The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-10-15
GERMANY WILL BE NEUTRAL,
THOUGH IL WOULD LIKE TO JOIN
IN CONCERTED ACTION.


erful England Attacking the
Boers-A German Onicial Puts His
Country in the Light of Being |
Afraid TO Interfere-NenrIy All
Germany Seems to sympathize
with the Beers.
Especial Berlin Cable Letter. .)-(Copy- |
right, 1899, by the Associated Press.)- |
Berlin, Oct H-A high German official, |
whose utterances may be taken as abb |
solutely conclusive, said to the representa-
tive of the Associated Press to-day:
I'VE shall observe the strictest neutral |
! ity, no matter what may develop In the
war between the Boer republics and Great
Britain. This is the only course left open,
as conditions in South Africa are so COM
plicated, and our relations with both sides
are so delicate that to abandon neutrality
! by SO much as a hairs breadth, would
necessarily lead to new and unforeseen
complications.
I'VE mean to adhere to neutrality to-
ward both parties. What else can we do?
Other powers spoken of as likely to inter-
! fere have also concluded to keep quiet.
Such rumors now and again reach the
press-for instance, the report about the
alleged attempt on the part of the Russian
foreign minister, Count Muravieff, to bring
about concerted intervention-are unfortu-
nately only rumors. I say unfortunately
| The word shows how sympathies le but
politics in these days must be strictly sep
arated from interests on one side and sym
pathies on the other 1t is true, our entire
press calls upon the government to inter-
pose between the brave little republics and
| big, powerful England, and again a cru
sade against England Is being preached to
the nations of the continent. But we
would be fools to litsen to this siren song.
! On that occasion when we blew the alarm
| horn-I refer to Emperor Williams tele-
gram to President Kruger in 1S96-and tried
to assemble the powers with a view of
opposing Great Britain in her selfish and
rude aggressiveness, we had a bad ex-
| perience. The lesson was not lost upon us
"Of course all the other powers would
| like it only too well if Germany would op-
pose England seriously in this matter, but
we doubtless would again be left to our
| unaided selves Therefore, we are going
to avoid Intervention and then remain
strictly neutral in the coming struggle
Our intention has been communicated full
ly to the Transvaal and England. Eng
land would not have gone on as she has If
She had not thoroughly understood this.
Do not understand me to mean that Ger
many would not participate in some con-
certed action looking toward Intervention;
but she has no idea of again taking the
initiative"
German Press Aroused.
This authoritative declaration talies
with one made by the inspired Berliner
Post in which the policy of neutrality is
likewise advanced. However, aside from
the government press, every paper and
| every person, high or low, condemns Eng
land. Many also seriously blame the gov
ernment for its inactivity. The Deutsche
Tages Zeitung says:
1T is unnecessary to say that our best
wishes accompany the Beers, for they will
fight, not only in behalf of their own ex-
| istence but in behalf of Germany's posi-
ton in South Africa, which will be lost if
the British win. IT, on the other hand,
the Beers win, Great Britain Will lose not
only South Africa, but, perhaps the whole
of ner powerful position in the world"
The Kreuz Zeitung and the Hamburg
Nachrichten use military arguments The
Deutsche Zeitung, referring to the ultlL
matum, says:
"The wrongs inflicted by Great Britain
on the TransVaa are mountain high, and
the impression made by the ultimatum
upon every impartial person is irresisu-
ble"
cedure 'colossally brutal" and charged
Mr. Chamberlain and the war party in
England with 'shonest financial operations
that render war necessary"
The fact that President Kruger did not
receive birthday congratulations this year
from Emperor William is commented upon
regretfully by number of papers There
are, moreover, other evidences of sympa-
thy with the Beers Subscription lists are
being circulated on the bourse to raise
enough money for the equipment of ambu-
lance wagons, and a Transvaal Central
Committee is forming to collect funds for
the same purpose.
On Samoan Matters.
The papers have many articles regard
ing the Samoan question, reiterating the
statement as to a partition A Heading
foreign officer, referring to the matter, said
to the Associated Press:
"All these statements are mere guess
work and without foundation in fact. The
Powers are negotiating with view of
eliminating the difficulty, and there is
little likelihood of any further trouble be-
tween them, as a settlement will probably
be reached satisfactory to all concerned.
So far as the damage question goes, an
agreement has already been reached be-
tween Germany and Great Britain and the
United States are not opposed on princi-
pie to the same idea of settlement"
On the same authority the Associated
Press learns that a strong wish is felt
| at ST. Petersburg that the principal repre-
sentatives of the Powers participating in
the Peace Conference at The Hague, which
are willing to sign the agreements reach
ed there, should proceed to the capital Of
the Netherlands and afifx their formal sig
natures in that city. Italy and Austria
| have already done so, and Germany will
soon join after the removal of certain OBJ
stacles. The United States ambassador,
Mr.. White, says he Is still awaiting in
structions from Washington regarding the
matter.