New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-03-12
HANDS ACROSS THE NORTH SEA.


Fine consolation for her losses in South At
rica comes to Great Britain from Berlin. We
would not say the consolation is as unexpected
as the losses II is not But it is as note
worthy as they, and will make as great an i'm
press upon the progress of affairs. Seldom has
there been a more generous utterance in any
thing like such circumstances than that OF
Baron RichthOfen yesterday in the Prus-
sian Diet. 1t will he grateful to British ears
the world around. and It will be welcome also,
to millions OF English hearing ears that are not
politically beneath the Union Jack. There is
no stronger international desire among clear
seeing and broad minded Americans than that
the three great nations which are so closely
akin shall stand closely together in sympathy
and IN co-operation toward those ends which
are common to the aspirations Of them all. We
have been glad TO believe that while Great
Britain and the United States have been draw
ing closer together, and Germany and the
United States have been doing the same, there
has been similar process going on between
Great Britain and Germany. This belief was
not discouraged by the recent passage of words
between a British and a German Minister of
State 1t receives gratifying confederation IN
yesterdays utterance at Berlin.
Baron Won Richthofen declared. in effect that
German hostile criticism Of the British in
South Africa was largely unjust criticism. He
reminded the Diet that the British and Ger
mans were connected by ties of race blood and
friendship Never in history have they fought
against each other. They are cousins, who
may again be found fighting side by side. And
instead of echoing the cheers with which Irish
Members of Parliament at Westminster greet
ed the news Of Lord Methuen's disaster, he de-
clared that that unfortunate general deserved
dc
WERE in brief, as cordial and as sympathetic
as any that could have been spoken by an
Englishman, or by hard and fast ally of Great
Britain. And Baron Won RIchthofen is the
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, not of Prussia,
though he was speaking in the Prussian Diet,
but of the whole German Empire. He is the di-
rect representative of the German Emperor in
the foreign relationships Of the imperial gov
eminent. 1t is uncomfortable that he should
have spoken he did yesterday without alb
solute assurance that his sentiments would be
approved by the Emperor. Practically, then,
1t was the German Emperor who spoke, who
expressed sympathy with and confidence in
Great Britain, who referred to the close ties
between the two countries, and who declared
that the two nations might again some day be
arrayed side by side.
This utterance Of the German Minister can
popular sentiment its effect will not be slight
We all remember the sensation which
raised by the Emperor's dispatch to Mr. Kru-
ger at the time Of the Jameson raid. Certainly
the present utterance is no less striking and
is even more significant. At a time when, ac-
cording to current representations nearly all
Of Europe is antipathetic If not actually an
tagonistic toward Great Britain because OF
her South African policy, the greatest power
of the continent goes out Of its way to take
advantage OF a mishap TO that policy TO
press cordial sympathy with Great Britain,
and confidence in her. and friendship for her
more than friendship, kinshp that may one
day lead to an INTERVENING of their banners
in peace and in war That is a crushing re
Duke to those who have been acclaiming what
seemed to them the fatal loss of British pres
tige and the fall of Great Britain from the
rank of first class powers. If the German En-
peror stands by Great Britain, it really does
not matter so greatly what some other powers
NAV do. 1t Is. of course, just as it should be,
and it is a happy reflection to Americans that
this noteworthy reaching out of fraternal hands
across the North Sea should have occurred at
the very moment when Prince Henry was COM
pleting his visit to the United States, a visit
which, we may well believe, has done much
toward a closer and more permanent union OF
Germany and America in bonds of peace and
friendship. It is a long step straight toward
that triple league Of hearts which is the nat
ural aim Of the American, British and German
nations.