The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-30
SOME GERMAN WAR TALK
UNCLE SAM MAY BE IN FOR A
SEA-FROLIC
THE SITUATION QUITE DELICATE
Germany Demands Indemnity for Imprson-
ment of Leuders-- -Hayti Declines, and
Germany Threatens While The United
States Intends Justice to Be Done.

StahCo tittCtIIiuo SuoiiIO WIZ OOHCt
Washington, D. c., Nov. 29.-The at
tention of the Department of State at
length has been formally directed to the
friction that has arisen between Ger
many and Hayti, as a result of the az
rest by the officials of the latter country
of half blood named Leuders. While
the Department has been unofficially
watching the matter for some time past
It was not until to-day that the case
came formally before it through the ap-
pearance r ere of Mr. J.eguers, the min
ister fro Hayti to Washington. The
ministe1 came to consult assistant Sec
retary Day and the attitude of Ger
mauy in the Leuders case was discussed.
The intimation was given out at the
State Department that our government
so far has gone only to the length of in
structing Ambassador White at Berlin
to watch developments and keep his gov
ernment informed. He will lodge a pro-
test only in the event of the performance
by Germany of some act that is not con-
sistent with justice and international
law; something that is not anticipated
here In other words the State Depart
ment does not feel that it has a right to
interpose so long as the demands of Ger
many for redress are kept within the
bounds of sound practice in international
disputes, following in this the prece-
dent set by the last administration
when it permitted the landing of British
troops at Corinto, Nicaragua, to secure
indemnity for the ill-treatment of British
consular officers. 1t does not follow
from this, however, that the administra
ton will look unconcerned upon any
harsh and unjust measures that may be
sought to be put in force by Germany
towards the little island republic.
The department has been informed
that the statement of facts that has
been made in the case Of Leuders is
somewhat misleading in that it makes
some important omissions. For instance,
the foundation of the claim of Hayt,
that it had the right to punish the man
as it did, lies in an assertion that he
was citizen of Hayti. Leuders was
born in Hayti of German father and
native Haytian woman, and accord
ing to the laws of the republic that made
| the child a full fedged citizen of Haytl.
Again, as an explanation for the appar-
! emily severe treatment of Leuders, the
Haytian government is prepared to
show that he had been twice arrested
and convicted for the same offense,
namely resisting and assaulting an of
! fcer. The first offense was committed
! little over a year ago and the Haytian
law, like that in our country, in some
cases provides for much more severe
penalty in the case of a second con-
yiction. Also, as an indication that there
| II ;yoi tioT1 ppoatiap6 toward
! Leuder on the score that he was u
German subject, it can be shown by the
Haytian government that the person ar
rested with him at the same time for the
same offense,-a native full-blooded
Haytian, was subjected to exactly the
same penalty, five hundred dollars fine
and a years Imprisonment, that was
meted out to Leuders. Altogether, the
case is regarded at the State Depart
ment as one that might properly be ad-
justed through the regular channels of
diplomatic negotiations instead OF
through the strong means of demon
strations in force, particularly in view
of the fact that Leuders is now at
liberty and in Germany, and the acute
phase of the case has been passed.
/ The Haytian minister states that the
republic is preparing for any eventuality,
considering that it's honor is involved in
the present trouble, and that it cannot
yield to demonstrations of force by a
powerful nation. The minister says that
Hayti forts are unfortifed, and that the
country has no navy but has an army of
fair proportions. Naturally it could not
| expect to contend against one of the
| most powerful nations on the globe, but
with the honor of the republic at stake.
he declares it would resist to the last
| and would prefer to be crushed rather
than to yield to what it regards an in
| Justice. The Haytian authorities consid-
er that the Monroe doctrine applies to
the present case and for that reason eX-
poets that the people of the United
| States will not approve the crushing OF
| Hayti by a powerful European govern
ment or that the authorities here will
not remain inactive if the Monroe doct
| rine becomes involved.
GERMANY IS PETULANT.
Berlin, Nov. 29.-The Berliner Tage-
( blatt says it is reliably informed that the
/ German government only wants none
| tary reparation from Hayti for the re-
cent arrest and imprisonment OF Herr
Emile Leuders by the Haytian tribunals.
but that II viii not brook any interfar-
ence in the matter on the part OF the
United States.
London, Nov. 29.-An unknown YES
sci has been wrecked on boulmer rocks