It was Mr. Stephens, we think, the Vice-President of the
Confederate States, who, after defeat, advised his followers, if anybody asked about the negroes, to "swear they never saw one." Herr von Billow, the Foreign Minister of Germany, has apparently been studying that lesson, for in a debate on Saturday last he declared that Germany had never interfered, or wished to interfere, in the Philippines ; had never en- couraged the Tagals, and never departed from an attitude of benevolent neutrality. The squadron sent to Manila daring the siege was only intended to watch over German interests. He admitted that Germans had a " human sympathy" with Spain, but the idea that such sympathy involved hostility to America was generated only by a malevolent foreign Press. He mentioned that Frederick the Great had been the first European Sovereign to acknowledge the United States, and trusted " that the relations between the peoples of Germany and America might always remain tran- quil, assured, and friendly on the basis of full reciprocity, mutual consideration, and mutual respect." We suppose that is the proper way to acknowledge that America being suc- cessful, Germany admits her success ; but how diplomatists most chuckle—General Woodford especially—when they read speeches on foreign affairs. Let us hope that the despatches sent from American Embassies in Europe to Washington during the war will be published in this generation. They will rather surprise Herr von Below.
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