The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-01

Reichstag to-day discussed the ques-
ton of Samoa, saying that by the gen.
eral act of 1889 the triple rule of Ger
many, Great Britain and the United
States was established over these is
lands. If the condominium was wont to
lead to unpleasantness this would be
still more the case with tridominium.
Since the act came into force, he con-
tinued, there had been no lack of fric-
ton between the representatives of The
different powers, which was due to the
disorderly character of the population.
AS early as 1891 a deep-rooted 'erment
showed itself in Samoa and in 1893 civil
war broke out between the followers of
Mataafa and Malietoa, and in conse-
quence of the intervention of the Ger
man and British naval forces Maraafa
was deported.
A fresh insurrection which broke out
in 1894 was ended after the German and
British ships had interviewed. In the
overthrow of Tamasese last year the
three consuls proposed that Mataafa be
brought back and Malietoa concurred.
The powers assented. At this juncture
Malietoa died, but the three consuls
declared that his death was no impedi-
ment to the recall of Mataafa, who re
turned on board a German warship to
Samoa for installment as successor to
Malietoa. There arose an opposition
party who proclaimed Tanu, who was
still a minor, a candidate for the
throne. Both parties appealed. to the
decision of the Chief Justice, who pro-
nounced in favor of Tanu Open fight
ing ensued, resulting in Mataafa' s vic
tory The three consuls, the Foreign
Minister then asserted, recognized the
fait accompH and a provisional govern
ment was formed from Matadfa's s fol-
lowers.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs then
said:
THE final settlement of the success
sion rests with the powers. 1 refrain
from delivering a decisive judgment on
the whole course of events in Samoa
until the written reports arrive and
are closely examined. But l hold
strongly to the hope that we shall sue
ceed in disposing of these latest
troubles in Samoa with due protection
for German rights and interests and in
a manner which corresponds with the
friendly relations existing between the
three governments concerned.
THAT things in Samoa require read
justment is a principle acknowledged
on all sides. 1t cannot be denied that
the trideminum has not stood the or
deal We are prepared on our part to
consent to clean separation If the two
other powers consent, but as long as
this agreement does not exist we shall
hold to the act of 1889 and we shall not
allow the rights which that act gave
US to be curtailed or our interests to
suffer diminution. But we snail also
respect the rights accruing to others
by virtue of the Samoa act"
Baron Won Buelow also made state
ment relative to affairs in China. He said
that in view of the anti-foreign irrita-
ton, particularly the fact that several
Germans were grossly insulted and
afterward assaulted at Tientsin last
Sunday, he had instructed the German
Minister at Peking to make it perfectly
clear that If such acts were not severe
ly punished, or if there was recurrence
of such acts, grave consequences would
ensue for the Chinese Government. He
added:
1--WE do not intend to interfere in the
internal affairs of China, but duty COM
pels us to protect the lives and prop
erty of Germans"
Referring to the construction of the
railroad and other improvements in the
province of Shantung, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs said an agreement was
about to be concluded between the Ger
man empire and syndicate of German
East Asiatic capitalists for the forma-
ton of a joint stock company with a
capital of 50,Oo0,000 marks, with head
quarters at Bintau, the empire partici-
pating in the profits.
With reference to the statements
published in foreign newspapers re-
garding the supposed action of the
German warship Irene in the Philip
pines and the alleged conduct of Rear
Admiral Dewey, who, it has been said,
threatened to sink the steam pinnace
of the Irene, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs said these statements belong to
the category of plump canards,' pre-
yiously described by him. So far as he
knew the Irene was not in the Philip
pines, but was at Hongkong, and the
only German warshlp at Manila was
the Kaiserin Augusta. There were, he
added. a considerable number of Ger
man merchants in the Philippines,
whom the German navy was anxious to
protect during the Hispano-American
war
I'VE hope the Minister said, that
our countrymen will find security under
American rule" !"