GERMAN DESIGNS ON CANADA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 294, 10 December 1914, Page 4

GERMAN DESIGNS ON CANADA.

Writing in tho middle of November a San .Francisco correspondent says:— Alter distinctly and emphatically declaring that Germany would not infringe the Monroe doctrine by landing troops on the American continent from the Kaiser’s forces. Count von Bernstoff, the German ambassador is being

criticised in vitriolic terms throughout the United States for hi, unpardonable change of front after declaring by a recent diplomatic note of assurance to America that the Kaiser’s troops would not attempt to land in the Western Hemisphere. Count von [Berustorff now shuffles out of his former stand by asserting that the official note referred only to South America. Germany’s right to land troops in Canada, if possible, and thus secure at least a temporary foothold on the American continent, was upheld by Count von Berustorff, who declared that would not he a violation of the Monroe Doctrine. The Ambassador suggested that, as Canada was sending soldiers to Europe to fight against his country, the United States should not consider it in any sense an infringement of the Monroe Doctrine it Germany should land an armed force on Canadian soil. Discussing his now much-talked of Note of September 3rd to the State Department at Washington explaining the attitude of the German Government toward the .Monroe Doctrine, and giving assurances that Germany was not contemplating any South American colonisation schemes in the event of victory over the Allies, the Ambassador said only South America was referred to at that] time, because there never had been any question raised as to possible German attempts to seek colonisation in any other part of the American hemisphere. Count Berustorff asserted that Great Britain had officially called the attention of the United States Department to reports that Germany

might attempt, if successful in the war, to colonise in tsoutlx Amenta. Officials at’ the department said later they did not recall that Great Britain had made any such charge, but the Ambassador now explained that his Note had been intended largely as a reply to this accusation by Great Britain, as well as to reports which that country had been spreading m other ways that Germany had designs on South America. Whatever other characteristics the Germans may possess they certainly stand alone in the art of shuttling and falsehood.