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Show GERMANY WORRIED OVER BOER THREATS New York, March 20. Much concern is, being shown by the German government gov-ernment in the threat made by Montagu Mon-tagu White that the Boers will destroy Johannesburg to prevent it being made ' the base of the British operations agairnst Pretoria. The Berlin authorities authori-ties will strongly oppose such action because be-cause of the damage which will be done to the property owned by Germans. In accordance with the instructions of i his government Baron von Hplleben, I German ambassador at Washington, has gone so far as to sound the United States touching its views on Mr. White's threat. It is not thought that the United States will take any action ! or join in any representation's to the j Boer government on the subject. If Germany wishes to prevent the city from being razed to the ground, it is said, she should herself make representations represen-tations to the belligerents. The interests inter-ests of the United States in Johannesburg Johannes-burg are comparatively small, while Germany is largely interested in the mines there. - "While I cannot speak for the president presi-dent on the subject, said an official at Washington last night, "I think it is pretty aafe to assume that this government govern-ment will not interfere. Representations Representa-tions to the Boers and the British would be a form of intervention and I am sure the administration does not care to do anything that would have the appearance of intervention, 'From a humanitarian point of view it might be a good thing to try to eave the city, but representations made to the belligerents might meet with re-fueal re-fueal to comply with the wishes- expressed. ex-pressed. If Johannesburg comes wi'tlhin the theatre of war, foreign property there will have to be exposed to the same danger as the property of citizens of the Boer republic, and if it is damaged dam-aged I do not see that any redress can be obtained. It is a principle of international inter-national law that a sovereign is not ordinarily or-dinarily responsible to alien residents for injuries they receive on his territory terri-tory from belligerent action." In view of Germany's inquiries on the subject it is thought not unlikely that Bhe will make an effort herself, if tfiie is unable to induce other powers to jffin with her, to have the belligerents to agree to protect foreign property in Johannesburg Jo-hannesburg at least. |