The times., 1899-02-07
.GERMANY'S POLICY
IN THE PHILIPPINE,
\ Correspondents Views OF.
Alleged Double Dealing.
Teutonic official Utferances Cited
TO Prove Friendship.
RcnsOns Advanced for "a Continuance.
OF AmicnhIe Relations uetwccu
Amrricn nud tue Kaiser.
To the Edilor nt The rimes:

To The Editor Of The Times:
Ii was with feeling Of deep regret thar
read in this mornings Times, under the
heading THE Matter of Agoncillo," the
reference 10 the alleged double play o.
the part of the representatives OF Germany
in the Philippines. The Times having so
often shown its sense of justice and fair
play. | trust not TO appeal to you in vain
il | ask you to publish the following state
ment of facts that will, perhaps, con
tribute to a better understanding of the
press controversy now going on between
this country and Germany.
The present policy of the German gov
ernment toward the Fiiipinos has been, as
VIII be proved by me. so strictly defined
that even the most discontented grumbiers
ON this side of the Atlantic ought to be
satisfied. According to 4 cablegram from
Manila. nr. Kruger, the German Consul
there, emphatically denied that there is or
has been any collusion, either officially or
personally. on the part OF himself or OH
the part of the resident Germans with
the Filipino government. He stated fur
ther that the German government ordered
the Consul at Ilolo not to accept the charge
OF the protection OF Spanish interests as
he had been rquested to do by General
Rios. the Spanish Commander, upon his
withdrawal from Iloilo, for fear of compli-
cations with the Americans. And Baron
Won Buelow. Imperial Secretary of State
for Foreign Affairs, personally authorized
the statement that all reports to the effect
that Germany was aiding the Filipinos and
furnishing them with war material were
absolutely baseless and justified by moth
ing Germany has done, is doing, or is pre-
pairing to do. This statement, published
only week or two ago, ought to put
stop, once and for ali to the reports that
the arms of the Filipinos were supplied
through German agencies.
AS for intending TO seize territory in
the Philippines, the German Ambassador,
DR.. Won Holleben. stated. in The Times
interview of February l, now making the
rounds of the press, that Germany never
entertained such an idea for a moment.
I'VE never wanted any Of the Islands,
the Ambassador declared "and certainly
had no intention TO try to take them.
have told the President and the Secretary
of State this many times, and am conf
dent that they believe me. | am sure the
American people will believe that Germany
did not want TO get into that trouble when
they find how hard il is to take the Phil
ippine Islands,
The Cologne Gazette" one of the most
influential German newspapers and often
used as the mouthpiece OF the German
Foreign Office, wrote in an inspired article
uSdliUB WIN lIt iucSiiOh NAihN
Germany would not pour oil on the exist
ing Philippine flames nor burn her own
fingers. The possibility OF her supporting
the Tagaos was altogether out of the
question. On the other hand, il Germany
made worse her relations with the United
States at time when German exports to
the American market were threatened, it
would be incredible folly.
Let me in conclusion quote once more
the interview with DR.. Won Holleben,
already referred to. There are many hun
dreds OF thousands of German Americans
scattered throughout this country who,
though they have chosen a new home, still
hold their old one in tenderest memory.
This alone constitutes good political and
economic reason for Germany and the
United States always to maintain har-
monious relations. Any trouble whi III
might arise between the two nations would
be to millions of their citizens as painful
and disheartening as a civil war.
These views of the German Ambassador
bulk of Germans both on this and the
other side of the Atlantic. 1t may, there
fore be justly asked if it were not high
time to terminate a controversy out OF
which no possible good can arise, and
which in the end may, Notwithstanding all
efforts on the part of the German and
American governments to the contrary,
bring about a disturbance OF those friendly
relations that, to the credit OF both ma
. tions have been maintained since the days
of Frederick the Great.
DR. E. ALB. WITTE.