St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-09
WILL BE HELD VERY SOON.
Secretary Bayard Discusses the
Proposed Conference on Samoan
Affairs and Its Objects.

Proposed Conference on Samoan
Affairs and Its Objects.
BALTIMORE. Feb. 9.-Secretary Bay
ard said to a representative of the Sun
to-day that date for the meeting of
the proposed conference had not been
determined as yet. 1t will doubtless be
held very soon, as the administration is
now very near the close of its official
life. The points to be contended for by
this country will be the paciiica-
tion of Samoa, the restoration Of the
autonomy of the islands and the protec-
ton of American interests There is
reasonable ground for hoping that these
will be secured. 1t would be very un-
fortunate if personal spite or partisan
jealousy should succeed in throwing
any obstacles in the way of SO desirable
a consumnatien. Prince Bismarck has
shown disposition to settle the matter
amicabiy. He and his sen, Count
Herbert, have gone out Of their
way to make the friendliest pro-
fesslons, and Mir. Bayard, of course,
and meet them in similar spirit. If
he were to follow the advice of Mr..
Sewall and others and instruct Admiral
Kimberly to threaten the German iron
clads with his wooden fleet, all hope 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 admins
tration might we'll say:
'sSAVE NE FROM MY FRIENDS"
in view of the extraordinary conduct of
two of its appointees, Mr.. Sewall, late
consul-general to Samoa, and Mr.. Bates,
who was sent out as commissioner to
collect information. Mr.. Bayard re-
fused to make any comment upon the
bitter attack of Mr.. Sewall in an inter-
view with al, Associated Press reporter.
1t may be stated that the department.,
in asking for Mr.. Sewall's resignation,
was not act1laied, as he asserts, by re-
sentiment because of his adverse
testimony before the senate committee
conclusion that to send Mr.. SewalI
back to Samoa. in view OF his notorious
hostility to Mr.. Bayard's views as to
what ought to be done, would be for the
secretary of state to stultify himself.
There is also another view of the mat
ter. Mr. Sewall has expressed himself
in bitter terms toward Germany, and to
scnd an ayowed enemy of Germany to
Samoa Oh the eve of the proposed con
ference 20 settle the Samoan difficulties
would be a slap in the face to Bismarck.
incidentally it may be stated that Mr..
Sewall. in published interview, says
he would hot refuse the consul-general-
ship if it were rendered him by The Har-
rison administration. Mr.. Bates has
grievance. Part of his report OH Samoa
was omitted from the documents sent
to the senate; consequently some of
HIS LABOR WAS WASTED.
At the state department it is eX-
planned that he was sent out to gather
facts and not opinions, and that the
part of his report which was put into
the editorial waste basket in the secre-
tary's office was an argument to prove
that this country ought to establish a
protectorate over Samoa. AS the re-
ports of all the commissioners repre-
senting Germany, England and the
United States were communicated to
their respective governments, it was
thought best to omit this portion of Mr..
Bates report as not being german to
the diplomatic negotiations. Conse-
quently, as it had no official status, it
was not sent to the senate.