The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-14
our RELATIONS WITH GERMANY.

Oth HELATIONS WITH NEHmAN1.
The people of this country don't want
war with Germany. and yet it is appar-
ent that the Samoan affair win have 90 be
handled with tact and judgment 20 avoid
war with her The ceiling in this coun-
Try toward Germany is not the most
kindly, owing to tine attitude which that
country assumed toward US in our war
with Spain. It is true that Germany
dldn't do anything OF which we could take
official notice, but Il was apparent that
the great majority of the German people
would have been pleased If the result OF
the war had been in favor of Spain. This
feeling was largely due to differences
growing out of trade rlvalries and con-
tentions. Therefore there will be very
little disposition to make concessions to
Germany in the negotiations for the set
element Of the Samoa affair.
The real danger of war between this
country and Germany is in the feeling of
unfriendliness which exists between Eng
land and Germany 1t Is not improbable
that England would not be adverse to a
war with Germany If she could have the
assistance Of the United States. and the
suggestion was thrown out in our dis
patches yesterday that the refusal of Eng
land 10 instruct her Samoan commits
sioner, so that the commissioners can
leave for Samoa on April 49, is due to
purpose on her part to so handle the sit
uation in Samoa as 10 bring about an al
lance between herself and the United
States
1t is impossible of course to say how
much truth there is in this suggestion. but
il is not probable that our government
will be caught mapping. We have moth
ing to gain by any stronger alliance with
England than that which we have al
ready-an alliance of interests in Samoa.
The two countries are acting In harmony
in all matters pertaining TO the Samoan
Islands and will. in all probability, con-
tnue to do so. There Is no present rea
son, so far as can be seen, why they
should not
It is understood to be the purpose of
our government to settle the trouble In
Samoa in a way that will be honorable
to all the Powers concerned 1t may be
the purpose of England to compel Ger
many to accede to demands that would
not be in harmony with her rights and
interests. We do not of course know that
such is the case, and whether or not 1t
is the case will not be known until the
English commissioner makes known the
instructions from his government.
Just now It looks as if Germany would
insist upon a condition that would make a
settlement of the trouble by the commits
sion impossible. The condition is that no
act of the commission shall be binding
unless agreed to, by all of the commits
sioners. 1t is apparent that If that condl-
ton was accepted Germany could dictate
the terms of settlement, or prevent a set
Element altogether. 1t may be that the
reason England has refused thus far to
give instructions to her commissioner, so
that the commission can sail on April 10,
is the difficulty OF framing instructions so
as to permit of a settlement If the Ger
man condition Is accepted-the condition
that there shall be no settlement which
does not have the approval of all of the
commissioners.
Our government is hopeful that a way
will be found to adjust all differences. not
withstanding what has happened in Sa-
moa during the last few weeks. 1t is evi-
dent, however that a settlement is posi-
BILE only In the event that all of the Pow
ers are willing to make concessions and
admit that there have been mistakes
made by all of the parties interested. But
it must be admitted that there are grounds
for fearing that a spirit of concession will
not prevail. From our point of view and
from that of England the German off,
Gals are responsible for all of the blood
which has been shed in Samoa. Ger
many isn't going to admit such is the
case. The inference from what is appear
ing in her newspapers is that she intends
to uphold her officials. If she does that
even if the facts are against her. three
! great nations may go to war over a few
comparatively worthless islands inhabited
| by lot of savages