Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-04-06
GERMANY IGNORES
PRESIDENTS SPEECH
But Imperial Reply May Be
Made if 1t Be Sent to
NeutraIS.
EDITORIAL ATTACKS BITTER

CUl UniHI Al HSNO OlI I'LL
By the Associated Press.
BERLIN, April 5, via London, April
6.-Although most of the Berlin papers
continue today their unfriendly COM
ment and criticism of President Will
sons speech, the German government,
so far, has taken no official notice of it.
1t is expected, however. that a reply
to certain historical features of his ad-
dress will come later, especially if. as
reported. Washington sends copies to
the neutral governments.
The Berlin public still maintains its
attitude of indifference to the crisis
and similar apathy is reported from
other cities. In no instance. as far as
is known, have Americans been sub
jected to unpleasant incidents. The
foreign Office declares that no change
government toward Americans or
American property. Citizens of the
United States will be treated as neu-
trails even although the state of war"
resolution is passed by Congress, and
will have every freedom either to leave
the country or stay. Only a different
treatment accorded to German citizens
in the United States, foreign office Off
cials say. will change the governments s
attitude. They add that Germany re-
CARDS the treaty of 1893 as in full force
and will live up to it
There is little definite data available
in regard to the number of Americans
still in Germany. The American Asso-
citation of Commerce has been gather
ing a list. but so far less than 500 have
been recorded. Only 200 of these are
men. the remainder being women and
children. Moreover, the number has
been steadily decreasing. as many
Americans are leaving daily, princi-
pally for Switzerland and Denmark.
There are probably several thousand
Americans in Germany. but many of
these have been here SO long that they
are more German than American. and
a considerable proportion have no pass
ports.
Bremen Editor Amazed.
AMSTERDAM. via London, April g.
The Weser Zeitung of Bremen pro-
fesses amazement at President Wilson's
speech. which 1t calls IAN accumulation
of misstatements. hateful insinuations
and one-sided prejudices."
The paper continues: IF ever a power
threw itself into big war without
sufficient cause it is the United States,
which believes it is a peace power be-
cause it is democratically governed"
The Lokal AnZeiger in violent arti
Gle says that President Wilson's at
tempt to "inveigle the German people
into a revolt against the dynasty
beats anything for sheer hypocrisy in
the records Of the world"
We must assume" concludes the
Anzeiger, that President Wilson.
knowing all this. deliberately tells an
untruth. Not the German government,
but the German race. hates this Anglo
Saxon fanatic. who has stirred into
fame the consuming hatred in America
while prating friendship and sympathy
toward the German people"
Count Won Reventlow. in Il later edi-
ton Of the Deutsche Tageszejtung.
abuses President Wilson in similar
fight for democracy in Germany he
makes an unprecedently crude attempt
by interfering in the internal affairs of
a European power.
Semi Official View.
The Norddeutsche A1lgemeine Zei-
tung, which is regarded as semi
official organ. says:
"a certain phrase in President Will
sons speech must be especially pointed
out. The President represents himself
as the bearer of true freedom to our
people who are engaged in a severe
struggle for their existence and liberty
What slave soul does he believe exists
IN the German people when he thinks
that it will allow it's freedom TO be
meted out to them from without. The
freedom which our enemies have in
store for US we know sufficiently. In
the name of freedom England will
throw us into our old impotency, in the
name of freedom France will snatch
lands of German blood. and in the name
of freedom the cZarists allied to them
have dragged women and children and
the aged into Russian captivity.
1.-The German people, become clear
sighted in war. sees in president Will
sons words nothing but an attempt to
loosen the bonds between the people
and princes of Germany SO that we may
become an easier prey for our enemies.
We ourselves know that an important
task remains to US to consolidate our
external power and also our freedom at
home.
Attacks Big Interests.
The Cologne volkszeitung. under the
caption, Moral Phrases Again." says
that President Wilson's proposal to
Congress was "a masterpiece of what.
according to Talleyrand. is the more
important part of diplomacy, namely.
to conceal ones real thoughts" and
continues: Wilson declares war only
for the sake of the rights Of humanity
and non-combatants. but not for the
rights of munition makers and Morgan.
who sees endangered the thousands of
millions lent to England
The Volkszeitung does not disguise
the fact that the hardest weeks and
months now are coming. but says: I'VE
will set our teeth until the victory of
freedom and right is achieved"
The Volkszeitung concludes by re-
a. afiirmins that Germany is fighting for
the freedom of the whole world. which
1t declares would be in better custody
in German hands than in American.
Puts Blame on Republicans.
The Berlin Zeitung am Mittag says:
president Wilson used the submarine
warfare as a pretext to get closer to
the entente, q task which was to be
achieyed only gradually, because he