The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-02-13
Powers insist Kaiser's Brothers
Tour Has a Political Sig
nificance.
ALL WAIT FOR THE RESULT
feurs Germany VIII Cut In on
AnqIO-AmerIC0n Friendship, so The
Papers SUu, Bull There IS No Sign OF
Regret in Russia.

LONDON, FEB. lO-lt Is SlSnln-
cant of the prevailing dullness in
European affairs that Prince
Henry's visit claims a larger
share of public interest than any
other approaching event. The
reiterated protests that it does
not bear any political significance
serve simply to confirm the op
posite conviction in the general
European mind. Everybody is
quite willing to accept the repeat
ed declarations that Prince Hen
ry has not been instructed on
any diplomatic mission save to
the American people at large.
That mission, the success of
which is practically assured, has
in the European belief greater
political Importance than any
event since the consummation of
the Franco Russian alliance. It
is not what Prince Henry does
which European chancellerles
will watch with keener interest
than any other development in
international relationship now
pending, but what the American
people will do.
Not to put too fine a point on
it, Europe is anxiously waiting
to learn what effect German
Establishments will have upon
the hearts and minds of nation
where every man is his own sec
retary of state. 1t was at first
marveled at, but is now generally
understood in the Old World,
that Prince Henry's purpose
might have been completely
gained if he had not visited
Washington and had not met a
single member of the executive.
More than one foreign minister
wishes that he had been the one
to discover this fact before the
kaiser. They have been taking
belated advantage of this knowl-
edge in their efforts to convince
the American president of the
good will of their respective
countries during the Spanish
war. 1t is only the diplomatic
rule which requires the consent
of all concerned to the publica-
ton of international communica :
tions which protects certain of
those have been protesting too
much from exposure In an en-
barassing light.
There is a wholesome dlsap-
pointment among some continent
al statesmen, who realize now
that it is worse than useless to
attempt to hoodwink American
public opinion in thus matter.
There has been some appre-
henson in England lest Prince
Henry's visit should prove detri.
mental to Anglo-American rela-
tions. This has largely disap-
peared, the only remaining effect
being perhaps a slight augmen.
tation of the anti German feeling
in this country, which is now
deep, ineradical, and certain to
bear fruit in future history. It
finds such expression as long
article in the Spectator urging an
Anglo French understanding. and
arguing that it is impossible
ever to remove the antagonism
of interests between Great Brit
ain and Germany.
Russia Is silent. Russia is al
ways silent. But there is no less
interest in st. Peterburg than in
other capital in Prince Henry's
visit. There is reason to believe
that some regrets are felt in cer-
tain quarters in the Russian cap
ital over the drastic course pur-
sued in retaliation against Amer
lean action on the sugar bounty.
1t is by no means impossible that
when this qr estion arises again,
as it must do presently, a more
conciliatory attitude will be
adopted by the Cars represen-