New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-25
DISPATCHES FROM MIR PENDLEToN.
ONLY PART OF THEIR CONTENTS MADE PUBLIC
"A TALK WITH SECRETARY BAIARp AND
HIS ASSISTANT NfR Rrura

ONLY PART OF THEIR CONTENTS MADE PUBLIC
TALK WITH SECRETARY BAIARp AND
HIS ASSISTANT, Mr.. RrvEs-
Washington Jan. 24.-Dispatches have been re-.
celved at the State Department from Mr. Pendle-
ton, the American Minister at Berlin. in regard
to the Samoa question. Their contents are with
held from publicity. except some extracts from
German newspapers giving accounts of and COM
menting upon the fight in which so many Germans
lost their lives. The previous languid tone of
the press in regard to Samoan affairs was quick
ened to fever heat by Das Kleine JOURNAL of
Berlin. of January z. which says:
according official reports nom Aria Of the cssh
,, m noesmper ne landing corps Of the Olga
20 t the German Consul 70 the Of war
German property and bodily insults TO men Of tbs
purpose q instituting disarmament. On ths way
10 tne Boee plantation the landings Of te Olga
under the leadership of the American Klein land
lg being thersupon made by the landing corps the
natives were thrown back and Of their Villages
situated on the coast, destroyed Lieutenant sieger
Burcharit as well as thirty six men wounded"a s
victory, but costly one, and not be rcjoced
The. German medding in the quarrels of the Kings
Mataaa, Maietoa and Tsmasese has been hailed with
rejoicing rom several quarters, for the reason thar
me he ns t Of the business was expected to Be
to such a consummaton and now we have even los2
new leaf in the history of our colonial policy:
laurel leaf, but what sort Of onef
The other extracts are of the same general
tenor and indicate clearly the press opinion that
the Germans intended to compel peace on the
islands by disarming the natives
The dispatches from Berlin and London in re-
gard to the attitude OF Germany on the Samoan
question were the subject of general discussion
d.. a.. Ia. sls
obtain the views of Secretary Bayard on the SUBJ
ject this afternoon A representative of the As
socisted Press was accorded brief interview with
him this evening, Just as he was leaving his homo
TO attend the state dinner ut the White House.
lie said that he had read the dispatches in oues-
ton, but said that il would not be proper for
him TO discuss their subject matters at this time.
lie 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 al, prove TO be mere newspaper gossip
The Secretary said further that, although Ger
many may have larger interests in Samoa than
the United States it had better or later infor-
nation from that country than the United States
In regard to the statement that Germany would
violate no treaty in acquiring an sscendency in
Samoa, Mr.. Bayard called attention TO the
declaration concerning the boundaries Of the
German and English domnions in the West
Pacific Ocean, signed at Berlin. April 6, 1854
by Count Bismarck on the part of Germany, and &
Sir Edward d. Malet the part OF Great Brit
ain.
Mr.. Bayard said he thought this agreement pre-
cluded German acquisitions in Samoa, and that
she was bound to respect the rights OF that island
This declaration, after defining the boundaries
of the respective possessions OF the two countries
in the West Pacific Ocean, provides that neither
Of them will make any acquisitions OF other terri
tory establish any protectorates over sny
other territory in the West Paciic Ocean The
last section OF the declaration expressly provides
that the Navigator tSamoal Islands. with which
Germany, Great Britain and the United States
have concluded treaties, and the Friendly
Tonga Islands and the Mini lSavage Island shall
in future. as heretofore, form neutral territory.
Assistant Secretary Rivcs read the dispatches
carefully this afternoon and remarked with -
smile: They seem to be hurling defiance in
our teeth. don't they?"
When asked IL he had not some further COM
ment to make on the subject he said be had
not lie subsequently ntimated, however, that
there were important differences in the state-
ments made by the 8 North German Gazette
and the Presidents message to Congress OF JAM
uary l o, in rgard to the treaty rights OF Ger
many. Great Britain and the United States in
the Samoan matter He declined to point out
the discrepancies but repeated that the position
OF the American Governments on the question a.
tated by the Gazette Was somewhat differ
ent from its position as defined by the President
n his message Mr.. Rives would say more;
but il is understood that he referred particularly
TO that passage in the message where the Presi-
lent says:
ution and laws have placed upon Executive power,
have Insisted that the autonomy and Independence
o the treaties made with Samoa by the Powers naned
Germany Great Britain and the United Statesj, and
heir agreements and understanding with each other.