The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-30
veen Great Britain and Germany.


tween Great Britain and Germany.
In an authoritative { uarter the atti-
tude of the British ana american con-
suls was stated substantially as fol-
lows: 1t was actually understood be-
Tween the two governments that the
first essential in Samoa was to main
tain peace and order. For that reason
it was determined that any lawlessness
on the part of Mataafa or any other
Samoan element which threatened the
lives or property Of residents would be
suppressed, even though force was re-
CURED. This was entirely without ref
erence to the rights of the three gov
erDments-Great britain. the Tinted
Sizes and Gernary-and vas merely
a rule of preservation and police sccur-
ity Acting on this understanding, Cap
tain Sturdee of the PorDoise gave no.
tice some time ago that he would bonn
bard the Mataafans if there was any
outbreak or disorder. This insured quiet
for time, but he has always been
ready to use force If it was necessary.
1t was not proposed to give Samoa over
to a reign Of anarchy simply because
the German consular official at Samoa
differed with the British and American
officers Outside of these differences it
was proposed to protect life and prop
ertV at all hazards.
When Admiral Kautz went to Samoa
he also ndu DIS lllS III 81 QulS W DIOlGCl
life and property and to maintain order.
IT is evident that the bloodshed has
arisen out of this united effort of the
American and British commanders to
protect the law-abiding and peaceful
elements against the disprderly and re-
bellious subjects Of Mataafa. This is
evidenced by Mataafa's action in hem
ming in the town where the American
and British officials resided; also in the
attacks on the consulate and in the
general laWlessness which has prevail
ed since Mataafa began his reign. In
short according to the view of those
best acquainted with the subject, the
British and American case will rest
upon the paramount necessity of pre-
serving peace and order.
GERMANY's ATTITUDE.
The German view, it can be stated
on very eminent authority, is not likely
to raise a direct issue on the position
thus laid down by the British and
American officials. On the contrary,
there is said to be a growing DISPOSE
ton on the part of Germany to hold
Herr Rose accountable for the difficult
ties into which he has directed his gov
eminent. For a time he was sustained,
with the natural desire to protect him
in the proper discharge of his duties,
but the German authorities have not
contemplated that ne NOul1 carry TIE
matter to an open rupture and result
ing in bloodshed On that account
there is good reason to believe that the
German government will not sustain
Herr Rose, and that official informa-
ton in that direction has already been
conveyed.
The diplomatic exchanges leading up
to this crisis have been very sharp
within the last few days. Early last
week the Berlin government received
direct information from Samoa that
Admiral KautZ had arrived there and
had summoned a meeting of all the
officials for March IL. The German
authorities felt sure this meeting would
result in serious trouble. The Berlin
office, therefore, instructed the German
ambassador here. DR.. Won Holleben, to
present a note embodying Germanys
views. 1t argued that a naval COM
mander had no right to act, save in
executing the viii of the three consuls,
acting unanimously, and not through a
majority. But, aside from this argu-
ment, the German note intimated quite
plainly that Germany would hold the
other governments responsible if seri-
Gus trouble resulted from the action
of the naval authorities in Samoa. The
strained conditions caused by this note
were somewhat allayed by the answer
Of the state department, which was
Ifl6uulS anu IedSSuTlllS, dIlHOuSn Ii
made it plain that the American naval
commander would act in an emergen-
cy, even though the consuls were not
unanimous in requesting action. 1t is
just such an emergency that has now
occurred in Samoa
There is no apprehension here that
an actual clash will occur with the
German civil or naval forces in Samoa,
This is due mainly to the official un-
derstanding that Germany has given
positive orders to the commander of
the German warship Fake to refrain
from any active move.