Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-10
RAYARD TALKS.
He Defends His Department Against
Sewall and Bates.

BALTIMORE, Feb. 9.-Secretary Bayard
said to reporter of the Sun today that a
date for the meeting of the proposed con-
ference had not been determined as yet. 1t
will doubtless be held very soon, as the adj
ministration is now very near the close of
lis official life. The points to
be contended for by this coun-
try will be the pacifcation of
Samoa tho restoration of the autonomy of
the islands and the protection of American
interests. There is reasonable grounds for
hoping that these will be secured. 1t
would be very unfortunate if personal
spite or partisan jealousy should succeed
in throwing any obstacles III the way of
so desirable a contamination. Prince
Bismarck has shown disposition to set
tie the matter amicably. He and his
son, Count Herbert, have gone out
of their way to make the friendliest
professions and Mr.. Bayard of course can
only take them at their word and meet
them in similar spirit. If he were to
follow the advice of MIR. Sewall and others
and instruct Admiral Kimberly to threat
en- the German ironclads with his wooden
fleet, all hone of a peaceful settlement
would vanish and we would be face to face
with war over an issue which we could
not raise with any honor TO ourselves and
about which not one American in ten
thousand cares penny.
THE administration might well say,
Save me from my friends, in view of the
extraordinary conduct of two of its APP
pointees, dir. Sewall, late consul general
10 Samoa, and Mr.. Bates, who was sent
out rs commissioner to collect informa-
ton
Mr. Bayard.refused to make any comment
upon the bitter attack of Mr.. Sewall in an
interview with an Associated Press re-
porter.
1t may be stated that the department.
in asking for Mr.. Sewall's resig-
nation, was not actuated, as he
asserts by resentment because
Of his adverse testimony before the senate
committee on foreign relations, but by the
conclusion that TO send Mr.. Sewell back 10
Samoa, in view of his notorious hostility
to Mr. Bayari'S views as to what ought 10
he done, would be for the secretary OF
state to s,ultify himself. There 3 also
another view OF the matter. Mr. >ewall
has expressed himself in bitter terms TO-
ward Germany, and TO send 40 avowed
eDemy of Germany to Semoa on the eve of
proposed conference to settle the Samoan
difficulties. would be slap In the face 20
Bismarck
Incidentally it may be stated that MIR.
Sewall. in published interview SAYS he
would not refuse the consul generalship if
il were rendered him by the Harrison ad-
ministration.
Mr.. Bates has a grievance. Part of his
report on Samoa was omitted from the
documents sent to the senate. consequently
some of his labor was wasted. At
the state department it is explained
that he was sent out TO gather
faces. and not opinions, and that part
of his report which was put into the edi-
torial waste basket in the secretarys Office
was an argument TO prove that this coun-
try ought TO establish protectoTate over
Samoa.
As the reports of ali commissioners rep
resenting Germany, England and the
United States were communicated 10 the
respective governments. il was thought
best TO omit this portion of Mr.. Bates re-
port as not being germane 10 the dipio-
matte negotiations. Consequently as il
had no official status 1t was not sent to the
senate