The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-11-14
NOT AN ALLY OF SPAIN.
Emperor William Assures Our Gov
ernment of His Neutrality.
THE PROPOSED VISIT TO OADIZ.

Stops at spanish Ports Are to Be
Made Wholly In the Interest of the
Empress Health. and Have No Po-
litical Significance.
Washington, Nov. 14.-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 Of
hctal trip of the imperial party ended
when they left Palestine, and that the
proposed stop at Cadiz and Carthagena
is largely health precaution in he
half of the empress, as the sea trip
would be long and arduous II unbroken
by these stops at the Spanish ports. The
assurances appear to be voluntary on
the part of the Berlin officials, and to
be in line with the care taken in that
quarter OF late to minimize and re-
move the bad impression caused by
several incidents occurring during the
recent war. The state department had
not, so far as is known, taken cogniz-
ance of the emperor's movements, and
certainly there was no purpose of in
quiring as to the stop at Spain, al
though this action by the emperor was
looked upon as rather inopportune. to
say the least, when the peace negotia-
tions with Spain are at critical juno
ture and when, technically, the war
is still in progress.
At the same time Germany has con-
stantly reiterated her neutral and
friendly attitude and the emperor him
self took occasion in his last address to
the reichstag to give strong expression
to the German purpose to maintain the
strictest impartiality between this
government and Spain. At the same
time the officials here and in Berlin
have recognized that a strong public
sentiment of animosity was being de-
veloped between the people of the two
countries, and steps have been taken
to offset this as far as possible. The
last move in that direction was at
recent dinner given by Chancellor Won
Bulow at Berlin to Andrew d. White,
the United States ambassador, and DR..
Won Holleben, the German ambassador
to the United States, now visiting in
Germany. 1t was intended that the
new assistant secretary of state Mr..
Hill, should be one of the guests, 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 the subjects
which have threatened to estrange the
two governments and for the estab-
lishment of a much more friendly un-
derstanding.
1t is recognized, however among Of
ficials, state and diplomatic, that while
official sentiment is satisfactory there
continues to be an undercurrent of i'll
feeling with the public and press of the
two countries. For this reason the
present movement 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 rap
proachment which was being executed
by the authorities here and at Berlin.
With view of minimizing the visit
assurances are now communicated as
to its non-ofiicial character
The suggestion that the emperor may
be asked by Spain to act as arbitrator
between 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 con-
sidered for a moment unless both coun-
tries Joined in a request for it. The
arrival of the emperor at Cadiz and
Carthagena is awaited with consider
able apprehension by the German au-
thorities as it may give rise to a Span
ish popular demonstration open to mis-
construction in this country. With a
view of avoiding such an affair the
German charge daffaires at Madrid
has been instructed to notify the Span
ish government of the strictly unof-
ficial character of the emperor's visit.