Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-04-22
German Emperor Aids
Great Results
Friendly Union Of German
Empire and American
States

friendly relations between Germany
and our country, entitled Manila
and Portsmouth:
Among the speakers at the love
feast which had been arranged under
the auspices OF the n. Y. stats
Zeitung on Monday night in the
Manhattan club In honor of Mr..
Charlemange Tower, the American
/ ambassador az Berlin, was MIR. Mel
vile II. Stone. the general manager
OF the Associated Press. His re.
marks created a sensation, at least
among those to whom his intimations
came as surprise. The speaker
said:
81 have been waiting for a good
while TO see some matters cleared
up, The Diederichs episode az Ma
nila Is one OF these things. When
the whole story is told. assure you
that Il will be found that the Ger
man government acted with scrupu-
lous proprloty. and if All of the facts
were disclosed we should have no
right whatever TO make complaint.
The Portsmouth peace conference
furnishes another illustration.
Throughout all OF the negotiations
connected with the settlement of tho
differences between Russia and Ja-
pan the German emperor bore a
much larger part and contributed
much more to the cause OF peace than
has thus far been disclosed. IL is
not too much 10 say that no one. un.
less II was President Roosevelt him
self, did more in this behalf"
The story OF the affair az Manila
has been told in various ways. but
never completely accurately. or oE.
cially. The truth is this: On May
/, 1898. Admiral Dewey attacked
and destroyed the Spanish fleet. At
that time there were large mum
ber OF German merchants In business
in the city OF Manila. There was a
great deal OF confusion there, and
these merchants were naturally APP
prehonsive as TO their lives and prop
erty. Prince Henry OF PRUSSIA was
az Hong Kong, and a delegation wen. |
70 him and urged that some German |
vessels should be sent 10 the Philip |
pines TO safeguard the German prop
erty there. This request Prince
Henry cabled at once 90 Berlin. All
that moment, and indeed for many /
months after, there was no popular
sentiment In the United States IN
favor OF permanently holding the
Philippines or making them colonial
possession OF this country Indeed.
one who had full authority 10 speak
Tor the American government as
sured the authorities az Berlin that
the war must not be construed into
a contest for territorial aRgrandise-
ment. and asked why Germany would
not take the islands. This was taken
as an Official communication. lie
also communicated this suggestion 20
the state department al Washington
where IL was not fayorably received
The German government were not .
Informed as 10 the feeling al Wash ,
ington, and for the moment accept ,
ed the suggestion as expressive OF !
The American point Of view. They Ii
were very uncertain. however. as % I
heir desires in the matter Tho \
German merchants az Malina were !
very urgent shat the United States I
should assume and maintain soyor-
'ignty In the island. and the Berlin +
authorities rather favored this view 4
II was with the suggestion fsom d
his American authority before them Il
hat on May II. Admiral Diederichs II
sas Instructed 20 go from Hong Kong O
o Manila. The English sent a like Il
leot under Capt. Sir Edward Chit n
hester. Admiral Dewey knew moth v
ng OF what had been going on az !.
berlin. Admiral Diederlchs had beer q
Cd 10 believe that the United States c
I'd not want the Philippines aud r,
you'd De very glad Indeed II Ger 81
aany would take them on her hands e,
'hese two different points Of view al
leyitably found oppression IN the p
ctions of the two Admirals. II n
'ledeFiehs seemed az All onieious his bl
astlhcatlon lies In the fact that his n
oyerament had. through no fault of 81
q own. been misled. II is als0 true n
iat Tor motives of their own GER NJ
I'm American and foreign neWspa- ~
ers greatly exaggerated the episode.
aAFgihg Dieieriehs with many "
lings 81 which he mas not guilty. M
I'd erediting the English ofheeFs IL