Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-11
GERMANY'S CAUTION
In Dealing With Kruger Ex-
planned by Van BueIow.
Would Be Height Of Folly to Need
IessIy Antagonize England.
Farm Burning in Sou.h Africa in Accordance
With War ages.

Berlin. Dec. 10.-The imperial chan
cellor. 90 mt Won Buelow, replying in
the Reichstag to question on the sub
ject Of Mr.. krugers failure To be re-
ceived by Emperor William, said the
government did all in it's power To
ward off war and left the two republics
in no doubt as TO the state Of affairs
in Europe and as to German neutrality.
When, in 1899, the question OF arbitra-
ton seemed not altogether excluded,
the government recommended IL 10 Mr..
Kruger. He thought the time had not
yet come. When Mr. Kruger later
sought Intervention his feelings were
too highly inflated for the Dutch and
German governments. For the Ger
man government it was time lost to
give advice. Germany was convinced
that any step Of a great power at that
moment would be critical and lead to
no result. There was no use for u.s.
said the chancellor, TO pinch cur fin
gers between the door and the hinge"
The chancellor added that when the
suggestion OF mediation was made to
Great Britain by the United States in
a quiet gently worded inquiry IL was
rejected officially and categorically In
tcrventIon might have led 10 war.
The chancellor described the reply Of
NJ Dclcasse the French minister Of
foreign affairs. to Mr.. Kruger as:
France win III no ease take the mi
tiative but would not oppose il when
certain eyentualitie3 became known.
provided they We're calculated 70 serve
French interests
The chancellor thereupon remarked
that he could not have dealt with the
situation better himself. Oyations 10
Mr. Kruger IN Germany. he pointed
out, would have displaced interna-
tional relations and served no purpose
Of tIr Kruger or " Germany. Ger
many WIS not bound to Great Britain
by a hairs breadth more than Great
Britain was bound 10 Germany. But,
10 act the Don Qui&ote against Great
Britain would be a piece OF folly FOR
which he would not be responsible
Although the Kruger matter viii be
taken uy again in the Ite-chatag,
Count Won Buelow's speech, evidently
prepared with great care, WAS 10 over
whelming in its array Of powerful
facts that ID amounted ID a sweeping
victory over the entire opposition. The
imperial chancellor's Involuntary hu-
NOR and his particularly apt quotations
extorted hearty laughter from his bit
terest opponents. SO far as German
politics 20 the incident is closed. Az
all events this was the evident opin-
ion Of the Reichstag when adjournment
was taken IT a late hour.
In the Reichstag, today. during The
debate on the estimates, the secretary
of the imperial treasury Baron Won
Thielmann, took a decidedly gloomy
view of the economic situation in Ger
many. He said the situation had been
undergoing q radical change since
summer and people must be prepared
for number Of years to see a gradual
shrinkage Of inflated conditions. The
decline. however. would not take the
form % general financial crash as
IN 1872. This period Of diminished
trade could not pass without affecting
the imperial budget. Therefore, IL WAS
necessary TO strengthen the reserves Of
the treasury.
In regard 10 the abolition Of the su-
gar bounties. the secretary Of the
treasury said the negotiations between
Austria, France and Germany were not
CONTINUED on page 81