New-York tribune., 1896-12-06
LAUNDERING IN SAMOA.
SOME THINGS WHICH THE PRESIDENT
WILL IGNORE IN HIS MESSAGE.

BY GERMANY AND ENGI-AND-AN INTER
EsTING CHAPTER IN DIPLOMACY.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDrSE.l
Washington, Dec 5-Samoan affairs will be
discussed by President Cleveland in his forth
coming annual Message to Congress, but one
diplomatic incident OF the blundering policy fol-
lowed in the South Seas will not be set forth
Exhaustive data bearing on the Samoan situa-
tion have been prepared for the President. and
on them he has based the remarks which will
appear in his Message. For good and sufficient
reasons. as will appear. II has been determined
to suppress an interesting chapter in the case
A few days ago II was said in these dispatches
that Secretary Olney, speaking through Ambas-
sador Uhl at Berlin, had Informed the German
Foreign Office that this country sought to with
draw from the tr:partie agreement. About the
time the dispatch was published the Admins
tration was receiving plaudits for It's victory In
the Venezuelan boundary controversy In view
Of the praise that being bestowed on Sec
retary Olney for the success he met with In this
important controversy. too little attention was
paid to the Samoan case.
AS was said in the dispa tch. 1t is fact that
the Secretary's suggestion to Germany met with
a positive snub The only reply made to the
Secretary's notice Of the desire of the United
States Drier communication lIolii tHN
German Foreign Office saying that the note OF
this country had been received. This is one
diplomatic incident to which the PRESIDENT
Message will not refer.
II Is not the one. however, first alluded to. In
that incident England. not Germany. figures
So far as the effect is concerned. it closely re-
sembles that attending the effort to withdraw
from the tripartite agreement. England has also
nan rtr NOR g
tIvelv and almost as curtly as Germany. A point
worthy OF note Is that the British snub was ad-
min,stered Just about the time that arbitration
between the United States and England was
nearing conclusion. and much was heard about
"blood being thicker than water" and that the
relations Of the Anglo-saxor race Should be-
come closer.
Az Is well known the Administration has
made many blunders In dealing with Samoan
affairs. It has sought from the early days of
Mr.. Cleveland's present Administration to DIS
credit the acts of the Harrison Administration In
reference to Samoa. Promptly on taking oiiice
Secretary Gresham. In connection with Hawaiian
matters. began onslaught on the samoan
Treaty. urging It's amendment or abrosation. His
reports and the Presidents messages to Con-
press on the subject Will he remembered. secre-
industry in the matter as did his predecessor
Blunder has followed blunder. but 1t was left for
Mr.. Oiney TO learn the practical lesson that
sometimes blood is thinner than water.
oLNEY's PLANS MIsCARRIED.
A short time ago. for reasons which have not
been made public. II was decided to make
change In the office OF President OF the Munich
pal Council OF Apia. The person then holding
l.f.-
United States. Great Britain ard Germany
agreed 10 the change. The two preceding Pres
idents OF the Council were Germans. The Office
.s an important one. the person holding 1t hav-
Ing much authority in the administration Of the
affairs OF Samoa Secretary Olney chafed ur
der the fact that the various recommendations
OF the Administration TO Congress looking 10 4
modification or abrogation OF the triparite agree
ment had been ignored He was sore over the
snub administered by Germany In connection
with his suggestion that the United States be
permitted to withdraw from the treaty Pre-
sumahly he thought that vacancy in the Office
Of President OF the Council afforded an oppor-
tunity to display master stroke OF diplomacy.
There was prepared in the State Department
and sent 10 tho London Foreign Office note
saying. In effect that vacancy In the office
would soon come about and that as German
had twice filled the place. and then held IT,
Great Britain should name the successor OF Nj
Schmidt Supposedly Mr. Olney counted on this
country's interests being advanced with n man
OF Lord Salisbury's selection at the head OF the
Council. Had the Secretary's programme been
carried out as he planned. the Administration
might have felt less bitter with respect TO It's
Samoan diplomacy than IT doe.
Unfortunately for its wishes. however. conn |
merce not sentiment. controls England's foreign |
policy. Mr.. Olney seems to have forgotten this |
1t was a poetica Idea that Great Britain should !
come to the assistance Of the United states In |
IA off Samoa just about the time that she was ]
deciding to grant this countrys demands with |
respect to the arbitration of the Venezuelan |
boundary question. This would have been sub |
stantial proof OF thr practical soundnes5 OF the |
statement that "blood IS thicker than water, |
had Lord Salisbury approved the State Depart
ments plans. But His Lordship had no idea OF |
agreeing, because II would not have been To the ]
advantage Of Great Britain to do so. Had the /
conditions been otherwise, had Eng'and's beneht |
been assured, he would. no doubt. have taken l
pleasure In adopting the suggestion OF MT. =.
Olney
The effect OF Secretary Olney's expressed wish |
was that Great Britail should join this country |
and form a combine" In Samoa Germany oi |
course was not TO be ''n it, In making the !
suggestion the Secretary showed lack OF dipio- !
matte knowledge and Judgment. EngiaEd has
never dreamed OF opposing Germany In samoa /
Opposition would lead to conflict between the |
commercial and political interests OF the two |
countries in which Germany might and PROB |
ably would be successful. So long as the TWO |
foreign Powers work in harmony the balance !
will be preserved. and no rupture Is 10 De e.
nccted The American "Premier' seems not to |
have looked far beyond the Washington horiZon' |
TIE UNITED STATES IGNORED.
II appears that Germa ~ had candidate FOR |
Mr. Schmdts Office DR.. Raffel, man OF some |
note Information to this effect had reached
London before the word from the State Depart |
ment got there. That is TO say. In this instance
the Yankee reputation for quick action was not
maintained Germany had acquainted Loru |
salisbury through her Ambassador In London |
Of her wishes and Of the fitness OF DR.. Rahel for |
the Office, She had quite probably secured |