Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-16
BISMARCK'S STORY.
The Germans were Aggrieved
Not AggressOrs.
THAT BAD MAN NAMED KLEIN.
The Velvet Glove Of Diplomacy Is
Extended TO America By the
Iron Chancellor,
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD
BERLIN, February 15.-In the Reich
stag to-day, the White Book in reference
to the Samoa matter was introduced. i
comprises Al documents, extending from
December 8, 1886, to February 5, 1889
Among the documents relating to recent
events is the report of the German consul
at Apia, dated February "a, 1888. II
describes the endeavors of the Ameri-
cans and English to provoke conflicts. A
dispatch dated September, 'SS, deals
with the revolt of Mataafa and the
support given to him by Captain
Leary, of the United States Navy.
After an account of the attack upon the
Germans, December 18th, comes tele-
gram from Count Herbert Bismarck,
dated January 1, 1889, to the German
Ministers at Washington and London,
directing them to inform Secretary
Bayard and Lord Salisbury, respecting
the attack and ordering the Minister at
Washington to complain to the United
States Government that an American,
named Klein, was prominent in the
fighting. The Ministers were further in
structed to declare that Germany ad-
hered to the treaties and would
respect the rights founded thereon,
and they would appeal to both
Governments to co operate ac-
lively with Germany and re-establish
tranquility. On January Sth, Count
Herbert Bismarck telegraphed the Ger
man Consul at Apia that on account of |
the agreement with the United States |
and Great Britain, the annexation of |
of Samoa by Germany was out of the |
question. A dispatch sent to the Ger
man embassies at London and Washing
ton on January 18th, states that the OBJ.
ject of the military measures against
Mataafa and his partisans was to
punish the murderers of German
soldiers and to secure to German subjects
possession of their property. A docu-
ment da ed February 2, sent by
Count Herbert Bismarck to Admiral
Baron Won Der Goltz, chief of the Ger
man Admiralty says: Germany is not
at war with Samoa, as the term is I'M
derstood by the international law, but
she regards Tamasese as the rightful
ruler and Mataafa as a rebel, against
whom, with his followers, retaliation
must be enforced. Anyone standing by
hem is promoter of conflict betveel,
them and the Germans, and must take
The consequences. Count Herbert con.
,ludes by declaring that nothing is
changed in the legal position Of the i5r-i
'lSn SUBJECTS IN Samoa. Il
the White Book ends with long re.
port from the German Consul at Apia.
the report is dated January 4tth, and
has thirteen appendices dealing with the
events from December 4, 1888. These re-
cord that, on December 10, Mataafa, in a
humble letter, sought to open
with the Consul, but would
not surrender himself, although pledges
were given that his life would be spared.
In subsequent letter Mataafa promised |
to surrender in presence of the British
and American Consuis. The German
Consul declined to entertain the offer.
On November oath, Prince Bismarck
sent telegram saying that if the
of Tamasese was i'm
possible, the utmost advances should be
be made to reconcile him with Mataafa.
On December 3rd, DR.. Knapp reported
that the American commander at Apia
was stirring the natives against the Ger
mans. On December 18th, Blackjack
complained that drunken sailors from
the German man-of-war Olga had COM
mitted outrages in Apia, entering houses
and wounding men and women. DIR.
Knapp reported later that foreigners had
spread rumor that the Germans had
been forbidden to interfere. This rumor
had the effect of encouraging the ma
tives, who stoned the German sailors |
and destroyed German properties. In |
Jrnuary Prince Bismarck notified DR..
Knapp that reprisals were necessary, but |
only such as were consistent with the
treaties with England and America. The
Chancellor said: because Mataafa as
saulted Tamasese, we shall interfere only
to the extent of succoring Tamasese."
Prince Bismarck charged DR.. Knapp to
entreat the other foreign consuls to com.
bine in order to restore peace.
THOSE PARNELL LETTERS.