Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-04-13
JAGOW LAUGHS At
IDEA Of GERMANY'S
INVADING AMERICA
TeutOns Will Have Enough to Do
to Safeguard Homeland in
Europe, He Says.

beTlfl VIA l4bnuDli, April o'-INt''7''l
press dispatches have brought word OF
statements in the Canadian Parliament
and Canadian newspapers that Germany
was scheming after this war to plunge
upon the American continent, and par
ticularly to demand cession to Germany
of the Dominion Of Canada In the course
Of a conversation with Herr Won Jagow.
minister of foreign affairs, the Associated
Press correspondent referred to these ru-
mors The foreign minister's first reply
was an outburst of laughter
How can people invent or believe such
stories?" he asked ITO any one not en-
tirely blinded by passion It is evident be-
yond doubt that Germany never pursued
such senseless aims and never contem-
plated doing So
"Can one imagine a state Of affairs In
Europe after the war such that we should
have the leisure or a free enough hand
to divert our strength and efforts to such
a task on the American continent?
Equally ridiculous, though unfortu-
natelv this phase has n serious side, arc
rumors which | understand here and there
are current in the United states that Ger
many after the war will take revenge on
! the United States by pursuins an nnti-
American policy. IT is even reported to
me that some apprehensve souls in
America foresee from victorious Ger
many an attempt to break down the
Monroe doctrine, plant its flag in South
! or Central America. or even design to
/ leap upon the United states and crush
! them in order to attain mastery of both
continents.
/ at is unfortunately true that during
! the war. when the thoughts of every
/ German are bound up heart and soul in
the struggle for German existence against
! n worldwide coalition, and when the
! attitude Of the Washington government
at times has been almost forced, eyer
we think that there might be some basis
/ for stories of an understanding Of some
sort between Washington and the allies
:, strong feeling of resentment and bitter
ness against the United States has sprung
up among the masses in Germany,
! unfortunately, too there are foolish
persons among us who talk darkly and
! foolshly of taking revenge upon tho
/ United States after the war for that at
titude, but no responsible official takes
or can take such a view. We shall have
quite enough to do at home to safeguard
our own position in Europe, heal thu
wounds of the war. restore our industry
and business life at home and iegain and
, build up our foreign trade. without re-
versng our traditional policy in regard
to the American continent and taking on
a new and powerful enemy across the
Atlantic"
II need hardly assure you such reports
which from time to time have been set
afloat by enemies of Germany in the evil
dent intention of stirring feeling against
it. are too absurd for denial. | need only
recall the fact that Germany has never
placed itself in opposition to the Amer
lean principle of the Monroe doctrine.
Again. | would ask American doubters
to remember the attitude of Germany dur
ing the Mexican crisis. Although extern
sve German commercial interests were
involved and although there was Il strong
demand for Independent action to pro-
tect those interests at various times dur
ing the protracted era of disorder, the i'm
pcrial government consistently and at all
times stood for leaving the United sta teS
a free hand in its policy toward Mexico
The Washington government was NOT al
any time left in doubt as to the attitude
of Germany, and am sure comparison OF
our policy with that of any other Euro
pean power would not rebound to the dis
advantage of Germany.
! do enthusiasts and jingoes in YOU
country never talk foolishly:" countcret
Herr Won Jagow. 1.-THE policy of stat,
cannot be dictated by sentiment. canno
afford to allow itself to he guided oil
swayed in its permanent form by tempo
rary feelings of bitterness or resentment
but only by issues in which its interest.
are really and materially involved Tn,
permanent interests of Germany nowhere
east or west, run counter to those of tn.
United States on the contrary, the,
everywhere require the United States anC
Germany to be friends. For this reason
reports attrbuting to the German govern
ment as intention of pursuing an anti
American policy after the war are absurd
'Our Emperor long ago saw this neces
sity for policy of friendship and co
operation between Germany and tn,
United States. and during his reign ha
worked actively and consistently to i'm
prove the relations of the two govern
ments and the mutual understanding bo
tween the two nations. No German
statesman conscious of the real interest!
of his country could take any othe
course"
The above conversation took place anc
| the manuscript was submitted for cen
sorship before the delivery by Chancello
Won Bethmann-H ollweg of his speech be
fore the Reichstag, with his references t,
Canada.