Morning journal and courier., 1889-05-22
.ENKRaL RoRK1GN NEWS.

A Hitch In she Samoan Conference A Message Received From Secretary Blaine-GermanY Finally Consents f0 Restore King malietoa-A Fresh Diff heuIty Grows Out Of the Claim For Indemnity.
 BERLIN, May 21.-The special corrsspond- ent here of the Associated Press learns that | a serious hitch has occurred in the negotia- ] tions between the commissioners to the con- ference on Samoan affairs. The United States Government insists that Malistoa be restored as King. This is the chief point at issue. The German Government is reluc- tant to agree to that proposition. Its repre- sentatives point out that Germany has par doned Malietoa, and declare that they think that that is the best their government can do 50 far as it Is concerned.
 Icopyrighted, 1889, by the New York Associated Press.l
 BERLIN, May 21.-From certain indica-
 tions at the rooms of the American dele-
 gates as well as at the quarters of the Eng
 fish commissioners and at the German for
 eign office, it is evident that there is some
 serious hitch in the negotiations of the Sa-
 moan commission. Mir. Phelps, who is
 known as "The Psaeemaker" both in the
 conference and in the working committee, is
 in evident trouble. First he is Interviewing
 an English commissioner in his own rooms;
 then he is hurrying off to the foreign office,
 where he remains for some time closeted
 with the German representatives, and then
 repeating the process. When asked as to
 the situation. Commissioners Phelps, Kasson
 and Bates say that there is no great
 change and that everything is progressing
 satisfactorily. Both the German and English
 commissioners refuse to talk on the subject,
 but it is learned from other sources that the
 United States government has instructed it's commissioners to insist upon the return of
 Malietoa as king. message is said to have been received from Secretary Blaine within the thirty-six hours directing the commits
 sioners to insist upon the restoration of the
 statu quo and saying that Germany deposed king. They may higgle about indemnity or a unit or dual or tripartite agreement if they please, but Malietoa must be king. While the Germans have come to agree with all the other views of the American commissioners they are reluctant to accept this condition and point to the fact that Malietoa was par- doned by the German Emperor at the be- ginning of the conference. This, they claim, should satisfy America. It is thought that crisis will be reached at the meeting of the conference to-day. The American commissioners last night were quiet and con- ciliatory in their utterances concerning the situation, but expressed 8 determination to remain firm.
 Leter-The special correspondent of the Associated Press here was informed this evening that Germany has finally consented to restore King Malietoa. This action was taken finally after prolonged and persistent efforts on the part of the American commis- sioners. But now comes another hitch in the negotiations. This fresh difficulty grows out of the claim for indemnity made by Germany. The American sec- tien of the conference holds that if any in- demity is paid it must be 8 mere- ly nominal sum. Germany on the con- trary, maintains that in the conflicts between the German forces and Samoan, the latter were invariably the aggressors. Besides the native partisans of King Malietoa were guilty of the barbarous practices of behead ing German sailors, as we'll as inficting up- on the wounded particular cruelties. These acts, Germany insists, should entail upon Samoa the payment of special indemnity. Earnest efforts are making in committee to settle the dispute, but the matter is very likely to require reference to the pienary conference.