spain is entirely devoid of official
character or Significance. that the
official trip of the Imperial parry
ended when they left Palestine and that
the proposed stop at Cadiz and Cartha-
gena is largly health precaution in be.
half of the Empress, as the sea trip would
be long and arduous If unbroken by these
stops at the Spanish ports. The assur.
ances appear to be voluntary on the part
of the Berlin officials and to be in lin
with the care taken in that quarter of late
to minimize and remove the bad impress
sion caused by several Incidents occurring
during the recent war The state depart-
Ineut had not, SO far as is known, taken
and certain ly there was no purpose of in
quiring as to the stop at Spain, though
this action by the Emperor was looked
upon as rather inopportune, to say the
least, when the pence negotiations with
Spain are at critical juncture and when,
technically. the war is still in progress.
At the same time, Germany has constants
ly reiterated her neutral and friendly at
titude and the Emperor hims5lf took oc-
oasion in his last address to the Reichstag
to give expression to the German purpose
to maintain the striotest iInpartiality be-
tween this government and Spain At
the same time, the officials here and in
Berlin have recognized that strong pub
lie sentiment of animosity was being de-
veloped between the two countries and
steps have been taken to Offset this as far
as possible. The last move in that direc-
tion was at a recent dinner given by
Chancellor Won Bulow at Berlin to An
drew D. White, the United States ambas-
sador, and DR.. Won Holleben. the Ger
man ambassador to the United States,
now visiting Germany. 1t was intended
that the new assistant secretary OF state,
MIR. Hill, should be one of thesguests, but
he was detained In Holland.
Private advices received here by officials
state that the meeting was important as
furnishing an opportunity for free and
full discussion of all that has threatened
to estrange the two governments and for
the establishment of much more friend
ly understanding. 1t is recognized, how
ever. among officials, state and diplomatic
that, while official sentiment is salts
factory, there confines to be an undercur-
rent of ill-feeling with the public press OF
the two countries. For this reason, the
present move OF the Emperor in stopping
at the Spanish ports causes something of
a shock in diplomatic quarters as it is felt
to be one more obstacle In the way of the
happy rapproachmsnt which was being
executed by the authorities here and at
Berlin. 1t is with q view of minimizing
the visit that the assurances are now COM
municated as to its official character. The
suggestion that the Emperor may be
asked by Spain to act as arbitrator be-
tween the United States and Spain, in
case the Philippine issue becomes acute Is
dismissed as absurd on the ground that
no such plan would be considered Tor q
moment unless both countries Joined IN a
request for it. The arrival of the Emperor
at Cadiz and Cartagena is awaited with
considerable apprehension by the German
authorities, as it may give rise to
Spanish popular demonstration open 60
misconstruction in this country. With u
view of avoiding such an affair, the Ger
man charge d affairs at Madrid has been
instructed to notify the Spanish govern
ment eff the strictly unofficial character
of the Emperor's visit.