The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-02-06
BAYARD DECEIVED.
We Must Nor Believe What
Bismarck Says.
WE ausr TELL HIM TO LET GO.
He Only Makes Believe Rebaks
the Geznaa onzeers in samoa
Coal far rags-P.xs.

WAsHsSsTos, Feb. ). - George III.
Bates. late United States commits
sioner. was to-day asked by an Asso-
cisted Press reporter what. in his
opinion. would be the probable effect
upon EAe policy OF onr government OF
Prince Bismarck's S recent orders 10 the
German consul az Samoa and the com
rnanier Of the German feet He
said. II do not see why the recen;
dispatches ffom Germany should af-
teet the attitude Of the United States.
Ihe proclamation OF martial Law and
the assumption of the direct admins
tration Of affairs in Samoa By the Ger
man consul. which are now reported
10 have been dfsconfenauced BY Bis
rnarck, we're not The gravamen Of the
trouble there which excited the attsn-
ZION OF residents and congress The
Interpretation OF congress was invoked
ny the previous aggressions OF local
GerEsan officials and residents there.
their disregard Of the understanding,
expressed and implied, upon which ali
our negotiations with Germany hsye
proceeded, and the evident disposition
OF the powers to absorb the group
without further consultation with the
United States.
With respect 10 these matters there
Is as yet no sign OF any concession un-
less 1t Is TO the proposition published
this morning. for q conference at Ber-
lin. In my Judgment the restoration
of the status quo right TO be condi-
ton precedent to any further negotia-
tion, and this involves among other
things the reassembling of the confer
ence at Washington. Ii seems TO me
that Prince Bisn.srck's proposal to re-
move the negotiations to Berlin is
both sight and compliment to cur
secretary--a slight, because he was
representative here, and could be
present as such nowhere else; compli-
nenta ". because il would indicate
that ia the conference, the proceed
ings OF which are secret and unpub-
iishet, he excelled in diplomacy the
German and English representatives
combined.
sBaf even il Germany's disclaimer
is broad enough 70 cover the whole
subject matter involved in the presi-
denf's communication to congress.
past experience warns US not to be too
quick In relying upon assurances from
Berlin rs indicating the course OF
events in Samoa. Successive viola
tons by German local officials In
Samoa of assurances made TO this gov
ernment indicate either gross insub-
ordination, which is entirely contrary
to all our notions of German discf-
piine, or else some understanding ex-
lists by which the consul there is
authorized TO act on his own response
bility according TO his views OF the
necessities Of the case and exceed his
instructions as reported here
What do You think of the sieclara-
ton Of war by Germany against Sa-
moa ~
The prosecution seems to me ut
terry inconsistent with the restoration
OF the former status. III Germany
goes TO war in Samoa 1t viii be use
less to have conference at all. OF
course Germany can ultimately drive
the Samoans into the sea and take the
islands by conquest. This would be
no less the destruction of Samoan au-
tonomy than if it were done by grad
ual encroaehment. If, however. we
do not insist on an absolute halt: ii
we consent 10 less than this. we may
as well wash our hands of the whole
business and abandon all idea of pre-
serving the neutrality of the islands. =
When asked If the newspaper report
was true that part OF his report on
Samoa had been suppressed in the
copy furnished congress, Mr.. Bates
said the query might be better an
swered when the report is published.
ii il is. he did nos feel at liberty to
comment on the matter.