Germany And Panama.

New York Times 100 years ago today, October 13, 1912:
Why Kaiser's Government Cannot Join England's Demonstration.
    BERLIN, Oct. 4.— Gen. von Bernhardt author of "Vom Heutigen Kriege," ("About the War of To-day,") in an article in the Berlin Post allows it to be presumed that the Berlin Government has been approached by England to join the latter in a diplomatic representation at Washington remonstrating against the passage of the Panama Canal bill, which discriminates against foreign shipping in favor of that of the United States. He says:
    "It is most desirable that Germany should neither support nor help England in her action against America, for, in the first place, England would, when the crisis was over, forget any services rendered by Germany, and revert to a policy of hostility toward her; in the second place it is to Germany's interest to maintain good and friendly relations with the United States, and it would be a serious mistake to sacrifice these relations for the very uncertain prospect of an agreement with England."
    The General points out that the positions of Germany and England in regard to the Panama Canal act are not the same. For England it is primarily a question of prestige, and he adds:
    "The United States has simply torn up the treaty concluded with England, and as no Court of Arbitration in the world could approve of such procedure it may be assumed that the United States will refuse to submit the matter to arbitration. Should the United States really do this, and also make no other concessions, England will have suffered a grave political and moral defeat, and her prestige in the world must necessarily be lowered."
    As to Germany: "If the Kaiser's Government should enter into negotiations with the United States on the subject of shipping tolls at the canal, her sole aim would be to insure that the exemption from the payment of dues be restricted exclusively and explicitly to American coast shipping, and should not be extended to any oversea traffic whatsoever. This is the only point where German interests are affected. We do not need therefore to join in the English protest and stake our good relations with America."