The German Emperor has done a very odd and noticeable
thing. On Tuesday, during a discussion in the Prussian Cham- ber on the propriety and possibility of sending "aid" to the refugee camps in South Africa, the Foreign Secretary of the kingdom, Baron Richthofen, made a long speech in defence or ex- tenuation of British conduct of the war. He considered that the Government of London had fairly met German wishes as to sending aid, and deprecated strongly the abuse of this country, which had greatly wounded British susceptibilities. "Germans ought to dispense light and shade more fairly." Terrible descriptions, for instance, are published of the way Boer prisoners are treated, but Major-General von Trotha, who visited the prisoners in Ceylon, found them admirably provided for, and had to warn them that "they could hardly expect caviare and oysters." The Baron proceeded to speak with great kindness of Lord Methuen, and urged that if Germans wished to comfort the Boers they must cease to irritate the British, so that the Government might be able "to speak to our cousins on the other side of the water" (the British), and "perhaps put in a good word for our other cousins [the Boers] in South Africa." This complete ohange of tone almost stupefied the House, which understands well that in Prussia a Secretary of State does not utter in Parliament speeches unacceptable to the King.
