The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-08
SPECK Won STERNBERC
TALK WITH THE NEW GERMAN AM
BAssADoR BEFORE HE SAILED.
Expresses Belief TINT Venezuelan
Trouble Will Soon he Settled
The Baron's Pedigree.

Sternberg, the Kaisers new envoy extraor-
binary and minister plenipotentiary. did
not enlighten your correspondent as TO
whether or not his Majesty selected him for
the post because of his supposed fitness Ito
work the President" as suggested, but in
all other respects expressed himself with
a frankness that would be almost undiplo-
matte if it were not the essence of dipiom-
acy or due to "all highest command" His
first bow. as is fit. was for the American
press.
II esteem the American papers most high
ly,'' said his lordship: they are not as
reckless or as disrespectful as their Euro
pean colleagues make them oct to be. The
first duty of the press. as / take it, is to
give correct information; every newspaper
doing so aids the purposes of an honest gov
eminent. The principal American papers
are represented by young men noted for
enterprise and energy, characteristics that
usually welded to truthfuiness. Most
of the newspaper men with whom i came
in contact on the other SIDE surprised and
charmed me by their sound judgment,
quick understanding and excellent school
ing. All seemed TO be possessed of con-
siderable scientific and political informa-
ton.
"Of course there are exceptions" the
baron continued. This report, for instance.
is false, WORD for word-too self-evidently
false TO call for detailed denial
The baron showed your correspondent
cabled extract from an article in a New
York paper setting forth that, according
TO semi-ofticial information, Hoileben's re-
call was due to the Vaccinations of certain
, personalities in Germany who had been
after his job for some time. AS to Baron
Speck he had been a rival of Won Hole
ben for many years. Some time ago Holle
ben had succeeded in getting the baron
| transferred TO Calcutta, but the barons
| friends kept hammering away at Holeoen
| in Berlin, and now the baron was on top.
IAN absurd tale" repeated his lordship
| with fine disdain. 81 have the highest
esteem for Herr Won Holleben, who is an
| excellent official of great intelligence. L
would be the very last man to doubt his
ability, for / had occasion to see him solve
/ some Of the most intricate diplomatic prob
| lens. 1t was a pleasure to cooperate with
so eminent diplomat, l assure you
The baron continued: ION the other
hand, it is not to be wondered at when
gentleman of seventy like Herr Won Holle-
| ben does not feel alert enough, at a given
moment. to attend to certain business of
the vastest possible Importance, such as
! the Venezuelan affair. Holeben was ill.,
and could not attend to business That is
| ALL
You like Washington, do you not?'
asked the correspondent
II do" replied the minister enthusiasts
tically. Il have many friends in Washing
ton, and know all about it's ms and outs.
ROOSEVELT LIKE KAISER.
LAS to President Roosevelt l delight in
his friendship. The baroness ard / were
his guests only few weeks ago, and were
/ charmed with the kind hospitality extended
| to u.s. The President possesses wonderful
working powers-in that respect he can
| only be likened to our Kaiser. These two
| gentlemen are capable of more work than
any other two human beings 1 know of.
They can do almost the impossible. From
morn to night they are always working
under high pressure
"And Venezuelan" asked the correspond
| ent.
"Ah," said his lordship airily, 'the Ven
ezuelan business is not pregnant with great
difficulties for me if the men l have to deal
with are of the Roosevelt sort
What about the Monroe doctrine, your
Lordship?" asked the correspondent, en-
boldened by the way the ambassador
turned himself inside out
1.-The Monroe doctrine" replied Baron
Speck, lis an unwritten law with the
Americans, but President Roosevelt, as
declared by him time and again, regards
1t as pacific measure. That just now
it has called forth so much argument seems
to indicate that the Americans are trying
to probe its practical bearing on interna-
tional relations"
The baron again emphasized the pleasure
he felt in his American mission. It's no
sinecure. though" he added, seeing that
the great masses of the American people
are bitterly opposed to the German-Eng-
lish alliance. And again, in the United
States public opinion is a thing to be reck-
oned with.
But" he continued, smiling serenely.
Il have the fullest confidence in Presi-
dent Roosevelts love of fair play, and as
to his constitutional counselors / always
found them men of tact and sound judg-
ment. So 1 am quite sure that my coming
stay in Washington will be as pleasant as
my former experience in that beautiful
city. 1 never worked with such zeal and
such satisfaction as in the United States,
assure you, because / found the United
States government always open and hon.
est, absolutely so. l never had any fault
to find with American politics. either; in
short, everything tended toward agreeable
and business-like relations.
You ask about my experiences with
American political personages and states
men?" repeated his lordship "All Amer
lean government officials and statesmen
with whom / ever came in official contact
were persons of absolute integrity and
blameess honor, intellectual. energetic and
,ousiness-like. L never encountered any in
trigues or undetermined deals
NINE DAYS WONDER.
Diplomatic circles continue to regard
Baron Specks appointment as most ex-
traordinary, mainly on account of his lord
ships marriage alliance. To be sure, he
has most charming wife, but she is an
American, Miss Langhan, of Kentucky.
Up to now German diplomats married to
foreigners were booked for early retire
ment. never for an upward career. 1t will
be remembered that Herr Won Brand, the
ablest diplomat Germany ever had in China
was ahrtrtly retired uhep he tool or