The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-12
ASKS FOR A BIG NAVY
COUNT WOW BUELOw MAKES A
SPEECH IN THE REICHsTAG.
He Points Out the Necessity of Pro-
viding More Warships to Guard
German Interests.

BERLIN, Dec. 11.-During the debate on
the estimates in the Reichstag. Count Won
Buelow. the minister for foreign affairs
reiterated the terms of the various agree
ments for partitioning Samoa between the
United States and Germany for repeating
the Samoan act and submitting to arbi-
tration the losses resulting from unjusti-
fable military action on the part of officers
belonging to either of the three states
He said that after the assent of the United
States Senate and the Bundesrath's bills
ratifying the treaty would be submitted.
In the meanwhile. he hoped the Reich
stag would not discuss the matter. He
added that no increase in next years i'm
perial budget would arise from the sup
Elemental estimates for Samoa.
Prince Hohenlohe, the imperial chancel-
Tor, then announced that the federal gov
ernments had come to the conclusion that
the present navy was insufficient for the
country's needs and that estimates for
doubling the present number of warships
would be submitted. He added that the
period within which the increase of the
navy would be effected, was not to be
fixed by law. the number of new ships to
be provided for annually to be decided in
accordance with budgetary requirements
'ln this connection" he continued, 1.-The
federal governments are acting on the sup
position that in accordance with the gen.
eTal principles governing the financing of
estimates the additional vessels will be
paid for by loans"
Count Won Buelow. in supporting the
proposed increase in the navy, said: "The
President of the United States. in his mes
sage, expressed himself concerning the good
relations between the United States and
ourselves with warmth that fills with
sincere satisfaction, and as far as Great
Britain Is concerned, We are willing and
ready to live in peace and concord with
Ter on the basis of usual reci-
procity and reciprocal consideration.
the increase of the navy from a po-
ltical point of view, and declared that the
German policy had always maintained an
even course between neglecting and over
doing transoceanic interests"
Abiding to the warlike changes of the
past few years. he said: Il cannot yet
believe new partition of the earth is i'm
E1inent. We wish to interfere with no for
eign power. but neither do We wish to
let our feet to be trodden on by a foreign
power. nor let ourselves be pushed aside
either politically or economically. We can
not but be mixed up with the future. the
prospects of which have been considerably
modified during the last two years because
we have now interests in all parts of the
NOriQ. Inc powerful vitality OF the 1cE-
man people has involved us in the world s
administration and crawn us into the
worlds policy. In the presence of Great
Britain and new France we have Claims
to a greater Germany. not in the sense
OF conquest, but In the sense OF peaceable
extension of our trade and points OF sup
port. We have always hitherto come TO
an easy and willing understanding with
France in isolated colonial conventions
in this respect, also, we have round friendly
obligingness in the case of Russia, to which
we have fully and wholly responded. Just
because the external position Is now Ia
yorable we must use IL to insure ourselves
for the future. / wish, we all wish, that
our future may be peaceful Whether IL
well be so. no one can say.
.s,,e must be secured against surprise
lot only on land but at sea. We must Gre
ate and possess fleet strong enough TO eX-
clude attack by any power, and emphasize
attack, for in the absolute peacefuiness OF
our policy Ii can never be other than a
question of defense. German foreign policy
s. neither covetous, restless nor fanciful
The fancifulnsss of our plans is the iEven-
ton of the foreign press and not sanctioned
by the German press or officially. Like all
nations with maritime interests we are
compelled. by necessity. TO have coal sup
plies and obtain naval bases. ThlS mani
tested itself in the Hispano-American war,
which taught us many striking lessons.
While pursuing this practical policy toward
our transoceanic colonies we must not for
get that our center is Europe. We do not
neSlcCt our uuly pIONiuiuS ScSuiAty AoA
our possessions which rests on the Drei-
bund."
AS an instance of the necessity of a navy,
Count Won Buelow cited the present con-
ditions In Venezuela, where, he said, very
considerable German interests are seriously
5eopardized and TO which country we are
able to send two or three old training
ships" Continuing. Count Won Buelow
said: I'm the coming century the German
people must be either the hammer or the
anvil. In the name of our country's best
interest / entreat your favorable reception
of the navy bill"