The times., 1898-08-15
THE ATTITUDE OF GERMANY.
An Official Explains Certain Un-
friendly Utterances

An Official Explains Certain Un-
friendly Utterances.
Berlin, Aug. 14-An official who. in the
absence of Baron Won Bplow, who is on
his Summer holidays, Isl acting chief of
the foreign Office and who may be re-
garded as voicing the general officiaI view
OF the subject, gives an Interesting inter-
view on the Spanish-American war. He
began by saying:
Baron Won Bulow, on leaving. caution
ed me that no expression of opinion con-
trary to Germany's policy of strict neu-
trality was to be promulgated. That we
mean to observe neutrality of this de-
scription, 1 think the world now knows
From the start the foreign office has
made 1t an invariable rule to say nothing
that could be interpreted-a AS offensive 20
either side, and we have IL no way tried
to influence the German p.css In favor cf
the United States, except upon single
occasion. AT first there was s5 much hos
tility on the part of the German press
toward the United States that we took
early opportunity to arrange for the ap-
pearance of articles of different tone.
Almost the only affinity existing be-
the monarchical institution, while the
bonds uniting Germany and the United
States are numerous. 1t is true that at
the beginning of the way Germans were
much influenced by the fact that a pow
erful nation was attacking weak one.
This was a strong strain upon German
ideal1sm and the sense OF justice which
characterizes the German people, and the
mere fact that you were the aggressors
In this case somewhat prejudiced the Ger
man mind against you, quite irrespective
of the merits of the controversy.
Besides, ii must not be forgotten that
Germans, in the matter of political edu-
cation, are still somewhat unripe 1t is
not long since they became a homogene-
Gus political entity. 1t is partly due to
this fact that Germans are given TO
reaching hasty conclusions on questions
of politics. Hence sprang a great amount
of public comment in favor of Spain in
the earlier stages of the war. Such talk
however, ought not to be quoted against
the German government, in regard to
which there has been, / think, no just
cause of complaint by Americans
AS a matter OF fact, in the last fort
night the tone of the German press has
been much more favorable to the United
States, and hardly anything directly hos
tile has appeared in any of the more inn
portant papers, while the number of
journals openly friendly has considerably
increased.
The papers now point out that the au-
thorities at Madrid and Manila and the
Spanish press were largely responsible
for the excitement arising out of the
Irene incident, as they misconstrued this
and preceding incidents in a manner that
necessarily aroused suspicion in the
United States
A good sample of the average editorial
articles nowadays is furnished in the
DokaI Anzeiger, until recently one of
the most violent anti-American sheets in
Berlin. In an article printed today this
journal draws a parallel between the
Turko-Grecian and the Spanish-Ameri-
can wars, and says that the difference
between the two cases is mainly in the
fact that Greece was the attacking. and
not, like Spain. the attacked power. This,
the Lokal Anzeiger goes on to say,
was only a formal difference. for Spain,
after annoying, injuring and provoking
powerful neighbor for a long time. had
at last engaged in a war for which she
had not the necessary strength. To de-
fend her possessions only imposed sacri-
If on the other hand, she had sold these
colonies she would have realized a large
sum by her unreasonable attitude .
the Lokal Anzeiger continues, Spain
assumed as large a measure of response
bility as Greece. Both Soaniards and
Greeks are blind and full of conceit and
vanity" m1 -
The newspapers here today discuss
elaborately the new situation and the
changed conditions growing out of the
war The conclusion reached is that the
United States must hereafter be reckon
ed q great naval power. and that Ger
many will be obliged once more to in
crease her navy in order TO hold her own
with the other powers,
The Deutsche Zeitung. discussing the
annexation of Hawaii and the plans OF
the United States as regards sPago-Pago.
says:
This means change In the balance of
power in the Sou.h Sea. regarding which
Germany cannot afford 10 be silent"
The paper concludes d somewhat ag-
gressive article by saying:
I'VE have confidence that the leaders
of our foreign policy win do, all that is
required to prevent the disturbance OF
German interests and influence in Sa-
moa.'
The vossische Zekung says that the
war has ended as the majority of compe-
tent judges expected from the beginning
that it would end. Spain, the Vossische
Zeitung says, undertook the struggle
without a chance of success The Amer
leans, the article adds. owe their sue
cesses, besides their military superiority
to an harmonious joining of important
factors.