The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-12-27
HE SUSPECTS GERMANY.
Views Of A South American Mer-
chant On The Crisis.

returned to this city, having been with his
family in different South American countries
steadily for two years.
For many years Mr.. White has been re-
garded as an authority on South American
affairs. He considers the present situation in
Venezuela as ominous in the extreme. He
declares that Germany's attitude toward Ven
ezuela is part of a carefully laid plan to get
a foothoid somewhere in South America, and
that there is to be no turning back Until the
Monroe doctrine has been shattered.
Mr.. White says that in 1896 Germany had
all of South America carefully mapped, and
that her line of action, in the event of hostil-
tiles, has been decided on.
She has placed Venezuela, he says, in a
position where the best settlement she can
make is to give Germany mortgage on the
country on which she cannot even pay the
interest. Between owning the country by
conquest or owning it by an irremovable mort
gage, Mr.. White can see little difference.
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT.
The first thing that Mr.. White did on his
return here last week was to write letter to
President Roosevelt on the situation. In his
letter Mr.. White says:
II have Just returned from two years trip
over South America, visiting my agencies
there, and for the last 20 years, at period of
about years apart, | have travelled the entire
South American Continent.
Il stopped my business this morning, then,
to write you so you can better understand the
German situation in South America. Most of
my agents being Germans, | have knowledge
of the German ideas in those countries, which
may be of interest to you.
I'm the first place, Germans settling IN
South America are there only to make money
and to retun to Germany, after having made
their fortunes, where they can live at ease for
the rest of their lives. They never become
citizens of the South American republics, or
if so it is exceptional.
ssDuring these journeys over South Amer
lea was simply astonished at the growth OF
German commerce in those countries. Zen
years ago most of the Chilean trade was in the
hands of the English. Today it is All open
secret with the English that they must retreat
and leave the larger bulk of the Chilean trade
to Germany. Besides this, the Germans have
control, practically, of the army OF Chile and
to large extent they control the Chilean
Government.
s.The affairs in Argentina are nearly the
same, and all of Southern Brazil is practically
German colony. The knowledge of En-
peror William intentions is not great secret
among the Germans in South America.
SIN the first place, all the German popula-
ton of South America misjudge the United
States. They judge our republic in the same
manner as they Judge the South American re-
pubic-a country full of corruption, and at
the bottom having little foundation. These
Germans decry all our manufactures, and
everything that is made in America they class
as Yankee humbugs. 1t has taken weeks
for me to prove to leading Germans in South
American that there is anything good IN the
1 4lo,, oh lQnnr nh
there was anything good in the United States
it was because we had some OF the GOOD Ger-
man blood in this country.
There is an inbred hatred of everything
American in all Germans living in South
America. They believe in case OF war arising
between the United States and Germany that
our German population feel as they do-that
is, they think our German population will re-
main loyal to the Emperor, as they do not
understand how the German people in this
country become citizens at once and are more
interested here than in Germany.
Universally the German people in South
America are shaping the Emperor's course.
They make light of the Monroe doctrine and
laugh at it. They candidly helieve--and tits
no great secret among them-that Emperor
William will crush the Monroe doctrine, will
blot out the map of the United States, if we
he will continue on as he has commenced in
Venezuela under the pretext of collecting a
debt, will hold the country by mortgage if he
cannot get territory, and will so continue
throughout the South American countries un-
til the Monroe doctrine is completely demol-
ished. Then'he will take the southern part of
Brazil as German colony, annex Chile aud
later Argentina, ifhe so desires. This belief
is SO well understood and discussed among all
the German colonies of South America that
they cannot comprehend any other idea.
dNow, my dear sir, from my observations
in these countries l must believe with the
German. | see now that the little aggressive
ness in Venezuela, under pretext of collecting
debt, is only to test the Monroe doctrine.
No doubt you feel this as well as do.
mot only our trade is being continually
curtailed by German aggressiveness. but we
have serious questions ahead Of US with King
William. In my dealings i'll those countries
the German banks demand double commits
| sion on American drafts, while the British
| banks are very much more reasonable. In
fact. everything is done to kill US in trade, in
malignine our good intents toward South
| American countries and in belittling our Gov
| eminent. The whole tendency OF German
aeeressiyeness is to down America, and the
| time is not far distant-mark my words
when we must face crisis with Germany
The very air of South America is impregnateo
with German ideas, German goods, German
aggressiveness and little later, ii you please
with German government.
CALLS 1T A CONSPIRACY.
Mr.. White talked TO reporter yesterday
afternoon in his office in this CITY. He tolc
the following story of the South American
situation and Germany's relation to it,
at will be unfortunate indeed if we allow
ourselves to be deceived in Germany's rea
attitude. or to regard her exorbitant claims a
ANYTHING but pretext, for there isn't maj
in South America today who looks on 1T a
anything else.
ssToday in the Venezuelan matter German.
is simply testing how far she can go with th'
American public. This is the test. Ii w
stand this she will be ready for the next stel
in her program. She is bound and determines
to get a foothold, aud if she can't get 1t b.
colonization she will get it by lacking mort
gage that can never be paid on Venezuela
and it remaius to be seen how we can thwar
her design.
"Venezuela cannot even pay interest OF
what Germany aud England have demanded
of her. In 1889 the value of her imports wa
SCI. 900. 900. IF she had revenue from tina
| much today it wouldn't meet what Englan'
and Germany demand, and, as a matter o
fact. the imports are now less than half VIVA
thew were In 1889. Venezuela cannot pa
what has been asked of her, and German
| knows it. Where she is coming out do no
know, for she is among the poorest OF tn
| countries.
/ 81 saw General Pulgar, the re7olutionar
hero of Venezuela, when he was here som
wears ago, and he told me that he was ate
| money, That is the curse OF Venezuela, TO
while it is true that Germany has eagerl
seized on this opportunity to inaugurate ne
policy in South America, it is a fact that Ven
ezuela is herself responsible for the crisl
which she is facing.
| IF AMERICA IS TO FIGHT.
"If we are to enforce the Monroe doctrin
we need nothing so much as more gunboat
and more cruisers. Germany has nearly
million men in South America and she ha
her plans made. Her men are all hghtin
men, and war is not a terrifying thing t
them, for they have known that this crisis wa
coming for years. They have been the life o
the plan and have furthered it at every oppor
tunity, and they will profit by any slrengt
tina: Germany wins in South America.
'sIn 1896 when went to Venezuela wen
with a German army engineer, Baron vol
! Steuben. He travelled all over South Amer
lea on map making tour. He was receives
everywhere with the greatest honor by Ger
mans, the consuls personally entertained hlu
wherever he went Germany has maps toda.
that he made of all the points of strategic valu