The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1902-01-15
ARTHUR ROPES, General Editor.
GERMANY AND THE UNITED
STATES.

There was tlmey rev years ago
only, when the relations between the
United States and Germany appeared
to be somewhat strained. The imme-
date region of disturbance was Ma
Mia Bay. Admiral Diedrich, in com
mand of the German naval forces
there, seemed to have conceived the
idea that he was i'll chief command i'll
those waters and was causing Admiral
Dewey no end of annoyance. The
German squadron at Manila was equal
in the number of vessels to that of
the British, French and japanese
combined.
Affairs finally came to such a pass
that Admiral dewey read the riot act
to the German admiral, through his
flag officer, who had gone on board
the Olympia to make complaint.
Diedrich was apparently looking for
and contributing to complications that
would justify interference at Manila
and the planting of the influence of
his imperial master in the Philippines.
Dewey message to Diedrich, i'll effect,
was that the blockade by the United
States would be maintained and re-
spect for it enforced that to disre-
gard it would be an act of war, and if
Germany wanted war with the United
States, and this was what Admiral
Diedrich was seeking by his methods,
war might as well begin in five min
utes. This bold message, which was
imbrued with the very essence of
business, settled matters German
nagging ceased. Diedrich was soon
after recalled, and it appeared, or was
made to appear, that he had been act
ing on his own responsibility with
the idea of winning tile favor of En-
peror William.
Prince Henry, brother of the En-
peror, had been sent to the coast of
China in command of powerful fleet,
movement which was interpreted to
signify the scope and direction of the
German appetite. While the Ameri-
can fleet was yet at Hong Kong, the
Prince remarked to Admiral Dewey,
i'll a spirit of banter, that he was out
there to see that the Americans were
good, and Dewey, in similar spirit,
warned the Prince not to place him
self in the way of the American guns.
This was an interchange of pleasant
ries, but there was a feeling that a
suspicion of truth was yelled by these
jests. Later, when the Raleigh re-
turned to this country and the gallant
Capt. Coghlan entertained the mem
bers of a New York club by reciting
"Hoch der Kaiser,' the Emperor was
grieved and to mollify him thinly
yelled censure was administered to
the mercurial captain.
Since those days Germany has
been sedulously cultivating the arts
of peace and friendship with the
American republic. Some German
bankers have claim for money loan
ed against the government of Vene-
zuela, which that government refuses
to pay. 1t is unquestionably an honest
claim, and one in which the German
government, in guarding the rights of
its people, would be justified in using
force to compel payment. Germany
has signified its purpose to send a
squadron of war vessels to seize Ven
ezuelan ports to collect and apply the
revenues i'll payment of the German
claim, if Venezuela shall still refuse
to pay or acknowledge her obligation
and give adequate guarantees of
ultimate liquidation. In proposing to
take this extreme measure, the EN-
peror has made it perfectly plain to
the government of the United States
that his efforts to compel Venezuela
to pay an honest debt do not contem-
plate the acquisition of territory. On
this point he has fully satisfied Pres
ident Roosevelt. Ample assurance has
been given the United States that the
Emperor would respect the Monroe
ing this vital matter has been conduct
ed in the friendliest spirit.
And now Emperor William, in a
gracious note to President Roosevelt,
has asked that his daughter, Miss
Alice, be designated to christen the
yacht his majesty has building in
this country and which will be
launched in February. The Emperor
further announces that he will send
his brother, Admiral Prince Henry
of Prussia, him of the famous colo
guy with Dewey, as his re"resenta-
tive ON this suspicious occasion, and
he will be able to express to you (the
President) once more my sincere feel
ings of friendship for the United
States and their illustrious head. -
The Emperor has also ordered his
yacht Hohenzollern to cross over and
be present at the ceremony.
This is all very nice. 1t has beer
narticularlv noticeable for nonths