The San Francisco call., 1897-12-20
WASHINGTON SCOUTS
THE ENTIRE STORY
Germany Has No Interest in Hawaii, dno
McKiniey win Hold Samoa.

NEW YORK, Dec. 19.-The Wash
ington correspondent of the Herald
sends the following: The policy which
Germany is pursuing in the Pacific
is a matter of much speculation in
Washington. 1t is generally believed
that the Emperor simply has been in
fiuenced by desire to secure the pas
sage by the Reichstag of bill to in
crease the German navy. 1 was told
at the Navy Department yesterday
that Germany is expending So, 900, 900
during the year 1878 for vessels un-
der construction. One battle-ship
and two gunboats have been author
lied, but work has not been COM
| menced upon them. The vessels un-
under construction include two first
! class battle-ships, one armored cruis-
er, five protected cruisers, one torpe-
| do-boat destroyer and eight torpedo
| boats.
The report that Germany proposes
| to seize Hawaii and Samoa is regard
ed as ridiculous by administration
officials. Germany has little interest
as compared to other nations in the
Hawaiian Islands. 1t is admitted that
her interests in Samoa are large. The
| last administration was willing to de-
! nOunce the treaty of June IA, 1889, be-
| tween the United States, Great Britain
| and Germany Mr.. Olney informing
the German ambassador here that the
| treaty was unsatisfactory to the
| United States, and one which it's in
/ terests required to be essentially
modified or altogether abrogated.
President Mckinley proposes that
the United States shall retain its grip
| C.'tion which contemplateS the turn
| ing over of the share of this Govern
ment in Samoa to either Germany or
| Great Britain.
Minister WI Ting Fang, diplomatic
| representative of the Chinese Govern
ment in this country, expressed the
| belief to-day that the reported occu-
pancy of Port Arthur by a Russian
squadron would prove to be but a
temporary convenience to the Cars
fleet granted by the Peking Govern
| ment. He said the Russian squadron
| in Asiatic waters was granted permiS-
! sion last year to winter at Kiao Chou,
and Russian ships remained there
| during the winter, but as soon as the
warm weather set in they resumed
| their maneuvers in the Pacific Ocean,
| For the convenience of Russian Off
GERS the Chinese Government sent in
| terpreters to Kiao Chou and made
every effort to make them comfortable.
In view of the German occupancy OF
| Kiao Chou it was impossible to per-
| nit Russian ships to return to that
port, and the Minister therefore be-
| lieveS that the Russian admiral asked
| and received permission to winter his
| ships at Port Arthur. 1t is impossible
| for Russian vessels to anchor at Vlad-
ivostok during tie winter owing to
ice.
The Minister also stated that 1t was
his opinion the Germans would event
ually withdraw from Kiao Chou. Sc
| far as is known in Washington there
is no intention on the part of the Chi
| nese Government to seek the exercise
| of the good offices of this Government
with a view to securing the withdraw
| al of Germany. Minister Wu is ex-
tremely anxious that American inter
ests shall be extended in China. Two
or three American syndicates are now
seeking concessions in the Celestial
kingdom, but he is desirous that more
shall reach out for Chinese trade, and
thus promote commercial relations be-
tween the Pekin and Washington Gov
| ernments. The United States, he says
has no Interior motives with reference
to the empire. 1t does not want Chi
nese territory, and the development OF
it's interests in the Celestial kingdom
would naturally increase and strength
en- the concern of this Government ir
the welfare of its Asiatic friends.
l understand that the Minister is
considering the advisability of sug-
gesting to his Government that the
President be asked to authorize the
employment by the Chinese of army
and navy officers of the United States
to train the army and navy of China
At present English officers are en-
ployed for the navy and German Off
GERS for the army, but the Govern
ments which these gentlemen repre-
sent are both grasping for Chinese ter
ritory.