Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-08-14
GERMANY AND AMERICA.
Dr.. Won Holleben States His Ma
tons Attitude Toward Us.
NO GROUNDS FOR ILL FEELING.

bayo UermaHy "HS neutral rOu8
out the Late War, and She Well
comes Our Advent In Philippines.
Why n Part of German Press SYM
pathized With Spain-Why Dieder-
ichs Went to Manila.
The relations past and present be-
tween the United States and Germany
formed the subject Of an interesting in
terview which the German ambassador,
DR.. Theodore Won Holleben, accorded
recently to the New York World CORE
spondent.
"Although much has been said and
written" said the ambassador, icon
corning the feeling which Germany en-
tertains for the United States, there re-
mains much that can be said, l think,
with some benefit to many Of the citi-
zens of both countries. I see almost ev-
cry day articles in the papers which
would lead the American people to be-
Iieve that Germany is unfriendly. Now,
1 ask, why should Germany be I'M
friendly? I cannot give one reason, but
I can state many good one why we
should be just the reverse.
IA few days ago | had, at Washing
ton in the embassy, a little fete in hon
or Of the emperor's fortieth birthday.
More than 200 COMMUNICATIONS of
Washington came to honor the ruler Of
their fatherland and to show that,
though they have chosen a new home,
they still hold their old one in tenderest
memory. There are many hundreds
Of thousands such people scattered
throughout the United States, and this
alone constitutes a good political and
economic reason fer Germany and the
United States always to maintain har-
monious relations. Any trouble which
might occur between the two nations
would be to millions of their citizens a
kind Of civil war, as painful and dis
heartening as such a conflict.
Commercial friction does not fur
nish a sufficient plea for this alleged
unfriendliness. Commercial friction
should not enter into the question Of
higher politics, and 1 know that the
American people are too broad minded
to allow the minor consideration to in
fuence them in the greater things at
stake. It is true that tariff regulations
in this country and restrictive legisla-
ton in ours have caused considerable
i'll will, but this is the natural result Of
the great struggle for commercial su.
premacy.
"The United States has had the
same feeling toward France and toward
Great Britain. 1t is true the Dingley
tariff law aroused some i'll will among
the agricultural element in Germany,
just as the meat restrictions infamed
sentiment among the Chicago dealers.
But the German people certainly real
lied that this government had a right
to make laws to suit the needs of its
own citizens, and we always looked for
ward to the time when by some special
legislation the clauses which worked
hardships for our people would be re-
moved. These were neve considered
sufficiently grave to cause unfriendli-
ness between the two nations.
"Coming to a subject Of later devel-
opment and of more momentous import,
the attitude Of Germany toward the
United States during the late war With
Spain, I can say with perfect truth and
frankness that Notwithstanding all that
has been said to the contrary there
never was a moment when this govern
ment thought for one instant that Ger
many was otherwise than friendly and
| well disposed. There never was a mo-
ment when the German government
thought that the United States was
actuated by any but just and honorable
motives in its conduct Of the war.
"About the vexatious question Of the
Philippines and the presence Of a large
| German feet near those islands, II must
be remembered that Germany's COM
mercial interests required these precau-
tions. Germany has greater and more
numerous interests to protect than any
other power, England not excepted. In
addition we had under our protection
the interests Of Austria. Switzerland
, md Portugal.
s'It must be remembered, too, that
the sudden md dazzling victory Of Ad-
,niral Dewey was entirely unexpected,
and we were u%nprepared for the change
in the political horizon which that vic
tory caused. We knew well, and this
knowledge was sr red by all the Euro
pean powers, that Spain could not hold
nc. osnf avninst the insurgents. We