Bismarck’s Bluff: Germany Claims Samoa While Washington Watches

BISMARCK'S BLUFF Germany Bound by No Treaty. He Says. WILL PROTECT SAMOA

Washington, Jan. 21.—The North German Gazette, Bismarck's organ, denies the existence of any treaty precluding any European power from acquiring ascendancy in Samoa, and also denies that England and the United States are agreed that the proceedings at the German agent in Samoa are contrary to the spirit of the treaties or opposed to diplomatic etiquette, and these powers have officially notified the German government.

The treaties, the Gazette further says, provide that Samoa shall concede to each treaty power equal rights with either of the others, but no treaty regarding the neutrality or independence of Samoa exists between Germany and the United States.

LONDON, Jan. 21.—The article in the North German Gazette relative to treaties regarding Samoa has caused a commotion in official circles here. By some it is regarded as a deliberate defiance to the Washington government.

BERLIN, Jan. 24.—The North German Gazette says: The English cabinet disclaims co-operation with the Washington government regarding Samoa.

LONDON, Jan. 24.—The Standard Berlin correspondent says the statement of Sewall, American consul-general in Samoa, caused surprise, but no objection would be raised to a convention of that nature, as it would end once for all the long international conflicts about these islands.

A GENERAL GERMAN PARAGRAPH IS CLEARED. Washington, Jan. 24.—Dispatches have been received at the state department from the American minister at Berlin in regard to the Samoan question. Their contents are withheld from publicity, except some extracts from German newspapers giving accounts of and commenting on the fight, in which Germans lost their lives. The previous languid tone of the press in regard to Samoan affairs was quickened to fever heat by the Kleine Journal of Berlin of the 17th inst., which says: "According to official reports from Apia of the 28th of December, the landing corps of the Olga was sent to accompany the German consul to the scene of the war of the natives, in consequence of the destruction of German property and bodily insults to men of the marine while on leave, the consul of Germany going there for the purpose of inspection. On the way to the Boilele plantation the landing corps of the Olga was by surprise attacked by insurgents under the leadership of an American named Klein. A landing being thereupon made, by the cruiser Adler and gunboat Eber, the natives were thrown back and several of their villages situated on the coast destroyed. Lieut. Sieger and 15 men are dead. Lieuts. Spangler and Burchard as well, and 36 men wounded. It was a victory, but a costly one and not one to be rejoiced over. German meddling in the quarrels of King Mataafa, Malietoa and Tamasese has been hailed with rejoicing from several quarters, for the reason that the final result of the badness was expected to be the occupation of Samoa by the German empire. England and the United States do not, however, agree to such a consummation, and now we have even lost a number of men in a battle with the despised Islanders. This is a new leaf in the history of our colonial policy—a laurel leaf, but what sort of one?"

GERMAN MINISTERS RESIGN. BERLIN, Jan. 24.—Gen. von Schellendorf, Prussian minister of war, and Von Schelling, imperial minister of justice, have resigned. Dr. von Schilling, who is a conservative, succeeds Dr. Friedberg as Prussian minister of justice, and Herr von Fittkau replaces von Schilling. Gen. von Schellendorf remains in office until the war estimates are passed.

WE DIFFER WITH BISMARCK. A General Discussion to Save the Islands from Heisare. Washington, Jan. 21.—Dispatches from Berlin and London in regard to the attitude of Germany on the Samoan question were the subject of general discussion in this city this evening. A representative of the Associated Press was granted a short interview with Secretary Bayard this evening. He said he had read the dispatches in question, but said it would not be proper for him to discuss their subject matter at this time. He said that although Germany may have a larger interest in Samoa than the United States it had no better or later information from that country than the United States. In regard to the statement that Germany would violate no treaty in acquiring ascendancy in Samoa, Bayard called attention to the declaration concerning the boundaries of the German and English dominions in the West Pacific oceans, signed at Berlin, April 6, 1888, by Count Bismarck on the part of Germany, and Sir Edward Malet on the part of Great Britain. Bayard said he thought this agreement precluded German acquisition in Samoa and that she was bound to respect the rights of that island.

HELIPE PEFER IN OFFICE. Assistant Secretary Rives read the dispatches carefully this afternoon and remarked with a smile: "They seem to be bringing defiance in our teeth, don't they?" When asked if he had no further comment to make on the subject, he said he had not. He subsequently intimated, however, that there were important discrepancies in the statements made by the North German and the president's message to congress of the 16th inst. in regard to the treaty rights of Germany, Great Britain and the United States in the Samoan matter. He declined to point out the discrepancy, but repeated that the position of the German government on the question as stated by the differed from our position as defined by the president.

PRESIDENT ENCOURAGES VIEWS. Hires would say no more, but it is understood that he referred particularly to that passage in the message where the president says: "Acting within the restraints which our constitution and laws have placed upon the executive power, I have insisted that the autonomy and independence of Samoa should be scrupulously preserved according to the treaties made with Samoa by the powers named, Germany, Great Britain and the United States, and their agreements and understanding with each other. I have protested every act apparently tending in an opposite direction, and during the existence of internal disturbance one or more vessels of war have been kept in Samoan waters to protect American citizens and property."

THE GOVERNMENTS MAKE IT. Secretary Whitney declined to be interviewed. The policy of the government, he said, was fixed, and anything which might be said in regard to it must come from the state department. The navy department had no jurisdiction over matters except of an executive character. Senator Edmunds, when made acquainted with the tenor of the utterances of the Berlin said: "I suppose if Bismarck wishes to express his opinion upon any subject he is at perfect liberty to do so, but I also suppose that the expression of such opinion will not serve to deter the American people from carrying out any policy they may deem desirable or necessary. The Samoan islands are on the highway of commerce across the Pacific and are of great importance with relation to the development of trade via the projected canals across the isthmus of Panama and across Nicaragua, to a power whose ships are sent on long cruises. The establishment of coaling stations is a necessity, and the location of one on the central island of the Samoan group, as provided for in the proposed amendment to the diplomatic and consular appropriation bill reported by the committee on foreign relations, is looked upon as one of great importance to us."

OPPOSITION OF PROGRESSIVES. Such of the house committee on foreign affairs as could be seen tonight were averse to discussing freely the present state of our relations with Samoa, in view of the fact that the subject is now before the committee. They are expected to communicate their views formally to the house in the shape of a report. Representative Russell of Massachusetts, when told of the position taken by the German Ostsee, remarked: "If matters should reach an extreme point I don't believe that we are going to be eaten up by any European power." Mr. Hitt, a leading Republican member of congress was inclined to take a peaceful view of the situation. It was evident that while cautiously written the article breathed a hostile spirit, incited no doubt, by exaggerated accounts which had reached Berlin of the feeling in America. "The fact is," said Hitt, "we are suffering for lack of information. The president, to use his term, 'relegated the entire subject to but unfortunately failed to transmit a copy of the agreement between representatives of the United States, England and Germany. Just what the agreement is or how it binds the United States nobody in congress knows, but it must be the very agreement under which the present state of affairs in Samoa has resulted. So long as the country knows that wise men of..."