New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-24
N THE GERMAN EMPIRE
Svmpathy Scith RMssia-No Inter
uestion-South african Conflict.
Berlin. April u.

-t.-ed that Germany Joined Russia and
80. az the close Of the Chino-Japanese
- N 1894 IN Wrestling from Japan nearly all
=. .,oils OF her victory. Since then on a num-
- :. occasions this country has more or less
,vo-ed Russia IN her aggressive Far Asian pol
- This has been part and parcel Of an
..,-sble understanding which was the personal
- ~ the Kaiser and the Gar II Il had not
-, for this understanding. & is safe 10 say.
I-s-nanv would not have been permitted to en-
a. ouiet possession and exploitation OF the
.olonv OF KIao-Chau and Of its hinterland. the
--o,ince Of Shan-Tung. with its population OF
9sOoOOOO its fine coal and iron deposits and
vs other sources Of wealth, made available since
~ the recently completed railroad. Russia on
ssr part would have had TO deal. besides the
o,,osition TO her policy in Far Asia on the part
:, Great Britain, the United States and Japan,
18th that Of Germany as well, which would
have rendered its pursuance a matter Of ex-
,-sn,e difficulty. This understanding between
pussla and Germany affected Manchuria as
-tu Germany gave there carte blanche 10
Russia on the plea that German political or
commercial interests were in no wise involved
The key 70 this pro-Russian policy in Far
Asia however. is found not only in the facts
above mentioned, but also. and TO a considerable
extent IN the pleasant personal relations be-
tween the Kaiser and Nicholas II. and. further
-no-e IN the close commercial relations obtain
Eng between the two countries. for Russia is one
NJ Germanys best customers. Germany has the
largest percentage Of her foreign trade amount
ing 10 a matter Of S200OO0Oo0 exports and i'm
ports about evenly divided.
These are the main tangible interests which
have secured for Russia the sympathes OF off,
c,sl Germany IN her struggle with Japan. There
are few others. not SO apparent but just as
rotert one O. them is the dread Germany has
Of the rising power Of Japan in Far Asian
waters interfering, as she holds. with her own
aspirations in those regions Another IS that
German capitalists own large blocks OK Russian
securities amounting altogether TO about $780,
100000 Depreciation OF them by Russian de-
feat would be inevitable; indeed, Japan's naval
successes have had already this effect Lastly,
the ruling classes. from government circles
downward. have a fellow feeling for Russian
autocratic methods and they look upon po-
lticslly strong Russia as strengthening author
fly IN Germany herself, thus serving as a sort Of
barrier against the growing tide OF socialism
All Of which is tantamount TO saying that the
Liberal circles Of Germany do not sympathize
with Russia. and look upon the contingency OF
Russian victory as detrimental TO all they them
selves aim 1t is. indeed. easily susceptible OF
proof that Russia and the close Affiliations Of
late years sustained with her are held by ell the
liberal minds in Germany as strong means Of
strengthening that unfortunate trend toward
sutocracy and the ignoring OF constitutional and
parliamentary limits placed on the Kaiser and
his Cabinet. On the other hand. Russia's ulti-
mate defeat would make in favor Of a revival OF
Liberalism in this country.
II would be error. though. to suppose that
Germany means TO interfere or intervene. ON
way or the other. IN the present war and its1
prospective results She does not consider that
her interests are seriously enough involved 70
make the expenditure Of blood and treasure ad-
vssble. Personally. William II would regret
deeply Russian defeat. AS regards the nation.
the outcome OF the war, no matter which side
wins viii leave Germany's position in China and
throughout Far Asia much the same. AT least
that is what is at present surmised. There is
only one serious factor OF uncertainty that dis
turbs the calculations. It's name is the United
States and fits chief representative is the Sec
rotary Of state. Mr.. John Hay. What VIII he
be up to next?" is the query on many lips
Dark forebodings are IN the minds Of the lingo
party. Some OF their organs, such as the ''Kreuz
Zeitung" the Colonial Zeitung" and the
Deutsche Zeitung" are already giving vent 10
these fears. They discuss the question Ia ad-
vance what can be done TO foil Mr.. Hay and
withdraw from Kiao-Chau or to confine her
Efforts within the narrow limits OF the colony
Itself. Some hints 20 that effect appear TO have
been dropped in the correspondence between
Baron Won Sternburg, Ambassador IN Washing
ton, and the Foreign Office here.
To show the importance attached by the Ger
man government 20 Kiao-Chau. Il is only neces-
Sary TO mention few facts. The railroad COM
nany formed TO construct a road between Kiao-
Chau and the provincial capital OF Shan-Tung.
Isi-Nan-Fu. is MADE up OF German capitalists
backed by the Deutsche Bank in Berlin. The
capital involved IS about S15OOOOO0. The whole
distance % This road is about four hundred miles
At present one-half OF the road has been COM
nleted, throwing open to rail communication the
wonderfully rich mines Of coal both anthracite
ana bituminous. and iron located midway. The
remaining half is 10 be finished within twelve
month The coal obtained 50 far is OF excel
lent quality suitable for war vessels and the
merchant marine in Chinese waters. II is
brought 70 the pit mouth at an expense TO
The ton Of less than 81 90. and delivered in
Tstng-Tau (the most important city within the
Aio-chau colony proper By railway 81 81 10.
and il is sold TO vessels at from 50 to So 80
The iren ore smelted so far is Of similarly fine
quality and is already being used largely for
building purposes. both within the colony and
N the neighboring cities CT Shan-Tung When
me railroad shall have rea ched Tsi-Nsn-Fu. the
availability OF this iron viii have been greatly
enlarged. All this mining region has been
brought under the control Of German capital
something like S10OOOO0O having been invested
80 far. with S20O0OO00 or S30OO0OoO more
IN prospect. But this is only part OF the tangi-
DE value attaching 70 this colony. Germany
counts on making q second Hong Kong, not
CUT OF the harbor Of Kiao-Chau. but out Of
-Sng-TaU, a town possessing all the natural
soFantages for rapid development that could
BE-