Evening star., 1898-05-14
AT THE WHITE HOUSE
No Intimation That Germany Wants to
LeasesSamana Bay.

The administration has received no in
formation about the reported attempt oc
Germany to lease Samana bay from Santo
Domingo as a naval base Not much Gre
dence is given to the report. 1t Is pointed
out that If Germany should get into war
with any power Santo Domingo would have
to close SANTANA bay to German vessels as
well as to those of the other belligerents,
under the neutrality laws. The mere fact
that Germany had lease on the harbor
would not relieve Santo Domingo from her
neutral obligations: If she did not observe
those obligations she would become the
enemy Of Germanys opponent and liable
to the chances of war. 1t is therefore n ot
believed that Germany is contemplating 4
lease on any West Indian harbor.
AS matter of fact, the administration
finds nothing at this time to fores hadow
foreign complications OF any kind. The
hundreds of rumors Of European interfer-
ence do not reach tho government officials.
Secretary Day was with the President for
a long time this Afternoon, going over the
situation from a diplomatic point. He was
thought to be laying before the President
certain matters in regard to France.
Yellow Fever IrmInunes.
The matter of the organization Of yellow
fever immune regiments continues to re-
ceive the attention of President Mckinley
and the War Department. Senator Caffery
of Louisiana today taiked with the Presi-
dent about the probability of getting sew
eral regiments of immunes together and
the proper man to command them.
Senators Mason and Jones of Nevada
urged the President to put Duncan Har-
rison in command OF one OF thee regi-
ments. These senators later saw Secretary
Alger on the same subject
Speaker Reed and Hawaii.
Fresh stories that Speaker Reed will pre-
vent consideration of the report of the
House foreign affairs committee for the an
nexation of Hawaii do not receive indorse-
ment from men closest to the Speaker
Representative Dingley was at the White
House today and had conference with the
President. He found the President without
fresh news as to the whereabouts of the
Spanish fleet, and with nothing new of any
kind. E...
Mr.. Dingley was asked as to the chances
in the House for a Hawaiian annexation
measure. He answered.. Il think the reso-
luton will pass. Mr.. Dingley is probably
the closest man in the House to Speaker
Reed. He ought to know the purposes of
the Speaker regarding the resolution. What
he said does not indicate opposition from
the Speaker, as the resolution could not
pass If consideration Of it is not permitted
No Official Nevis of Surrender.
Up to late hour this afternoon no off,
cial news of the reported capitulation of
San Juan had been received at the White
House. The President is said to have
received unofficial Information yesterday
afternoon, however, indicating capitula-
ton. Secretary Long thought 1t was au-
tkentic.
The motives of decentralization in or
dering an attack ON the Notifications Of
San Juan are said to have been that such
action was notification to the world that
the United States had staked out Porto
Rico for claim and mearA to take full
possession later. If Spain had asked for
peace before this claim was filed the pos
session Of Porto Ric4- would have remain
ed indisputably with Spain. but notice has
now been given and can be followed by
an army of occupation later.
Some of the CALLERS Today.
The President had many callers today
and listened to propositions of all kinds.
Senators Allison, Gear and Burrows and
Representatives Northway, Joy. Powers
southard, Ellis and Lacey were visitors
with whom the President conferred.