The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-15

sought to extend it's sovereignty over far eastern territory.
 He laid these considerations before his government and the result is em- bodied in the following authoritative statement, which was given toniESt to The Tribune correspondent:
 "Germany's policy in China is that of the United States-the maintenance of the integrity of the empire and the preservation of the open door. There Is no reservation or condition of any kind in the assurances which Baron von Sternberg has communicated to , the President and Secretary Hay. The assurances mean that Germany is today against all spheres of in huence, that she has abandoned all pretensions to a sphere of influence over the province of Shantung. They mean also that she Is against all spe- cial favors in trade. railroads. or any thing else. All she wants is a naval stronghold, which she has such as other powers have and which she feels she must have in order adequately to protect her subjects and interests At Kiaochou. which has been a Ger man possession for seven years, the policy of equal rights for all nationali- | ties is observed Mir. Morgan. who was appointedAmerican consul at DaIny before the war, has visited Kiaochou | and has established to the satisfaction of the American Government that Ger man subjects enjoy no greater privi- leges than Americans or the citizens of I other countries.
 '"The policy of Germany is commer- cial, not territorial. China in its i opinion should be allowed to develop without the interference of other na- tions. Any privileges the Picking Gov ernment might grant should be given equally to all nations. not to one. To put it tersely. Germany stands for fair play for all in the Chinese market" President Accepts Assurance. The President and Secretary Hay have accepted the German assurances at their face value. not only because the good faith of the Berlin Govern ment is pledged by them. but because its interests command that 1t should follow this policy. Before the war 1t was plain that if Russia permanently | acquired Manchuria, Germany would take possession of Shantung province. Russian acquisition of all of Manchuria | has ceased to be regarded by the of- l ficials as a possibility, which in itself would seem. 1t has been suggested, to deprive Germany or any other power of a reasonable excuse upon which to extend Its holdings in China.
 But as an excuse is easily manu- factured, the officials say the more im- portant fact is the presence within | striking distance of China, and particu- larly of Shantung, of powerful Japan. As the sea is the only means Germany has to communicate with her strong hold of Kiaoch0u, 1t would be in a far more unsatisfactory situation with reference tc it's defense than Russia is with respect to Manchuria. The latter has the Transsiberian Railroad for the transportation of troops and supplies. The fall of Port Arthur has shown Ger many that even modern fortresses are not impregnable when attacked by such plucky soldiers as the Japanese.
 Therefore. if it is to hold Kiaochou- If 1t is to preserve it's prestige and be able to push it's trade in China-it has come to the conclusion that 1t Is im- portant that 1t should put itself en rapport with the Tinted States, the in- fiuenoe of which 1t regards as incalcu- lable. and with Japan, which is fight ing for the principles which MT. Hay enunciated.