New-York tribune., 1899-04-13
HALT IN NEGOTIATIONS.
ENGLAND AND GERMANY AT ODDS OVER
THE COMMISSION.
THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT WANTS MORE
TIME FOR FRAMING INSTRUCTIONS


Washington April 1.-THE acute situation in
Samoa gave rise to grave apprehension among
officials here in the early part OF the day. but
the conclusion was reached as the departments
closed that the situation is one that will yield
TO sensible and cool treatment il all the parties
to the Berlin Treaty are sincere In an effort
to prevent further trouble. AS a Cabinet officer
said, the killing of the sailors has not materi-
ally changed the general problem. though 1t
has undoubtedly added to the difficulty of deal
ing with the specific situation The only Off
cial received touching the last incident
was contained in Admiral Kautzs cable dis
patch. Secretary Long said that additional
instructions were to be sent by him to the Ad-
miral The Secretary Of State, however. has
been told that he Is at liberty to forward any
instructions to the Admiral that he may deem
necessary but that IL ne decides TO do so he
must act Immediately the mail steamer
leaves the nearest cable point for Apia to-mor-
row.
The diplomatic negotiations Of the day were
not directed particularly to the encounter, as
the official information is too meagre to warrant
positive official action. There many in
auiries however and the State Department and
the British and German Embassies exchanged
such advces as they had on the subject In
the MAN, the diplomatic negotiations continued
to centre around the High Commission. On this
subject breach is gradually opening between
Great Britain and Germany. because Of the re-
fusal of Great Britain to have the Commission
leave San Francisco on the 10Th.
While the Germans are anxious and American
officials are willing that the start should be
made on the 10th, Great Britain insists on pro-
ceeding with deiberation, allowing full time for
and not by cable This, of course, would make
IL impossible for the Commission to start in
body this month. To overcome this stand by the
| British Foreign Office, suggestion has been
made that the appointment of umpire, which
is one of the points still In dispute, be settled
after the Commissioners start. If this Is agreed
| to. the Commission can get away. though with
| some branches Of its instructions incomplete.
| The remaining features including that as to
how a decision shall he made, and in what case
| an umpire shall be called in. would be forwarded
| to them later. In the mean time they could
be making their preliminary examinations, the
| final decisions being reserved until complete
instructions were in hand. This German pro-
posal does not meet with favor among the Brit
| ish officials who have determined that the Brit
| ish Commissioner, Mr. Eliot shall not start un-
I'll his functions can be exactly defined
| The following official German view was given
| to the press:
| After Germany and the United States had ar
| rived at such an understanding that the Com"
| mission could have left San Francisco on the
| 10Th England raises new difficulties OF sucn
| complicated nature that they cannot be deaiI
with geographically Germany feels 1usunea
| under these circumstancesSto hold the name OF
| her Commissioner still back The Berlin news
| that Germany would demand satisfaction for
| the arbitrary action OF Admiral kautZ Is not
credited in official German circles, and seems 70
| be a malicious invention. The whole question
| on account OF Samoa is pending at present, not
| between three Powers but between Germany
| md ENGLAND