Germany

An eagle labeled “Germany” and the Russian Bear relax after eating. Bones labeled “Shan-Tung” and “Manchuria” lie at their feet. Caption: Russia and Germany — Of course we want peace. It isn’t wise to exercise on a full stomach.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Pughe’s cartoon is a bit disingenuous, or at least only a partial treatment of the Chinese situation in the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion, but the matter was muddled. In the midst of troop withdrawals and the imposition of punitive indemnities on the Chinese, there was a scramble for lands, ports, and territories. The Empress, faced with reality and desiring to keep her throne, acceded to carve-outs from her nation. It was not only the Russians and Germans who feasted. Russia and Japan, neighbors of China, received the most real estate, and Russia outright occupied Manchuria. Among other countries granted spheres of influence and long-term concessions were Great Britain (Hong Kong), Portugal (Macau), and Japan was even granted control of Taiwan. 

German Emperor Wilhelm II holds the strings to a wooden jumping toy identified as “V. Waldersee,” field marshal in China; the latter wears a military uniform, decorated with many medals, and saluting with his left hand.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Field Marshall Alfred Ludwig Heinrich Karl Graf von Waldersee, Chief of the Imperial German General Staff, was appointed to lead the eight-nation coordinated military effort against the Boxer Rebellion in China. Among other aspects of their revolt, the Boxers had besieged the colony of international embassies. In fact his arrival in China followed the relief of the embassy compounds, but von Waldersee did pursue elements of the Boxers and defeated those pockets of rebellion. The German Kaiser found much to brag about in the person of von Waldersee.

A woman representing China struggles with the Russian Bear, while the German emperor and the British Prime Minister, Lord Robert Cecil Salisbury, implore Russia not to be so greedy and to share some of China with them. Uncle Sam sits on a fence in the background, whittling a stick. Caption: England and Germany (to Russia). — Hold on there! Don’t be so selfish! If she’s going to be saved, we want to have a hand in it!

comments and context

Comments and Context

Just as Germany was comparatively late to the major nations’s scramble for colonies, Russia sought to capitalize on the disorder and crumbling central government in China at this time. A German-Anglo alliance, formed to check Russian expansion was, obviously, short-lived, but Russia’s primary frustration was its timing: the Boxer Rebellion, growing furious at this time, targeted all foreigners in China.

Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany, sits in a throne, sword across his lap, and reads by candlelight papers labeled “Plans for German colonization in South America.” The ghost of Maximilian, Emperor of Mexico, looms above him as “a hint from history.” On the floor are scattered papers labeled “South American mortgages” and “South American investments.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

By the time that Germany became a unified country in 1871, and in subsequent decades, most of the world had been figuratively carved up by European colonial powers. Germany’s imperial dreams were confined to southeast Africa, meddling in China (so late as to offend other Colonial powers and adding to the opposition manifested in the Chinese Boxer Rebellion), and joining the French, Spanish, and English participation in Mexico. Those nations saw a weak and fractious land in the New World as ripe for plunder — a type of adventurism that Theodore Roosevelt later forestalled in his Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine. France invited Maximilian, its Austrian ally (of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine; in turn an ally of the Bavarian court) to serve as Emperor of Mexico. The Europeans’ plans to establish a foothold in the Americas failed under the inept Maximilian, whose three-year reign ended with his execution in 1867. Keppler’s cartoon shows the shade of Maximilian and his failures warning the Kaiser against South American colonial ambitions.

The British Lion runs on a path toward “Pretoria” while four figures representing Russia, France, Germany, and Italy hide. At the time of this cartoon, the British Empire stepped up its campaign to suppress rebellion of its colonial rule in South Africa.

comments and context

Comments and Context

Pughe’s cartoon could illustrate the admonition against “fishing in troubled waters.” By 1900 most of the globe had been carved up by colonial powers or controlled by spheres of influence. South Africa was recalcitrant, a thorny problem for the British who regarded the Horn of Africa with special importance. Only 15 years before this cartoon’s publication, Germany had gobbled up lands, largely comprising the present Tanzania, and established German East Africa, and British colonial fears were heightened. The cartoon suggests that Great Britain simultaneously doubled its resolve to quash the Boer Rebellion, and kept rival powers from intervening themselves.

Theodore Roosevelt encouraging Uncle Sam that it is never too late to have a “strenuous American policy” against Germany.

Collection

Dickinson State University

Creation Date

1917

President Roosevelt is seen frantically looking at the claims of allies, international law, and various foreign language dictionaries as various countries clamor in more demands from doors, windows, and walls.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-23

President Roosevelt is dressed as Santa Claus and trying to decide Yes or No to the question waiting in the stocking, whether he will arbitrate the Venezuelan Crisis or not. Great Britain, Germany and France look on anxiously from their hiding places under the bed. Caption: An anxious moment for the parties under the bed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-25

President Roosevelt smiles as England and Germany look at a saw labeled Monroe Doctrine. Hanging above the saw is a sign, “Don’t Monkey with the Buzz-Saw.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-1903

A War Lord hands President Roosevelt a gold brick labeled Sole Arbiter (Made in Germany) as Uncle Ed looks on. A sign points the way to The Hague.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-12-28

Heinrich, Prince of Prussia smokes a pipe as he plants a “friendship Linden grown in Germany.” Uncle Sam looks on and watches. There is a “U.S.” watering can nearby while the U.S. Capitol is in the background.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03

Uncle Sam and “Germany” link arms to form a pretzel shape while John Bull, symbolizing the United Kingdom, watches sadly from behind.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-03

If he does not think it will offend Emperor William II, President Roosevelt asks Ambassador White to recommend his good friend Hermann Speck von Sternburg to fill the position of German Ambassador to the United States.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1901-12-13

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of State Hay a confidential letter he received from Hermann Speck von Sternburg for Hay to read. Roosevelt says it sounds as though German Emperor William II is concerned about France and England. He also notes the recurring phrase: “the integrity of China,” which Roosevelt is glad he suggested Hay use in a recent communication to other nations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-12

President Roosevelt sends Secretary of State Hay an amusing letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-27

President Roosevelt enquires after Secretary of State Hay’s health, and asks whether Hay is able to meet with him and Secretary of War William H. Taft in the White House, or if the two men should call on him at home. Roosevelt encloses a memorandum from German ambassador Hermann Speck von Sternburg.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-14

At the direction of President Roosevelt, George B. Cortelyou encloses a proposed draft of a response to Emperor William’s telegram. The President would appreciate Secretary of State Hay’s views on the subject.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-05-15

President Roosevelt would like to know if permission has been granted for Major General Young, Adjutant General Corbin, and General Wood to attend the German Army maneuvers.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-05-17

President Roosevelt would like to meet with Secretary of State Hay before deciding on a new ambassador to Germany. The primary candidates are Charlemagne Tower and Bellamy Storer.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-08-07

President Roosevelt is concerned that the Lutheran Germans would resent a Catholic being sent as Ambassador to Berlin. He would like to find out if Charlemagne Tower will accept Berlin and if Robert Sanderson McCormick will go to St. Petersburg. Roosevelt is also interested in trying to purchase the Isthmus of Panama instead of leasing it from Colombia.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-08-21