The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-08-17
Announcement Of Refusal to
Participate in Exposition
Comes Suddenly.
MANY INDUSTRIES OBJECT
Government Favored Plan, but
Manufacturers Are Bitter
Against L. 8.
Special Gable Despatch to TsE sry.

bEkLIN, Auk. lO.@\reTuduy tO-Ody OH
cialiy declined the invitation extended by
the United States to participate In the In.
,ernational exposition at San Francisco
In 1915 to commemorate the opening OF
the Panama Canal This announcement
was made this evening In the North Ger
man Go:ctte. the official organ of the
Government.
While 1t was known that the chances
Of Germany deciding to participate In the
exposition were small. the announcement
came Unexpectedly because at both the
Foreign Office and at the Office Of the Per-
nanent Exposition Commission the Amer
.can correspondents had been informed that
there would be no decision in the matter
for at least two weeks yet.
Il was said in some quarters that there
was only one chance left for Germany's
participation and that the matter now
rested with, the Kaiser. Even to-day some
Of the papers said that F. ]. V. Skifr
h.biton, would be received by the Kaiser
early in September. while the agrarian
press and one Of the so-called Krupp war
organs attacked Herr Ballin. director Of
the Hamburg American Steamship Com.
pany for coming out In favor OF partici-
patton in the exhibition. The Permanent
Exposition Commission. which Is headed
by Max Ludwig GOldberger. was opposed
to participation In the exposition from the
Start
why Germany Declines.
The announcement made tonight says
that Germany IL compelled to decline the
invitation because the answers to a circu-
lar note sent to all industries showed that
there was overwhelming opposition to
participation In the exposition because the
people interested could not see where they
would benefit by exhibiting. 1t goes on
TO say that In view Of the good political
and Industrial relations between Germany
and the United States. the continuation
and cultivation OF which are near to Ger
many's heart the Government did not
reach its decision with light heart. II
Investigated the question and was kindly
disposed toward participation. 1t would
have liked to have seen German manu-
facturers participate in the San Francisco
exposition. as they did in the worlds fairs
at Chicago and st. Louis and thereby
give America another proof Of Germany's
sympathy and friendship.
on the other hand Germany could not
ignore the antipathy and disinclination Of
Industrial circles to take part in the ex-
hibition. ~ they are weary of such affairs.
There was all the less justification for
opposing this feeling" continues the an
nouncement. ''since a German display
which was not truly representative of
German industry and German economic
life would injure the prestige Of the en-
pre and thereby be contrary to German
interests.
"As the San Francisco exposition has
been mentioned in connection with the
opening of the Panama Canal 1t must
be pointed out that Germany's attitude
on this historical event Is not affected by
the decision regarding the exhibition.
The ceremonial inauguration Of the new
channel OF communication between
nations will probably afford hitting OPP
portunity for showing the interest OF
Germany in this mighty achievement for
which tho world Is indebted to the energy
OF the United States
Germany. 1t IL believed. fears that the
refusal to participate at San Francisco
will be keenly resented In America as
slight and will affect relations with tina;
country. The German industrial situation
is not al its best. The country is passing
through crisis. as Ia shown by the fact
that there Is an unprecedented army OF
unemployed in Germany this summer
there being $4,000 in Berlin alone. with
the number increasing every day The
approach Of winter makes this matter a
serious problem. which IL already engag-
ing state and municipal attention.
AntagOnistic to Americans.
On the other hand. It Is also a fact
that there has been a feeling antagonistic
to Americans in industrial and CONNER
cial circles which probably was not with
out influence in the decision reached by
the Government The head Of one OF the
largest organizations told the correspon-
dent OF THE SUN to-day that II has been
many years since he saw such bitter
feelings against America in German In
dustrial and commercial circles, which he
attributed to the rivalry Of German and
American merchants. This sentiment 10
constantly cropping out In a portion Of the
press, which In forever referring to the
American tariff chicanery against Ger
many"
The National ZeitMn0 tonight refers to
'he Governments announcement OF ite de-
'lsion rot to participate in the exposition
AS hitter pill officially sugared."
Three factors during the week seemed
destined to bring about change OF
sentiment in favor Of participation by
germany In the exposition. The strong
statement OF Herr Ballin. director Of the
hamburg American Steamship Company.
mat the German Industrial world could
not anord to follow Englands example
ana that failure to participate In the
snow would be a serious error was the
nrst OF these factors. The second was
.nr strong editorial stand made by the
frankfort Gazette. one Of the most In.
nu"htia, organs IN the commercial world
IN" last factor was the editorials and
descriptive articles printed In semi official
p"p'rs. The Frankfort Gasettc said:
Wore and more the question of DER
lfis, i'm, In L...