The evening times., 1901-05-03

Americn and Germany.


The New York Herald today repub-
fishes from its Paris edition an account
of an alleged interview with an anony
NOUS German ''ExceIlency," concern
ing the relations between Germany and
the United States. The Herald cor
respondent at Berlin understood that
the German Ambassador at washington
had reported to his Government that.
owing to the sudden increase of at
tacl1s upon Gel many in the United
States from many different quarters,
he had called upon Secretary Hay in
order to ask him for an explanation"
1t IS hardly probable that anything
of the kind happened. He is in as good
position as anyone in the country TO
know that there is no general public
sentiment anywhere within its borders
which is antipathetc TO Germany This,
for instance. could not be said in the
case of England. Whether the feeling
OF hostility 10 our mother country is
JUstifable or not, It exists in varying
degrees in almost every State of the
Union. Naturally, this Republic and
the German Empire would be friends,
as Prussia and the United States have
been always. Relations became strain
ed in consequence Of the unfriendly at
titude of the German Vice Admiral Won
Diederichs after the battle of Manila
Bay. All that has been forgotten as
far as the American public is concern
ed, or would be were it not for the fact
that TIE old irritation has been kept
partially alive by reports of the survey
OF harboTs and islands in this hemis-
phere by German war vessels. Certainly
it would be difficult 10 find among sane
citizens of this country anybody de-
sirous OF a quarrel with the parent
branch Of our common TeUtonic stock.
The Herald" interviewer found His
ENcellency' not disclosed-in a
most amiable frame Of mind toward Us.
and he is quoted as saying:
whilst I ask YOU not to mention my name.
] give You full authority % say that Germany
has not the least desire 90 quarrel with the United
States; that she, on the contrary wishes IN every
way 10 cultivate friendship and good relations
with the United States. aad see no reason why
they should not exist"
There is not any apparent reason. as
far as the American people are to be
combated Germany in China, but only
to save its own face, by obscuring as
much IS possible the mistake il made
IN siding with Russia against the other
Powers How much there may be in
the Margarita Island incident we do
not know; but it is doubtless being
magnified TO create a Congressional and
public opinion favorable to a more rapid
increase of CUR navy Navy Depart
ment people are like pretty much every
body else in this land OF practical poll
tics and lobbying. They are quite ready
to seize upon any circumstance caIcu-
lated to promote their interests and de-
signs. and the easiest way To reconcile
the country 10 a heavy outlay for new
ships next winter would be to estab-
lish the suspicion that somebody was
getting ready TO fight US.
OF course, there is always the chance
Of producing irritation against the
United States in Germany, through the
habit Of some American newspapers of
treating Kaiser Wilhelm disrespect-
fully. and even insuItingIy. But his
Ambassador and Government must
know that neither the Federal authori-
ties nor the decent citizenship Of this
Republic can be held accountable for
press expressions under our constitu-
tional system The statesman mention
ed in the Herald interview is report
ed 10 have said. There is not a single
question unsettled between the two
countries There is not a misunder-
standing Of any lind sT,7r,,ar ,-c,17
faith and good temper ought to be ca
pable Of preserving and improving that
desirable condition to the end Of time