Mr. White to Mr. Day.
Berlin, May 5, 1898.
Sir: I had last evening quite a long talk with Herr von Buelow, imperial secretary of state for foreign affairs, who volunteered some statements regarding the attitude of Germany during the present contention of the United States with Spain.
He said that the Imperial Government had been from the first determined to exercise the strictest neutrality, and that the sole reason why a public declaration was not made is that for twenty years Germany has abstained from anything of the kind. He also stated that, having so recently come into the imperial department of foreign affairs, and being naturally ignorant of its routine details, he had proposed at the [Page 864] outbreak of the American-Spanish war to make a declaration, but was informed by one of the older officials especially intrusted with such matters that for twenty years Germany had abstained from everything of the kind; that no such proclamation had been issued during any of the various wars which have occurred within that time; and he reiterated to me that the absence of a declaration in this instance has no significance whatever as regards the feelings and intentions of the Imperial Government in the premises.
He then went on to speak of German public opinion, and said that, while there is undoubtedly on the part of a considerable number of people a sentiment of sympathy with Spain as a small power waging war with a great one, he was sure that tnere is a very large and influential body of opinion in the Empire in favor of the American side.
I am, etc.,