The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-14
WAR WITH U. So
SILLY SAYS JAG0W
German Foreign Secretary
Ridiculcs Idea That Hos
tility Exists.
BEER POLITICS 40 GUIDE

CHICAGO, March 13.-The Berlin corr
respondent os the Chicago Dolly Neus
sends the follow interview:
People nowadays believe most fan
tastic things. but ! never had thought II
possible that Americans would believe
anything 80 absurd az that Germany
after this war would attack the United
states" said Herr Won Jasow. the Ger
man Foreign Secretary. to-day. lie
spoke in reply 10 my statement that
found most Americans who urged mill.
tary prcpa rcdness did SO because they
feared an attack by Germany.
To my assurances that really rep
r~escntative Americans held this belief
the German Foreign Secretary shook his
head as n b~ewiidered.
you must be familiar" he began
with Clausewltz's axiom that war IL
the forccful continuation Of a policy.
Nations do not make war out OF rage.
The present war. for instance. is a part
~ the policy ~ Great Britain to isolate
us. of France TO retrieve her losses OF
1870 and of Russia TO establish "A hegc-
mony IN tho Balkans.
Just what has been the policy ~
Germany toward the United States from
the very birth OF your republic? What
arc the Instances in your whole history
whcr. "" have opposed YOU"
Il ave found many Americans who
fear Germany will attack the Monroe
Doctrine ! said
Has Germany ever taken any step
the Fore Fl Secretary replied. that
could lead any sensible person to be
Iic'" That she meant to touch the
sovereignty NJ any American state I
lsN" tot the slightest reason to believe
that We shall change our American
policy, and ] doubt very much IL there
- any American who before the war
ever thought u the need OF preparing
against Germany.
W. have been confronted hy the
submarine" problem. a question which. nv
the very meagreness ~ the law govern
.Ug submarine warfare. certainly CAV.
room foi vide divergence Of views We
had "t" view and your President took
another. hut aS our policy has been :hs,
OF fricndliness 20 America We made
Concessions. although we, not America.
w'r" a; war and concessions COS, Us {,
real p'ice Ia military effectiveness.
Your own r-ess has been hostile
n US. bot only after III" Lus.tauiA
,ra.r. bat to a certain extent from the
very outbreak OF the war. Il the warm
feeling for America which one found IN
Germany before the war has changed
l. L. only ratura, that i should hoy We
changed. but II beer restaurant .oliii-
clans have gone So far as TO say Yes
these .Ainericaus-say, they'll get theirs
wlen TINS war ~ finished YOU mus,
remember thai MS - the KIND o.
chauvir!>m beer restaurant politicians
sometimes display IN war time. not onis
among w., bu, in America too. I never
heard a sensible. responsible German
give expression to such an idea. never
y think Americans have been wor-
RED by so-cal.ed German plots in Amer.
lea" l inic- Jected.
Il a v said II before. and I repeat
I. gladly Herr Won Jagow replied, tina
the German GoNernment d~isavows any
responsibility for any plots In America
having 10 do with :um"nt,ng strikes,
destroying property, or Surfing ur
trouble IN Mexico. II your own citizens
have engaged ~ It, en:erpr ses i, haS
not been at our .us' CATION"