Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-25
THE GERMAN VERSION.
How the Samoan Troubles
Are Regarded in Berlin.
A DEARLY-BOUGHT VICTORY"
The Existence of Treaty Obstacles to
the Seizure of Samoa Denied
by Bismarck's Organ.
Associated Press DISPATCHES to the HERALD.

m0nt from the AmoFlcau miuistor u
Berlin in regard to the Samoan question.
Their contents are withheld from pub
licity except some extracts from German
newspapers giving accounts Of, and COM
menting on, the fight in which so many
Germans lost their lives. The previous
languid tone of the press in regard to Sa-
moan affairs was quickened to fever heat
by the Das Kleine Journal of Berlin, OF
the 7th inst, which says: According
to official reports from Apia, OF the 2Sth
of December, the landing corps OF the
Olga was sent to accompany the German
Consul to the scene of war of the natives,
in consequence of the destruction OF Ger
man property and bodily insults to
men OF marines while on leave, the Con-
sui going there for the purpose OF insti-
tuting disarmament.
"On the way te Boilele plantation the
landing corps of the Olga was, by sup
prise, attacked by the insurrectionists,
under the leadership of an American
named Klein. A landing being there
upon made by the cruiser Adler and gun
boat Eber, the natives were thrown
back and several of their villages, stu
ated on the coast, were destroyed. Lieu
tenant Sieger and fifteen men are dead.
Lieutenant Spengler and Burchardt, as
we'll as thirJy-six men, are wounded.
s'The victory is costly one and not
one to be rejoiced over. German med
ding in the quarrels of Kings Mataafe
and Tamassese has been hailed with re.
joicing from several quarters for the rea-
son that the final result of the business
was expected to be the occupation OF Sa-
moa by the German Empire. England and
the United States do not, however, agree
to such a consunmation, and now we
have even lost number Of men in battle
with the despised islanders, new leaf
in the history of our colonial policy
laurel leaf, but what sort OF one?"
BERLIN, January 24.-The North Ger.
man Gazette, Bismarck's organ, denies
the existence of any treaty precludipg
any European power from acquiring
ascendancy in Samoa; also denies that
England and the United States are
agreed that the proceedings Of the Ger
man agent in Samoa are contrary to the
stipulation of treaties or opposed to diplo-
matte etiquette, and that these powers
have officially notified the German gov
ernment accordingly. The treaties, the
Gazette further says, provide that Samoa
shall concede to each treatv power equal
rights with either of the others, but no
treaty regarding neutrality or the inde-
pendence of Samoa exists between Ger
many and the United States
LONDON, January "a The article in
the North German Gazette, relative to
treaties regarding Samoa, caused COM
motion in official circles here. By some
it is regarded as deliberate defiance to
the Washington Government.
WASHINGTON. January "a "A sub.com-
mittes Of the House, consisting of Nor.
row, McCreary and Russell was appoint
ed to-day to consider Samoan affairs
which come before the committee in the
shape of correspondence from the State
Department and in resolutions introduced
at the last session declaring in favor of
interference by our Government to check
German aggresions at the Samoan Is
lands.
WASHINGTON, January 24.-Chairman
Herbert, of the House Committee on
naval affairs, has acknowledged Secre-
tary Whitney's letter, suggesting an ap.
preparation for coaliEg station at Pago
Pago, Samoa, saying that proper repre-
eentations will be made to the House
when the matter comes before it.
In accordance with the suggestions
of individual members of the
committee, he requests that there
may be transmitted any recent reports
from officers of vessels stationed at the
Samoan islands, showing the condition
of things, and the request of the depart
fOp mont nf Hofinitn
policy, if part of the records of the De.
partment. The Committee will be glad
to know if any further enlargement of
the appropriations OF the Department
should be made, in view of the existing
conditions.
WASHINGTON, January 29.-Assistant
Secretary Rives read his dispatches
carefully this afternoon, and remarked
with smile "They seem to be hurl-
ing defiance to our teeth, don't they?"
When asked if he had not some
further comment to make on the subject
he said he had not. He subsequently
intimated, however, that there were
important differences in the state
ments made by the North German Ga
sette and the Presidents message to
Congress of the 10th inst. in regard to
the treaty rights of Germany, Great
Britain and the United States in the
Samoan matter. He declined to point
out the discrepancies. but regretted that
the position of our Government on the
question as stated by the Gazette differed
from our position as defined by the
President.
Rives would cay no more, but it is un-
derstood that he referred particularly to
that passage in the message where the
President says: "Acting with re-
straints which our constitution and
laws have placed upon the execu.
tive power, 1 have insisted that
the autonomy and independence OF
Samoa should be scrupulouely pre-
served according to the treaty made
with Samoa by the powers named !:
Germany, Great Britain and the
United States, and their agree
ments and understandings with each
other. I have protested against every
act apparently tending in the opposite
direction and, during the existence of
internal disturbances, one or more ves-
sells of war have been kept in Samoan
waters to protect American citizens and
property"
Secretary Whitney declined to be in
terviewed. The policy of TIE Govern
ment, he said, was fixed and anything
which might be said in regard to it, must
come from the State Department. The
Navy Department had no jurisdiction
over the matter except of an executive
nho ctar