The morning news., 1889-05-05
NEUTRALITY OF SAMOA.
SMOOTH SAILING so FAR IN THE
BERLIN CONFERENCE.

A Probability However That Prince
Bismarck Will Insist on His Claim
for decentralization for the Germans
Just Now the English Delegates
Appear TO Be Siding With This
Country.
BERLIN, May 4.-The white book on
Samoan affairs contains a refutation by
Dr. Knappe, the late German consul to
Samoa, of reports published in American
newspapers regarding the violation of
American property during the German
naval operations in that country.
DR.. Kranel read the land report to the
conference, which was accepted. The Ger
man represent tatives consented to the APP
pointment of Mr.. Buckingham as American
secretary to the co ference. Count Herbert
Bismarck called upon Mr.. Kasson this
morning. The interview lasted an hour.
Afterward Count Herbert made report to
the emperor.
DR.. Knappe complains that toy flags and
haudkerchiefs on which are imprinted
American colors and portrait of the Pres
ident Of the United States have been hoisted
promiscucusly over the natives houses
since the outbreak of civil war in Samoa.
He also says that American and British
Hags were hoisted on plots of land pledged
BY the rebels in lieu of cash in payment
for arms and ammunition. The COM
mander of the British cruiser at Apia, he
saws. declined to support the claims to the
land thus pledged. The Samoan confer
ence sat to-day from until $50 o'clock.
The land report was the subject under dis
cusson.
LAND COURT.
Copyright, 1889, by Neto York associated Press.l
BERLIN, May 4.-The committee Of the
Samoan conference has prepared draft of
the proposal to constitute court to decide
the question Of land te ure in Samoa. The
court is to consist Of one representative of
each of the interested powers and two
Samoese. The complications connected
with existing tenures threaten to impede
progress until the committee relegates the
settlement Of the questions to the proposed
court Ex-Consul Sewall and Herr
BlHadeis have been present daily at the
s.tings Mr. Sewall proved the untenable
character of a number of German land
ciams and further showed that the extent
ut the land claimed by foreigners as bought
or ceied was in excess of the area of the
island. Herr Brandeis gave evidence in
validity of the German land titles and said
he desired to be heard on the losses of the
German planters. The committee declined
To consider such losses as involving the
question of indemnity. The English and
American delegates express satisfaction at
The progress so far made, and all sides are
hopeful that the convention will be con-
clud5d early in June.
ENGLAND'S ATTITUDE.
The attitude of the English delegates will
assist in the solution of the question. Be-
fore the conferences it was suggested that
an entente between Berlin aud London
would end to throw the balance against
the American policy, but the developments
since the opening of the conference warrant
abelief that the English delegates have been
instru ted to Join with the American repre-
sentalves in opposing German pretenSions
10 special rights.
Tie reports that Messrs. Sewall, Parker,
and Buckingham are not recognized off.
ciaily, and are socially ignored, are untrue.
On the contrary, they are well received
everywhere. ihe banquet to be given to
tie American commissioners at the Kaiser
Hod hotel wednesday will be brilliant
affair, There will be present, besides all
Tie members Of the conference, the full
diplomatic corps of all countries having
representatives at Berlin.
Mr.. PaudletoA the retiring American
minister, and his daughters, will leave
Berlin Monday.
KNAPPE's DEFENSE.
The report of Herr Knappe, ex-German
co sui at Apia, was issued to-day. 1t is
lame defense of his own conduct. In it
Herr knappe charges the adherentS of
Mataafa with raidiNg the German planters,
ard describes his efforts to induce the in
surgents to abandon their positions, which
encroached upon the plantations. He says
That the disorders in Samoa were in part
due to American incitement. The general
tenor of the report. and It's publication at
the present junctu-e, suggest a latent
intention on the .lart of Prince Bismarck to
persist in his indemnity demands. An ap-
peIdx TO the report gives the American
consul's edict prohibiting the supplying of
spirits to sailors.