Wichita eagle., 1889-04-21
THE SAMOAN CONFERENCE.
Germany's Attitude Very Mild-The So
cialist Question

rCopyriCht 1883 by tho New York Associated Press
BERLIN, April 20.-Count Herbert Bis
merck has prepared a statement for the
Samoan conference as a basis for discus
sion. 1t has been submitted to and APP
proved by Sir Edward Malet, the British
ambassador, who was in all probability
consulted while it was being drafted. III
the American commissioners accept the
statement the conference ought not to last
more than a week. Germany comedies the
principal of absolute non-interference IN
Samoa and the natives are to be LETT tree
to choose as their ruler either Malietoa,
Tamasese or Mataafa. No claims for COM
pensation for German subjects are men
toned in the statement and practically the
work is limited to defining exactly the
powers of consuis in regulating trade and
shipping, the boundaries of and rights
over Page pago and other victualllng sta
lions, and the formation of a tribunal for
the protection and trial of foreigners.
The foreign Office here regards that
Prince Bismarck's censure of Consul
Knappe and his declaration that Germany
does not desire to NEEDLE with the internal
affairs of Samoa, combined with the pro-
posals TO be placed before the Samoan con-
ference, furnish ample proof that Germany
earnestly wishes to conciliate the Amerl-
can government. AT the same time 1t IS
regretted that the American government
ignored diplomatic etiquette IN sending
delegates who are personally prejudiced in
the question to be laid before the confer
ence Nothing of this feeling, however,
will be shown toward Messrs. Bates and
Sewell, who will meet with a cordial
greeting from Count Herbert Bismarck on
their arrival on Thursday.
4 ,,.1 f,aa In -IfS Gh on 40
dor here, has asked Lord Salisbury TO send
Mr. Scott, the British minister at Berne,
as delegate to Samoan conference Mr.
Scott was formerly secretary of the British
embassy in Berlin, and is thoroughly con-
versant with Samoan treaties and colonial
matters generally.
Although the reichstag has taken a re-
cess, keen and excited discussion is going
on in the press in regard to the threatened
press law and the workmen's insurance
measure. The reaction of the natiOnalists
against the government Is more marked
and the division In the centre party on the
question of press repression Is becoming
wide. One group goes the length of de-
nouncing governmental interference with
the press or with socialists and will sup
port the progressists in their demand for
the abolition of the anti-socialiSt laws.
The other urges the necessity Of giving the
government the means to combat the revo-
lutionary propaganda. The government,
dreading the result under the existing dis
ruption of the groups, will, it is expected,
postpone discussion of the press measure.
The progressists are, therefore, preparing
to raise the question of the rights of the
press through proposal that the state be-
come liable for the indemnifying of jour-
nails that may be suspended or suppressed
without sanction of a legal tribunal. The
coming period of the session before the
Whtsuntide adjournment promises fierce
debates and critical party developments.
Herren Liebknecht, Grillenberger,
Schumacher and Harm are engaged in a
prosecution impending against los social
lists rs members of a secret society. hese
prosecutions do not impede electoral prep
arations of the socialists, who are now
feyerishly active throughout the empire
Everywhere new workmen's associations
are forming and already numerous candi-
dates have been selected. n striking
characteristic of the movement is the
spread of the canvass beyond the towns i'll
the country. The short electoral fly sheets
written in clear style denouncing land
owners are widely distributed among the
peasantry. The police have arrested So
cialist agents engaged in propaganda at
Edinburgh and Pomeroy and seized guam
titles of American revolution leaflets
The Munich Ailgemine Zeitung says that
south Germany has never witnessed any
thing like the present ridiculous scenes of
socialism, the aim of which is TO influence
peasants and smaller land owners with a
view to obtaining their suiirages in the
coming election.