New-York tribune., 1899-02-13
PFI4TIONS WITH GERUINl.

Two noteworthy utterances are slmni'ahe-
ously made concerning relations between "e'-
many and the United States. One Is by Baron
Won Riilow the German Minister or f"reiSh
Affairs: the other by Mr.. White the 'nl'ed
States Ambassador 10 Germany. Inc TWO a'e
Of precisely the same purport namely 'ha' III
rcsnect 10 our operations in the Philippines
Germany has maintained an honorable neutral
ity Those are the very words which baroh
Won Bjiow used in speaking in the lGlchs'ae
on the general subject of Gcrman-Amerlcan
relations. He spoke openly. deliberately I'M
eouivocallv. and we believe sincerely ana truth
fullv. Mr. White was speaking on the special
tonic of the alleged supplying of arms 10 Agui-
naldo's rioters by Germans at Hong Kong ana
the financial support of Aguinaldo by Germany.
Such ronorts shave been freely banded about III
the press. and have provoked much hostile crit
,cism of Germany. Mr. White says they are
utterlv haselcss We believe that he knows
what he is talking about. and that he is telling
the truth.
Let us rid ourselves Of both illusions and
nreiudices We have no idea that Germany
was glad 10 see us take the Philippines. We
snnnose she would have liked to take them her
self II wonld be worse than childish 30 blame
ber for feeling so. Americans are not them
selves ALWAYS so unSelfsh and dSinterested
tha, they are entitled 10 condemn others for
nlaving for their own hands. But it was one
thing for Germany to feel that way. 1t would
have been very different thing for her to put
those feelings into overt and hostile acts She
assuredlv did not do the latter and we see no
reoson ,o believe she ever sN'iously intended TO
do so.
,,ll, tlat iS a a
Hong Kong that sells arms and ammunition.
Probably il has sold some to Agninaldo. But
the German Government has nothing to do
with it, The German Consul is not connected
with il. Among lis members are Chinese and
Japanese and British and Americans. but no
Germans. And II IS by no means impossible
that the American members of the syndicate
belonging 10 the most enterprising Nation. have
actually been foremost in supplying the Iagais
with arms with which to fight our own troops.
"Epgljsh they be-" says Mr.. kpng. "and
"Japanec. that hang on the Brown Bears flank,
And some be Scot. but the worst OF the lo''
"ond the bollest thieves. be Yank, The tales
of Americans selling American coal to the span
ish Navy while we were at war with Spain
and the charges that American contractors ana
commlssary officers poisoned American soldiers
with embllmed beef are entirely too fresh i'll
mind 10 give us grace in accusing Germans or
breaking neutrality laws in the Philippines. II
there has been any improper work there. III
the name Of common sense and decency let us
intrust the detection Of il and the exaction or
amends therefor 10 Admiral Dewey at Manila
and 20 Mr. White AT Berlin We reckon that
they are quite competent TO deal with the jon.
Some German papers have said unpleasant
things about US Yes: but they are no worse
and no more grOundless than the stun some
American papers have printed about Germany.
And some papers in other countries nave sald
Germany is hostile TO us. Rut why should we
believe them any more than we should want
Germany to believe what other third parties
have said about us? Let us have done with
such nonsense The words Of Baron Won Bulow
are 10 be commended to all men between
two strcnc. manly nations frankness and
"straightforwardnes are the best policy and
"the best remedy for political illhumor more
"ima cinarv than real That is the way to talk
That is the way TO act. And If we thus thnk
and sneak and art there will indeed As the
same distinguished speaker said, be no reason
"whatever why the two Powers should not
stand in the best relationship with one an
Other