Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-04


PLEAsANTLy AND AMIoABLY ADJUSTED.
Berlin Special to the New York Herald, February2.
had to-day the honor Of being received in
private audience by Count Bismarck Schoen-
hansen, secretary of state in the German min
istry Of foreign affairs His excellency received
me this forenoon in his study in what used to
be Prince Bismarcks private residence, but
which is now occupied by the ministry of for
eign affairs Count Herbert Bismarck Schoen-
hansen is considered one of the hardest work.
ers among the officials, and in Berlin, the city
of hard workers, that is saying a good deal
Work begins with him at the early hours of
morning and he rarely ends his toilet before
midnight The count carries nothing over to
the morrow. In addition his social duties take
up great deal OF his time. He is constantly
entertaining and he is an amiable host and a
most lively and interesting companion. His
invitations are numbered among their most
welcome social prizes by those fortunate
enough to have secured the entree at his house.
The parliamentary soirees inaugurated at his
cheerful bachelor home this winter are the
social events of the Berlin season. The leaders
OF the German and Prussian official world, the
most distinguished representative of the army
and navy and the highest court functionaries
give rendezvous at his house, and the repre-
sentative men of all parties in the reichstag
and the Prussian landtag sit around those
numerous little tables and crystalline in little
groups of men whose views coincide, holding
lively discussions on the events of the day.
The most exquisite viands Of an excellent cellar
and the choicest cigars are there to satisfy the
material wants of the guests. These entertain
ments last as a rule until the wee sma' hours of
the morning.
THE COUNT TALKS.
His excellency was gracious enough to ac-
cede to my request that he would explain
the position taken by the German government
in the Samoan question. What he said was in
substance as follows: "Public opinion in Ger
many is not as excited over the Samoan ques-
ton as is shown by the stand taken by the
German press. The German government
never allowed the least doubt to obscure the
fact that all it desired in Samoa was to uphold
the lawful and orderly state of things hitherto
existing, together with the maintenance of
peace, order, and quiet. Certain coteries, who,
from interested motives, sought to cast sus-
picion on the plain and straightforward pur-
pose of the German government, would Ger
tainiy not ind believers among sensible peo-
pie, for it is one of the most important and
distinctive traits of German policy that its en-
gagements are honorabIy carried out and all
subterfuge avoided. This distinctive trait is
admitted by the whole world and cannot again
be made the subject Of dispute by secret agita-
tors. The whole world knows that when the
German government says black or white it
means it.
THE SAMOAN POLICY.
In the Samoan question, too, Germany plays
with suitable spirit. At Washington, in the
summer of 1887, Germany, together with the
United States of America and Great Britain
tried to come to an agreement by which the
joint interests Of the three powers might be
made secure in these islands But this confer
ence concluded its labors and adjourned with
out having obtained any definite result. There
Is no treaty concerning Samoa in existence.
either between the United States and Germany
or between the United States and Great Britain
Treaties were made between the United States
Germany and England on one hand and the
Samoans. The upholding of these treaties u.s.
therefore, matter, of course, of equal import
ance to all interested The worst feature in
the case is that in Samoa whatever government
was at the head OF affairs seemed to be totter-
ing to its fall. The same phenomena have
shown themselves there as have been observed
for centuries in other islands of the South Sea
group. The savage inhabitants there have no
conception of respect for and subordination to
constituted authority.
GERMAN SAILORS FIRED ON.
As far as could be made out from fragmentary
reports now at hand detachment of German
sailors who attempted to land for the purpose
of protecting German plantations, had been
treacherOusly attacked from ambush by Mataafa
and his hordes. This act must, of course be
fully expiated by the offending party. If any
German official has outstepped his instructions
and acted without orders or authority Of the
German government, OF which, however, there
was not evidence, he would be promptly re-
called to the observance of his duty. Negotia-
tons up to this time had convinced the count
that on all sides there is desire to see the
question promptly and happily solved. He
himself, as the secretary Of state, has received
number OF communications from distin-
guished American citizens, statesmen, and
leading men which left him with the convic-
ton that in the United States, too, the intelli-
gent few treated this question with the same
calmness and moderation with which it has al
ways been treated in Germany. 1t is not worth
getting excited over.