Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-05
Our Commissioners at the Berlin
Samoan Conference.
FINE APARTMENTS IN SUITE
Things That Look Like Intentional
Personal Snubs.
Mr.. SEWALL is uNRECOGNlZED
Because Of the Part He Played
at Apia.
GERMANY LIKELY TO RETRAcT
And Yield to the United States Every
thing Demanded in Regard to
the South Pacific
Islands.
Settling samoa's Status.


satisfactory conclusion 1t is true, neverthe
less, that the diplomatic sparring, thus far,
has not resulted altogether favorably to
the cause of Brother Jonathan; but the
plain truth is that Germany has abandoned
ali hope Of converting Samoa into tributary
kingdom, the energetic resistance Of the ma
tives coming as surprise in the first place,
while Englaud's refusal to be made use of in
securing the islands for another power,
spoiled Germany's chances Of securing pos
session of this much coveted real estate in
the South Pacific by means of diplomatic
negotiation. The chancellor, like the skillful
old diplomatic general that he is, knows that
the best way to cover ones retreat is to
worry the enemy advancing in ones tracks,
as much as possible. He made the first di-
plomatic steps taken by the American COM
missioners here, difficult, in order to lend a
deeper ring of graciousne5s to the surrender
he has determined on.
In his opening speech, which was made in
French, he refused to allow Lieutenant
Buckingham, or, for that matter, any one
else to act as especial recording secretary
for the Americans; and perhaps the little
episode at the opening of the exposition,
when Bates and Lieutenant Parker were
peror stood, because they did not appear at
10 o'clock in the morning in full dress, may
perhaps have their origin in this feeling.
The Americans, however, had the good
sense to keep their tempers under these
small annoyances, consoled by the fact that
if they remain cool they are sure to have the
best of it in the end. These gentlemen are,
in the meantime, very comfortably lodged
+ln of tba cha ,>inn al nf
Berlin, conveniently near both to the for
eign Office in the Wilhelmstrausse ana to
the American legation, which faces the
hotel Along the whole length of the
great hall on the second floor, where
John. the colored messenger from
the state department., and a polyglot
courier, Fr9nchman, stand guard, lies a
spacious suite of apartments, provided by
the liberality of Uncle Sam for those whom
he has deputed to look out for his interests
in Germany Each of the three commis-
sioners, has, of course, a private parlor and
bedroom of his own, while in the middle of
the suite long drawing room, splendidly
furnished, with balcony overlooking the
Mohrenstrasse, serves as a general place of
meeting for the party. These gentlemen
breakfast, as rule. when they please, but
in the great drawing room at the dinner
table. Ex-Consul Sewall and Lieutenant
Parker have no Official existence for the
powers that be at the foreign office in the
Wilhelmenstrasse.
The reports, published in certain newspa-
| pers, that the commissioners had had
speech of Prince Bismarck himself, are in
correct; all their transactions, hitherto, have
bol yuitb ny
of state for foreign affairs but all these little
Sights and notifications are but the prelude
| to the granting to America, on the part of
Germany, of all that America or the United
| States, rather, claims in the matter. The
first move in this game of surrender was
made on Wednesday, when the semi-official
| journals announced that King Malletoa had
been released, and was consequently at lib
| erty to return to Samoa and take his chances
| there as a pretender to the throne, if he
| chose.
If the Germans have weakness it IS a
| fondness for being apoligized to- The Ger
| man semi-of1icial press published Bates
| declaration to Count Bismarck under the
| heading of "Bates' Apology" whereas the
| fact is that Bates did not withdraw one
| single statement he had made with regard to
| the action of the German officials in Samoan
| affars-statemenus that needed no further
| confirmation than the action of German
| chancellor with regard to those very officials
| Bates simply stated that, if he had known,
| he would have reserved his comments, and il
| took rather a strained Interpretation to make
| of this an apology
| Nor was poor Maletoa to be allowed to
depart without an apology. The Nord
Deutsche Ailgemeine, in announcing his re
lease, stated that, on Malietoas arrival al
Jaluit, of the Marshal group, he talked the
matter over with othersSamoan chiefs; and
recognizing the error Of bis way, expressed
to Erard, captain of the German man war
| III the most solemn manner lin feislichel
weise) his regret for his former behavior
| He, at the same time, adds the article
begged that his majesty, the emperor, might
consider what had happened as expiated
His majesty was thus appeased and Maletoa
| was released.
Count Herbert Bismarck's skill in con-
Quoting the negotiations up to this time Ger
tainly go to show that he is no unworthy de
scendant of the greatest minister Europe ha,
ever seen, and that the latter's teachings
have fallen on no unfrutful soil.
| Advocates of cvil service reform in Amer
lea viii find matter for argument IN the fac
that mad Germany insisted that the negotia
tions at the confereace must have been con
Quoted in French, clear diplomatic righ
would have been on Gcrmany's side; and il
that case, the conference would have beer
carried on in LANGUAGE with which only ont
American commissioner is acquainted. i
would be no disadvantage to the United
States If they possessed, as the Germans do
a state examination (staats exammon) TO
all diplomatists and coDsuls of whom 1t i
exaeted that they shah know French, al
diplomatic usages, and sue general outline