The times., 1899-03-24
The snmosn Irritation.

II the addle-headed provincials in our
Congress at the time had not refused the
free gift of the Samoan Islands when they
were offered to us by the natives on
bended knees. there would not now be any
Samoan question to bother the United
States and cloud its relations with a
friendly power. As matters stand we can
only make the best Of a complicated and
irritating situation. from which. however,
ii seems to US to be quite within the re-
r sources of diplomacy 10 find escape with
comfort and honor.
According TO the latest adyiees from the
islands Admiral Kautz, who has been in
vestigsting the troubles between the Amer
lean Chief Justice and the British Consul
on one side and Herr Rose. the German
representative. on the other, has reached a
tentative conclusion favorable to the
former, and, like the British naval COM
mander on the station. is inclined to sup
port the action taken By the American
Judge, and to condemn the course and con-
duct of the Kaiser's man.
Without at this time assuming to judge
the case upon its intrinsic merits. as
measured by the provisions of the Act OF
Berlin, it would appear that Herr Rose has
given good ground for a request for his
removal. The propriety of such move
ment would probably be conceded by the
Berlin government. if the skirts of Judge
Chambers were altogether clear of Of
fence in the premises. We must remem-
Der that while he may have been, and
probably was. justified in his decision
he was guilty Of extreme unwisdom in
= writing letters liable to publication in
America, in which he denounced German
action and rather broadly assailed the
bona fdes of the Kaiser's government Say
the sin was yenial one, it nevertheless
has resulted badly. as unfriendly gossip
about ones neighbors invariably does: and
we are afraid ii furnishes a sufficient rea-
son why an offer TO remove Chambers
should accompany a request for the recall
Of Rose and Raffel
''condominium, which is the diplomatic
name for the arrangement under which
the United States. Great Britain, and Ger
many are exercising a joint protectorate
over Samoa, as a matter OF fact means
keeping house together. Three families
under a single roof is a hard proposition
Generally speaking, it is what General
Sherman described war to be. Knowing
this. We must see that the plan could never
work without a great deal of mutual con-
eession and Cancellation. On a proper
showing of facts and a disposition to meet
him half way, it is probable that the
Kaiser will go as far as we or England
could reasonably ask in the direction OF
patching up the existing differences and
Joining in an equitable arrangement for
the prevention of future misunderstanding
Privy Councillor Won Kusserow has pointed
out what seems to be a way TO accomplish
this. He says that harmony between the
representatives of the powers in Samoa is
out of the question unless they can be
governed by identical instructions, which
shall secure a strictly common interpre-
tation Of the Act of Berlin. This ought
TO be feasible enough. The American
Secretary of State. Sir Julian Pauncefote,
and DIR. Won Holleben would. probably not
find much difficulty in reaching a modus
vivendi that would hold, and conference
Of that kind. We believe, would lead to
speedy and satisfactory solution of the
whole question. We think SO. because
Emperor Nilhelm's prompt action in re-
moving Won Diederich from naval COM
mand in the East. as soon as His Majesty
learned the truth of his admiral's conduct
in Manila Bay. inclines US TO regard him
as a ruler open to honest argument and
personally anxious TO maintain his rela-
tions with other States on basis of frank
ness and eouity