The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-21
MUST NOT OFFEND GERMANY.
PRESIDENT WANTS NO MORE
DEWEY INCIDENTS.

PRESIDENT WANTS NO MORE
DEWEY INCIDENTS.
Cabinet Member Advised - step ANTI
German Utterances Of subordinates
No Basis for the suspieiou 20 Often
Expressed Of Germany's Intentions.
WASHINGTON, April 20 Reoent evidenoe
OF q resumption Of Misunderstanding
and ill-advised utterances bearing upon
the relations between Germany and the
United States has given the Administration
cause for some concern as to the probable
outcome OF these international pin pricks
At the instigation Of President Roosevelt
every effort will be made to stop the so
called German batting which has been and
10 now prevalent in certain Official quarters.
the Presidents purpose being to demon
strats TO Germany that the expressions Of q
desire on its part to be on terms OF the most
complete amity with this country are ap-
preciated and will be met more han half
way.
Information obtained here to-day leads
directly to the conclusion that the President
has made known to the members Of his
Cabinet that he win not brook the oontinu-
ance Of efforts on the part of their subordi-
mates to create the impression among the
American people that Germany Is an enemy
OF the United States. Ofiicials with whom
TIE SUN reporter talked declined to affirm
or deny this understanding. and one Of
them requested that he 10 not asked TO say
whether the President had sent any COM
munication on the subject. While no alb
soluts evidence was obtained to that effect,
IL was q fair inference from what was
heard that since his entrance into Yellow
stone Park Mr.. Roosevelt has given orders
or suggestions concerning statements by
Government officials which tend to create
the impression at Berlin that the United
States Government 10 suspicious Of Ger.
many.
It has been said that certain prominent
officers Of the navy have been mainly re-
sponsible for the idea that Germany Ia
awaiting an opportunity to strike Q blow
ct the United States. In the recent pub
hshed remarks Of Admiral Dewey that
the West Indian mapeuvres were intended
~ an object lesson TO Emperor William,
some people have found confirmation OF
the misunderstanding that the ma val service
regards Germany a. an enemy. But there
is no evidence that there has been q con-
sistent effort on the part Of the naval Of
fioers or any particular group Of them to
foster bad feeling between the two countries,
even for the sake Of influencing Congress
TO provide more ships. moro officers and
Whatever views have been expressed
by those Of the naval service, who look
eskance at Germany's rapid building of a
formidable fleet, must be ascribed to in
dividual opinion. for many officers insist
that the naval preparation OF that country
Il aimed At England or France and Russia,
and not at the United States.
At any rate, y = exgsctsd that the Prssi:
dsnt'e scimonition win hays the eject Of
lie part q sny p.rsoo psomi X Siy' oo On
nsotsd with the 0overnnsnt ssrvics that
. var h sure 70 come between the two
A year ago. and before that. there were
accepted the common view Of certain
circles that Germany was unfriendly to
this country. Some Of these have sincs
been making q more careful inquiry into
safe TO say that none Of them has been
able to find one concrete fact that would
servo to convince him that there ID truth In
the reports Of German Vaccinations.
One Of these ofhcers-s man q high
generally commended~acfnowledsed to
The Sun reporter that he had accepted
the view that prevailed at the time men,
toned, but since he had come to look into
the subject--and his means for 40 doing
had not been able to find any evidence
whatever Of . tangible character that
would lead q reasonable man to the con-
clusion that Germany was not friendly
TO America.
Il asked men who told me Of Germany's
enmity," he said, what made them be-
lieve that any such enmity existed. Some
Of them said that commercial rivalry was
at the bottom Of It. But nations do
not 60 to war on account Of honest COM
"Othsrs pointed to the ambitious naval
building programme OF the Kaiser. but
I found In that no threat against the
United Statee. Why should great
Pc pow e. Ike IKE g Germany remain far down
We are making rapid strides toward
attaining first rank among the first
naval powers does not mean that we
expect war. was told also that Germany
wanted colonies and naval stations on the
ready to fight for that desire, which could
not be accomplished OF course without
destroying the Monroe Doctrine But no
one OF my informants could show me Q
s soSd iST r suSn sss nd IL .n
we would be foolish not to accept her
profers Of friendship.'
II should be said that a. far a. the Gov
ernmant II concerned there has never been
any disposition to imply lack Of good faith
on Gerrnanys part In extending the un-
IL true that In the excitement OF the Yene-
zuelan blockade, when ports were bonn
barded and when ships were captured and
sunk, there was a general feeling here
In Official circles that Germany had acted
In bad faith toward the United States, par
ticularly after the assurances OF intention
to institute pacific measures OF coercion.
Most Of this suspicion was directed toward
Germany, while England and Italy went
virtually free OF blame.
This feeling of resentment over the ctions
Of Germs ms In Venezuelan waters hiss not
DO seed away. but public men sre coming
To believe that the comms n ders Of the
imperii vessels OF war were primarily
responsible nd not the authorities In Berlin. I,
better spirit now exists. or. at least, the |
desire Of the Administration n 70 show |
a Letter spirit.
The recent feeling engepdered In Ger |
MANY over the dec.ira tion OF the Emperor |
invita- ton for the North Atlantic sou droT. |
to visit Kiel nd the subsequent decision Of !
the Navy DEPARTMENT 10 eend the Eurors an /
squadron 70 greet the President NJ France at |
Marspilles IL regretted officially. the more 10, |
because there WIS not the slightest reason |
for Germany to take umbraee at the |
a. L.,