New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-01-12
ANGLO-GERMAN ACCORD.
Prominent Germans and Englislin,en
Work for International Peace.

London. Jan. 11-Lord Avebury formerly Sir
John Lubbock, president OF the Central Associa-
ton of Bankers), who is chairman of the commit
tee formed December 1. after the meeting at Cax-
ton Hall, London, to promote Anglo-German
cord. sent out under the covering of a letter to-
night a communication, addressed to the press,
signed by forty-one of the most prominent persons
engaged in science, literature art and the learned
professions of Germany, protesting against the
statements circulated in certain papers tending to
create a sentiment which would render difficult.
and perhaps impossible, the task of those respon-
sible for peace between the two countries.
The letter continues:
We regret the form in which certain papers IN
Germany, well as in other countries on the CON
b nep t and a Vented hut th e sser that
these attacks were not the outcome OF any desR
in Germany against England. except that created
from time to time by what we feel to be a mis-.
of English journals of high standing. ,..-,u -
We can state that none OF us. though nvis in
different spheres of German society and OF party
discussed or approved By any or section O., Of
the German public worth noticing bo cTedfed the
government with any intention or plan 10 war Win
The naval policy of the government, whether ap-
proved resisted is everywhere in Germany q bs
the growing mass Of German shipping. Certainly
it is not based any purpose to enter Wanton
We wish 10 be on truly friendly terms with Eng,
land and with flnglishmen and this wish is general
in Germany. Every cultivated German knows ana
Venerates the ties that bind both nations TO no
other modern country does German civilization owe
much it does to England through SNAKE
speare, and England, from the time OF Luther anG
Holben to that of Handel and Goethe, mas L9 ?t
in Germany source Of pure spiritual ana az
inspiration. ~, -,
We believe that on the continuance of this init,
macy between both countries depends TO a greaS
extent the future and the fulness of European
civilization. We, therefore. call on British men
of science, on Brtain's artists and painters as
the guardians IN England of this heritage, anu on
the British press the leader or BRUSH Isens
and opinion, to diScountenance TINS preJuulC9t
Of German policy; for sincerely CONVINCED
that if only this fog of prejudice COULD be dls,
PEELED no step which the German goTernIment Is
likely to take and no feelings which the German
people NAV harbor ever rightly endanger the
friendship between the two nations
The covering letter. which is signed by forty
one persons equally prominent in similar walks
of life in Great Britain says;
In welcoming this communication from Germany
our ONLY regret is that any doubt should exist con,
corning the recognition in England OF the essenLn
solidari of British and German ciViIizatlon we
accept without reserve and with warm gratlhcatlon
all the assurances Of our German friends ana COZ,
leagues We beg them TO believe that we ana
those for whom we may speak are no whit less an
moved and misrepresenteG than they themselves py
the affected belligerency of some or our Journals
For US between England and Germany there Is no
frontier to be defended: War between Lie wv W.
powers would be a world calamity for wh1ch NO
victory could compensate either nation and we en-
phatically declare our belief that the eVlty WIFI
which certain journalists occasionally DISCUSS su
a possibility IS the OF their prorouho 1s-
norance of the real sentiments of the nation.