An Apology

Some time ago the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, a Hugo Stinnes journal, accused the Vossische Zeitung, a Berlin daily of Socialist views, of "being too friendly to France." Dr. Ullstein, Socialist publisher, and George Bernhard, editor-in-chief, decided to bring a libel suit against the Allgemeine Zeitung. The action promised to prove a big sensation in the Berlin newspaper world, but Hugo Stinnes discreetly ordered his paper to print the following apology:

"The Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung declares that it did not wish to accuse the Vossische Zeitung of ever having allowed its political attitude to be dictated by other than patriotic motives. It regrets that the various attacks of the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung have been interpreted by opponents as such accusations. At the same time, the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung declares that it, after looking into the details of the condemnation of the Leipziger Neuste Nachrichten* for unfair competition and after examining the judgment of the Supreme State Court in Dresden, regards the attitude of the publishers of the Vossische Zeitung as blameless. It regrets, therefore, the comments that it appended to the report of the publication of the excerpt of the judgment."

*The Neuste Nachrichten accused the Ullstein Publishing Co. of not being 100% German. The attack was made because the Vossische Zeitung had printed a supplement in French during the time of the Ruhr conflict, although it contained acrimonious comment upon French policy.