SYMPATHY FOR METHUEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 84, 10 April 1902, Page 5

SYMPATHY FOR METHUEN.

BARON YON RICHTHOFEN'S FEEL-

ING WORDS IN THE PEUSSIAN DIET.

BERLIN, March 11

In the Prussian Diet to-day the Foreign Secretary, Baron yon Eichthbfen, after 'reading1 the answer of

the British Government permitting the delivery of German charitable gifts to the Boers in the South African concentration camps under the surveillance of the camp authorities: declared that the reply guaranteed a just distribution and added:

"The English and German nations are connected by ties of blood, race and friendship. They are cousins who may again find themselves side by side. General Methuen deserves our- . complete."•sympathy. As. this military attache to the British Embassy in Berlin he enjoyed the esteem of Emperors William and Frederick."

The sacrifices that Great Britain had made in blood and treasure, said the Foreign Secretary, made it only humanly natural that her susceptibilities should become more -acute. Every harsh word was doubly felt b"y her. Every friendly address was accepted with double gratitude. If the members of the Diet wished to secure the co-operation of the British in helping the Boers they must abstain from provoking . Great Britain's susceptibility. There was a need of a somewhat more just mode of criticism, of a somewhat more equitable adjustment of light andshadow. Continuing, Baron Rienthofeit.said: "If we feel ourselves more than cousins to England, we shall be able to more effectively help our common cousins in South Africa. Let Us not always assume that everything done by the English is wrong and bad. I may quote an example. I have read descriptions of the prisoners' camps which made my hair stand on end. A few days ago General yon Trotha, who from his own eaqjerienee was in a position to report on the matter, was at my house. He said to me: 'I consider It my -duty and authorise you to use my name to declare that I found the prisoners' camps in Ceylon to be perfect models. The former German officers in the camps had only a single complaint—that there Was not sufficient variety of food.' " Baron yon Eichthofen proceeded: 'Tin my opinion the dignity of the nation would not have suffered derogation if it had displayed some hu--nian sympathy, as, for instance, yesterday, when "the news came of the severe wounding of General Methuen. With proper consideration for national feelings, it will be possible to make-, further progress in the. direction desired -by the Boer relief committees." - ,■ j. , • The Foreign Secretary concluded I with saying that no obsequiousness was needed on the- part or Germany, whose policy was.conducted with the abiect of pleasing the German people and no one else. But he believed that the lines he had laid, down might fe followed without any relinqmshment of German views m regard to the war itself. ••Let us do what we can in the way of services to humanity/ said the Secretary, "and then, perhaps we can go further. Perhaps we shall be able, without drawing upon ourselves a sharp rebuff, to .address ouisselves as cousins to our cousins on the other side of the channel and speak a good word for our mutuai cousins, the Boers."