[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR." J
Sig,—Your appeal to German-American writers (Spectator, January 31st) to impart their views relating to living ques- tions of policy concerning Germany and the United States is a consideration too great to pass without recognition. There. fore I do not hesitate to disclose in brief what attitude in the present circumstances, in my opinion, should be the only one becoming to German-Americans. We all know that great men like William L and his paladins, Bismarck, Moltke, von Roon, Crown Prince Frederick William, and Prince Frederick Charles, &c., will perhaps never be seen together in centuries to come. Luckily some of them lived long enough to com- plete their great work : the deliverance and unification in every detail of Germany after the war. They even left behind them written ground-features of policy to be observed by future rulers of the German Empire. We all know also that the statesmen forming the present Imperial Government are closely attached to those features, and have distinguished themselves as firm, and at the same time cautious and conciliatory, officers of their Monarch, William II., who, indeed, seems to be designated to states- manship by Nature, and who is undoubtedly possessed of the most sincere disposition as to the peace of Europe and the welfare and general progress of mankind. In view of these facts, German-Americans at present could only beseech their brethren in the Fatherland to stick like one man to the national Government in questions of foreign policy, and especially when the maintenance of the honour of the flag is at stake, together with the prestige of the Empire. The American Government does not treat the Venezuelan question as one calling for its interference, and the Congress at Washington, keeping aloof from debating those unhappy events in our neighbouring waters, obviously acts in perfect understanding with our Adminstration. A rupture between the Allied Powers and the United States being therefore out of the question, and people and Press at large having returned to perfect calmness—after a short outburst of annoyance over the thunder of British and German guns in our neighbourhood —German-Americans, of course, would only put themselves to ridicule by making an exception and showing agitation without any sensible cause. As to the present common action of Great Britain and Germany, I would like to see therein the germ of closer and durable relations between the two nations, because such a happy new constellation would, in my opinion, form a big step towards the ultimate, yet inevitable, con- clusion of that greater Dreitrand, England, Germany, and the United States, which would give an entirely new face to the world, and surely a happier one. If German-Americans are called upon to co-operate with their Teutonic cousins on both shores of the North Sea for the realisation of such an ideal, they will fall in line with their customary enthusiasm. I am really inclined to believe that just such deplorable events as developed during the blockade of Venezuela will soon speak emphatically for the speedy formation of that greater Drei-
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