Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-01-31
THE QUESTION: DISCUSSED.

Bismarck's Views ON Samoa-The Question
Discussed In Warrington Omcial Circles
Senator Edmunds Talks.
LONDON. Jan. 25-The North German.
Gazette. Prince Bismarck's organ. denies
the existence of any treaty precluding
any European power from acquiring or
seeking to acquire ascendancy in Samoa.
The Gazette also denies that England and
the United States are agreed that the pro-
ceedings OF the German agent in Samoa
are contrary to the stipulations of tho
treaties concerning Samoa and are op-
posed to diplomatic etiquette, and that
these powers have officially notified
tho German Government accordingly.
The treaties between Samoa. Germany,
England and the United States, the Ga.
zette further says. provide that Samoa
shall concede to each treaty power equal
right with any other power, but no treaty
regarding the neutrality or Independence
of Samoa exists between Germany and the
United States.
The article in the North German Gazette,
relative to the treaties regarding Samoa,
has caused somewhat of q connection in
official circles here. By some persons it
is regarded as a deliberate defiance to the
Washington Government
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25-Dispatches have
been received at the State Department
from Mr.. Pendleton, the American Minis
ter at Berlin, in regard to the Samoan
question, but their contents are withheld
from publicity except some extracts from
German papers giving accounts and COM
menting upon the fight in which so many
Germans lost their lives.
The dispatch giving the article in the
North German Gazette on the Samoan
question was the subject of general dis
cussion in this city last evening. An eff
fort WA do IN oh oiv he Vic of
rotary Bayard, but without success. A
representative of the Associated Press was,
however, accorded brief interview with
him just as he was leaving his residence
to attend the state dinner at the White
House. He said that he had read the dis
patches in question, but it would not be
proper for him to discuss their subject
matters at this time. He did not know
who wrote the article in the North German
Gazette, 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 newspaper
gossip. He said further that, although
Germany might have larger interests in
Samoa than the United States, it had no
better or later information from that
country than the United States.
Senator Edmunds, when made acquaint-
ed with the tenor of the utterances of the
Berlin Gazette, said: Il suppose if Bis
marck wants to express his opinion upon
any subject he feels at perfect liberty to
do SO, but also suppose that the expression
of such opinion will not deter the American
people from carrying out any policy they
may adopt desirable or necessary. The
Samoan islands are on the highway of
commerce across the Pacific ocean and
are Of great Importance with the relation
to the development OF trade through
the projected canals through the isthmus
of Panama and across Nicaragua. War
ships are sent on long cruises; the estab-
lishments of coaling stations is necessi-
ty: and the location of one on the central
island of the Samoan group, as provided
for in the proposed amendment to the
Diplomatic and Consular Appropriation
bill, reported by the Committee on Foreign
Relations, is looked upon as one of great
importance to U.S.