The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-22
OF the Affair VIII Lead to Satisfactory
Understanding,
GERMANY'S VIEW OF SITUATION.
The Chief Justice was Deposed by
the Samoan Joint Government and
Not by the German Consul-At
the Embassies the Situ-
alton is Not Thought
TO be Narlikc.

WASHINGTON. January I.-lt can be
stated authoriiatNely that III the pub
lshed reports 0i the events at Apia are
true the acts of the German Consul,
Rose and of the President of the Au-
nicipal Council. Rafael We're not the
result of instructions from the German
government and $50 far as these acts
were vioiative of the treaty of Berlin,
it Us not believed at tho State Depart
ment that they VIII receive the approval
of the German government
While the situation IS regarded Off
ciauy as requiring delicate treatment,
one of the parties 90 the exchanges that
arc taking place is authority for the
opinion that it will certainly yield to
calm discussion and that "a satisfactory
understanding viii be The outcome. This
is presuming that the matter can DE
handled entirely by the governments OF
tho three countries either through tneir
foreign Offices or their ambassadors.
The danger apprehonded is the r-
responsible action of some minor
foreign officials away off in Samoa, be-
yond the immediate control of the au-
thoriues in Berlin, Washington and Lon
don.
CAN BE ADJUSTED.
$50 far as the last reports indicate the
issue between the German representa-
tves and the American and British rep
resentatiyes in Samoa has certainly not
dcvcloDed beyond "a point where it could
DE readily adjusted upon "a mere state
mcnt of the actual facts. for DO ls sum
believed that all The parties 10 the treaty
are willing TO live up TO its PROVISIONS
which. of course would involve a readl-
ness t0 disayow amy improper acllohS
on tine part of their respective agents,
and even go further and undo much OF
tho mischief already done by them as IL
,night bs possible TO- reach.
Assuming that the trOble at Apla mas
passed the acute stage. ana that IL VIII
be adjusted satisfactorily by such meas
lres as are required there VIII remain
for treatment in the immediate future
Inc treaty relations VI The three POWERS
relative t0 Samoa. The condition piece-
/ don't to any action looking 90 adoption
off The treaty OF Berlin or us aprosatoh'
| 4. chat its provisions must be lived up
| to meanwhile. upon that point our Gov
ernmeut is settled. and the British Gov
cr1mout can Doe reck0ncd upon 10 take
the same view.
rhe state Department always has been
ready to consider iaVorauiy any sueges-
nom looking toward the change OF the
Berlin treaty t0 meet the new cNlBen-
oes asking only that the changes De
made m the lawful method, and resist
mg the attempt On secure certain results
desired by mere understandings between
/ TWO of the three parties 90 the treaty.
GERllANY'S VIEW.
AS much turns on the accurate state
mont of the facts in this case the lol-
lowing may Doe accepted as the oihcial
German view Of the situation as sent
here from Berlin. The old MaIaaia was
overwhelmingly reelected. the vote be-
ing slx to one. but the Chiel Ju7'ico
anrulled the Mataafa election and con-
Grmed that of the opposing candidate
Nl4rieat0a Tanus. son of Maliedtoa.
Tatter thought to- refer 20 the old
King but dispatch does not disclose)
ON January lst. d short fight occurred
between the two parties which ended
with the flight of Tanus. his party and
T4masese. They went ON board Brit
fsh man-of-war No foreign property
was injured. The three consuls-Amer-
! icsn British and Gcrman-declared Ma
taafa's party as the provisional govern
ment until the arrival OF instructions
from the powers.
The Chief Justice also took refuge on
board the British man-of-war which
caused the Samoan government 10 de-
clare his functions temporarily suspend
cd. Ills office was closed temporarily by
a proclamation.
The foregoing. it will be seen. presents
/ important differences 10 the view thus
far accepted In particular It presents
1 the view that the three consuls-German,
1 American and Butish-acted together IN
I establishing a Mataafa provisional gov
eminent. that the Samoan Government,
and not the German Consul. depOsed the
/ chief Justice. and that the office Of the
3 chief Justice was closed by O. proclama-
t0n from the samoan Government II
also states that the three consuls arc
acting together pending instructions
from the Powers. I'm a reliable diplO-
matte quarter % Was stated that all three
/ of the governments We're now I'm posses
| sion OF reports from their several repre-
sentatives I'm Samoa. But .here have been
DELAYS the reports are incomplete on
many Important details, and Germany
has been able 10 secure the fullest IN
! formation
In the main. the official dispatch bear
out the press reports. although the Ger
man position. that the consuls OF three
Governments acted together in declar'
ing provisional government, diici7 from
+ the other reports.
4 FULL DISCUSSION
{ The conferences between Secretary Hay
/ and the British Ambassador have lea 20
n worry fun discussion Of the mutual In
terests OF the two governments concern
/ inc Samoa Thus far. however, SIR
! Julian has not received any Instructions
/ as to acting Jointly with this government
and the conferences have been simply 10
/ discuss a question In which both officials
felt common interest.
! II may be said also. that this has devel-
oned an entired accoyd between the Sec
retarv Of State and the British Ambas-
sador as 10 rights and duties involved.
and the probable line OF action OF the
several parties
Al the several large embassies most
directly interested In the matter. the
opinion is quite positively expressed that
the situation does not have a warlike as
pect.
N was pointed out by one official that
the prohable course would be either "A
ronudiation by Germany OF the action OF
her consul or else move to have the