Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-04-12
SAMOAN QUESTION TO BE SETTLED
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
COMMISSION TO SAIL AT ONCE
THIS DECISION IS A DISTINCTLY
FAVORABLE TURN.
Nothing in the Stories That Germany
Would Hold OF Until America
Had Disav0wed Admiral
kautx' Action-Berlln
Papers Bitter.

WASHINGTON, April u.-As result Of
conferences held to-day at the state de-
partment and at the British embassy ef-
forts will be made to have the Samoan
high commission make quick trip across
the country, reaching San Francisco in
tirle to catch the boat leaving for Samoa
one week from tomorrow. This Is ic-
garded distinctly favorable turn in the
negotiations, and as indicating that the
three governments are very near to COM
plete accord on all the points of the COM
mission. 1t does away. also, with the re-
ports that Germany was withholding the
appointment of her commissioner. and
makes it practically certain that Baron
Speck Won Sternberg, first secretary of the
German embassy, Will be the German high
commissioner.
Attention was at once turned to getting
out the Joint instructions and hurrying the
commissioners away. If it became impos-
sible to catch the boat on the 18th inst,
arrangements may be made for a special
steamer from Honolulu, and there is even
a chance that the United States may as
sign naval vessel to carry the high COM
mission to Samoa. This courtesy would
undoubtedly be extended if the warships
were not so actively engaged at the present
time.
In an authoritative quarter it was stated
to-day that reports of German protest
against Admiral Kautz course In refer
ence to the treatment of the cruiser Fake
were unwarranted. All the negotiations
are of such character as to bring the
governments more closely together instead
of separating them.
AS it has been strongly intimated in the
Berlin dispatches that the German govern
ment was about to make demand for a
disavowal of Admiral kautz's actions. It
may be stated that our government Will
certainly not accede to any such request in
advance of full knowledge of all the facts
in the case and conviction that the ad-
miral acted wrongly. the presumption al,
ways being that our officers have acted
with due propriety until the contrary IS
shown to be the case:
self-constituted king. with his thirteen
chiefs, dominating the affairs of the island,
involving the suspension of the functions
of the supreme court and of the municipal
council, formally and duly established by
treaty, then it was his duty, according to
the state department. to bring the condi-
IL this involved the dissolution OF the pro:
visional government, there can be no legal
Sreee tTssy It powsra s ssa Rx WHICH sR have
themselves to carry out and maintain the
treaty of Berlin.
The fact that the three consuls at Apis.
in moment of excitement. sanctioned the
establishment of the provisional govern
ment, thought regretted here. is not re-
garded as affecting the merits of the Amer
sican and characterization. as these three
officials. 1t is held. had no right to do any
! thing in contravention of the treaty, such
as was involved in the suspension of part
of the machinery. of the government pro-
vided for by that convention.
Some surprise is expressed by the de-
partment officials at the miscOnceptiOn en-
tertained in Germany of the terms Of Ad-
| miral Kautz' proclamation. and it is point
ed out that. according to the terms of the
proclamation as printed here. Admiral
Kautz did not say that all three consuls
had expressed a willingness to annul the
provisional government but that a meet
ing of the consuls had been called and that
a decision had been reached to annul the
provisional arrangement.
BERLIN. April 11.-A foreign office Off
of the Associated Press. in energetic Ian
! guage. that Germany before engaging in
an Investigation of the commissions work.
must insist upon the American and British
governments unmistakabiy disavowing the
fragrant violations committed by Admiral
kautZ and Captain Sturdee. In the absence
OF disavowal. for Germany to join the
| added: when the commission starts it
| must start on the status quo and not on a
status created by the illegal acts of subor-
dinates in Samoa
More energetic still is the semi-ofiicial
announcement of the Hamburg Correspond
| ent. which declares that IF England and
| America do not heed the diplomatic remon-
these remonstrauces will be fortified add
| ing: Germany insists upon receiving full
satisfaction for the number of breaches
committed in Samoa
The tone OF the German press during the
! last two days has been most bitter.