Considering how greatly German newspapers are influenced in their comments
on foreign affairs by the information and the hints given them from official quarters, this outburst of annoyance with the Monroe doctrine is not a little surprising. One would have imagined that at the present juncture the word would have been passed to the Press to keep silent on a matter in regard to which American opinion is so sensitive. if the Berlin Government have not prevented such criticism because they think , it wholesome for the Americans to know what German opinion really is on this subject, they are making a great miscalculation. Official denials of any hostile intentions in regard to the doctrine will have very little effect in the United States when taken in conjunction with a popular newspaper campaign against the doctrine. If, when the immediate incident is closed, the American people are left with the belief that Germany definitely refuses to admit the validity of the Monroe doctrine, it will be inipOisible to persuade them henceforth that Ger-
many is a friendly nation. And the first results of such a feeling will be to make a great increase in the American Navy seem a vital matter to all classes. But that is not a thing desired by Germany. The fact is that, however regarded, " the Venezuelan mess" has proved bad policy for Germany. She must either emerge from it frankly admitting the Monroe doctrine, or else incur the open suspicion of the American people.
