Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-28
tcoPYRIGHT, 1883, By NEW YORK ASSOCIATED
PRESS

rcoPYR1eHT. 1883, By NEW YORK ASSOCIATED
PREss.]
BERLIN, April 27.-The members of the
commission to consider the questions con-
cerning Samoa have seen Prince Bismarck
and Count Herbert Bismarck. The former
briefly expressed his confidence that the
conference would be harmonious. The
American delegates to the conference are
delighted with the reception accorded them
by Prince Bismarck.
The Chancellor was especially cordial to
Mr.. Bates, who explained that his article
on Samoa in the Century magazine was
written long before he was nominated del
egate to the conference, and that after his
nomination he tried to withdraw the article,
but in vain, as thousands of copies had been
printed.
Prince Bismarck showed perfect famil-
iarity with the Samoan question. He ex-
pressed the hope that the conference would
be brief. He frequently referred to the dip
lomatic and parliamentary experience OF
Messrs. Kasson and Phelps.
THE CONFERENCE OPENED.
The first sitting was held at 2:30 P. M. to-
day at the Foreign Office. The Foreign
Office appears to be assured of an early ter
mination of the negotiations. The commits
sion, however, expects that the sittings will
be protracted for several months, especially
if the charges against Klein, involving
claims against the Washington Government
are brought up.
Prince Bismarck certainly intends to
place the evidence of Herren Brandeis and
Knappe and others before the conference,
but he has abandoned the claims for in
demnity arising from Klein's action. This
course ought to shorten negotiations. The
claim against the Samoans for plundering
German traders and planters will be main
tanned.
There is reason to believe that England
supports the principle of the German de-
mands, and it is trusted that the American
delegates are empowered to admit it. The
amount of the indemnity is not likely to
give rise to any disagreement, being merely
q question as to the accuracy of the claims
presented.
GERMANY WANTS LAND.
From the nature of the COMMUNICATIONS
between Count Herbert Bismarck and Ham
burg firms interested in Samoa, it is sur
missed that the indemnity will take the form
of extended land concessions supervised by
land court composed of representatives
from samoa anu UeImaQV, EuSldDQ anu
the United States. Mr.. Bayard's scheme of
government, which includes royal council
and legislature composed of two houses in
which three powers will be represented,
will not be entertained, Prince Bismarck
adhering to the principle of non-interven-
ton with the local Government.
The official papers rather affect indiffer-
ence toward the conference. The Cologne
Gazette briefly concludes that favorable
result is already assured. A strongly
phrased article in the Magdenburg Gazette,
a national Liberal paper, is in marked con-
trast with the reserved tone of the general
press. This paper declares that German
honor requires the punishment of the assail-
ants of December Is, and it demands pro-
lection for the planters by permanent set
tlement of the whole Samoan group in the
lines followed by England in Egypt.
A FAVORABLE IMPRESSION.
In its expansive Chauvinism the article
misrepresents both the official and public
feeling. Count Herbert, after an informal
greeting to the Am erican delegates, held an
official reception to all the commissioners.
A programme has been arranged for the
opening of the conference on Monday.
Messrs. Kasson and Phelps have already
made favorable impression on the Ger
walls in the foreign Office that Mr.. Phelps
will become chief of the American Lega-
ton. The family of Mr.. Murat Halstead
have been here during the winter. Prince
Bismarck will remain in Berlin until the
conference decisions assume definite form.
He will meet Signor Crispi, the italian Pre-
mier, during the visit o King Humbert.
The Emperor will remove the Imperial
headquarters to Potsdam on Wednesday.
The Emperor's reception at Weimar yes
terday brought out host of visitors. A
number of triumphal arches were erected
and there was ringing of bells, booming of
cannon, etc., in honor of the occasion.
THE EMPERoR's SPEECH.
Replying to an address from the Burgo-
mater, the Emperor said that he had long
cherished desire to see the town noted as
the cradle of the greatest national poets,
and eminent as the source of art and science
in Germany, and dear to him also as the
home of his grandmother, Augusta. It was
graceful response, and showed his advance
in the art of speaking. F
The Emperor then visited the Goethe Mu-
scum, after which he banqueted at the
Schloss and then went to Wartburg. He
will return here and open the exhibition of
inventions to secure workmen against acci
dents The exhibits will comprise models
of the appliances to guard against injuries
in factories, at fires, in railroad accidents, etc.
The Emperor gave fresh heart to DR..
Stoecker before his temporary withdrawal
from public life by the presence of himself
and the Empress at DIR. Stoecker's Easter
sermon. DIR. Stoecker will shortly speak to
the electors of Siegen and BielfeIdt under a
permit from the Emperor.
MIsFoRrUNEs IN AFRICA.
Chronic misfortune attends German en-
terprise in East Africa. The Wissman ex-
pedition has effected nothing as vet. The
whole credit voted by the Reic6stag has
been swallowed up by the expense for the
TRANSPORTATION of ireights and the hire Of
Soudanese and Somalis.
The excess in expenditure will necessi-
tate an immediate appeal to the Reichstag
for a further credit, thus confirming the
Progressist predictions that the Government
calculations of the cost of the colonizing
operations would prove recklessly false.
The explorer Rohlers, formerly Consul at
Zanzibar, in an address at the colonial con-
ference at Munich, declared that Captain
Wissman would fail to re-establish Ger
man authority unless backed by an ample
force of German troops.
He predicted that Captain wissman's
mercenaries would revolt at the first chance
and join the Arabs. In the meantime the
commerce of the coast is annihilated, the
Indian traders reporting an absolute cessa-
tion of traffic.
PREPARING FOR TROUBLE,
The Austrian Government is preparing
.t6 increase its forces of cavalry and srtii-
fiery on the Gallician frontier in conse-