St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-25
RE SLOW TO TAKE OFFENCE.
American Statesmen Think the
Difficulty Can Be Adjusted
Without Trouble,


WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.-The dis
patches from Berlin and London in re-
gard to the attitude of Germany Oh the
Samoan question were the subject Of
general discussion in this city this even
. ing. An effort was made to obtain the
views of Secretary Bayard Oh the sub
ject this afternoon, but without sue
cess. A representative of the associa-
ted press was, however, accorded a
brief interview with him this evening,
just as he was leaving his residence to
attend the state dinner at the White
House. He said that he had read the
dispatches in question, but saidit would
not be proper for him to discuss their
subject matter at this time. He
did not know who wrote the
article in the North German Ga
Zotte, nor what authority he had for
his statements. Consequently he could
not assume them to be official, and they
might, after all, prove to be mere news
paper gossip. He said further that, al
though Germany may have larger inter-
ests in Samoa than the United States,
ithad no better or later information from
that country than the United States. In
regard to the statement that Germany
aScendency in Samoa, Mr.. Bayard called
attention to the declaration concerning
the boundaries of the German and
English dominions in the west Pacific
ocean, signed at Berlin April 6, 1856, by
Count Bismarck OH the part of the gov
eminent and Sir Edward MaIet on the
part of Great Britain. Mr.. Bayard said
he thought this agreement pTecluded
German acquisitions in Samoa, and that
she was bound to respect the rights of
that island. This declaration, after de-
filming the boundaries of the respective
possessions of the two countries in the
west Pacific ocean, provides that
neither of them will make any acquisl-
tiOnS of other territory, nor establish
any protectorates over any other terri
tom in the west Pacific ocean. The
last section of the declaration expressly
provides that the navigators Samoa
islands, with which Germany, Great
Britain and the United States have con-
Guided treaties, and the Friendly-Tonga
islands) and the Mini (Savage) island
shall in future, as heretofore.
FORM A NEUTRAL TERRITORY.
Assistant Secretary Rives read the dis
patches carefully this afternoon and
remarked, with smile, ''they seem to
be hurting defiance in our teeth, don't
they? When asked if he had some
further comment to make on the sub
ject he said he had not. He subse-
quentIy intimated. however. that there
were important differences III the state
ments made by the North German Ga
zette, and the presidents message to
congress Of the 10th 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 discrepancies, but repeated that
the position of our government on the
question as stated by the Gazette some
what differed from our position as de-
fined by the president in his message.
Mr.. RiveS 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 con-
stitution and laws have placed upon eXecu.
tive power, have insisted that the autonomy
and independence of Samoa should be
scrupuIously preserved according TO the treat
les, made with Samoa with the powers. Ger
many, Great Britain and the United States),
and their agreements and understanding
with each other. l have protested against
every act apparently tending III an opposite