The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-05-22
Is Now the All Absorbing Topic in
Germany.
The Government FavorabIy Inclined Toward
the Declarations.
The Liberal Press Favors a Friend
her Understanding Between
Germany, Great Britain and the
United States, but Do Not Ad-
vocate an Alliance With Either.

BERLIN, May u. = copyrighted.
1898, by the Associated Press. Public
attention in this country has been tenn
porarily diverted from the war between
Spain and the United States to the sig
nit1cant speech recently made at Birm-
ingham by Joseph Chamberlain, the
British Secretary of State for the Col
onies. The bulk of opinion since the
text of the speech has been available
corresponds to the utterance of Prince
Bismarck, which was telegraphed to
the Associated Press on Wednesday
last, when the former Chancellor was
quoted as saying: THE Importance
thereof depends upon whether Mr.
Chamberlain's private opinions are
those of the British Government
Diplomats say they do not believe
that an Anglo-American alliance is feas-
Idle, except, possibly, for purely pacific
and defensive purposes. They utterly
repudiate the idea of Germany joining
such an alliance. The Government is
cautious in expressing an opinion on
the subject, but is inclined to be favor
able toward Mr.. Chamberlain's declar-
atoms.
The ''Schleisig Zeitung," one of the
leading semi official papers, says: at
is a mistake to undervalue the Ameri
can, who so intimately knows and ex-
presses the ideas and wishes Of his
countrymen. Far from being an ex-
preston of Great Britain's weakness
and embarrassments, this, perhaps,
must be regarded as the exposition Of
political leader who is so sure of the
strength of his country that he does
not hesitate to point out weak places"
The Liberal press favors a friendlier
understanding between the two coun
tries, but even the most favorable Of
the papers do not go to the length of
advocating an alliance with Great Brit
ain, still less with the United States.
A notable example of, Anglophobia is
furnished by an article in the Tag
liche Bundeschau" supporting the
scheme of the Russian Prince Uchto-
mask for an anti-British European
commission for dealing with an Anglo
American alliance. This paper says:
THE British lion would rather roar
than fight. 1t sounds well and costs
nothing. But England finds herself
confronted with the question of her
excess. Consequently the nation of
sheep killers suddenly raises the cry
of a kingdom for an alliance and be-
hold an ally appears in the shape Of
Brother Jonathan. America, with its
mismash Of waste pieces of nationality,
millions of immigrant murderers, Eng
lish tongue and black. red and yellow
skins, suddenly becomes an Anglo
Saxon race"
The "Tagliche Bundeschau" then pro-
ceeds to argue that ''money-bag" sell
fishness constitutes the basis of the
coming alliance between the cockney
and the Yankee, and in order to
counterfeit this Germany must join
Russia, thereby also helping to in
crease Frances anger against Eng
land.
Relative to the war between Spain
and the United States, much impa-
thence is manifested in this country
over the alleged dilatoriness of the bel
ligerents. Those persons doubling
Americas ability to put a military
force in the field strong enough to
overcome the Spanish, or to quickly
end the war. are again in the ascend
ant A high German military authori-
ty, in speaking of this matter, said to
the correspondent of the Associated
Press: e'It will ere long be seen prob
ably to the establishment of the Amer
leans that a war of invasion, even by
America, which is classed in the third
rank, cannot be made by militia
The superiority of the American ma
Wy is again in question, and the failure
of Rear-Admiral SIMPSONS ships to
locate and meet the fleet of Admiral
Cervera is regarded in German naval
circles as a sign of weakness. Many
newspapers comment on the alleged
lack of discipline.
Although there is yet no real famine
in Germany, bread and grain prices
are rising, especially in South Ger
many, where the price of bread is 80
per cent above the rate that prevailed
in January last. The Liberals and
Socialists claim that this condition of
affairs is the result of an agarian-
ism, and blame the Government for
not reducing the import duty on grain.
Some papers urge that maize should
be used largely, but the Socialist press
condemns this, and declares that maize
is unhealthy and unfit for human be-
ings. They express the hope that all
German workers will refr~e TO buy
maize bread.
The speech of Emperor William at
the closing of the Prussian Diet on
Wednesday last, in which he praised
the Prussian State railroad system, has
been sharply criticised on all sides.
Even the semi-official papers say the
speech has met with contradiction and
amaZement everywhere.
The Foreign Office incumbents say
they have received no information in
reference to the repeated stories of
troubles in Samoa, and they do not
credit them.
The Prussian Government has issued
a new decree, urging the provincial au-
thorities to pay the strictest attention
to American and other meats, and cit
ing the alleged frequent occurrences of
trichinosis. 1t is pointed out that sixty
four cases Of trichinosis occurred in a
single suburb of Berlin, and that 121
cases have been discovered within six
months in the District of Stettin.
The Hamburg American line steamer
Augusta Victoria will have as passen-
gers on her next trip to New York
Herr Lieber, the German Centrist lead
er in the Reichstag, and DR.. Koch. the
President of the Reichsbank
Emperor Francis Joseph of Austria
has conferred the Grand Cross of the
Order of st. Stephen on the Crown
Prince Frederick William of Germany,
as mark Of favor in connection with
the Prince receiving the sacrament of
confirmation, which ceremony is to
take place tomorrow in Potsdam.