The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-31
No OmciaI Reports from Any of Our
Representatives i'm Samoa Re
ceived at Washington.
CONFERENCE OF DIPLOMATS
PAUNCEFOTE AND Won STERNBERG
AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
Matter Also Discussed at the White
BE Sustaincd-Surprise mt Berlin.


WASHINGTON, March SO.-The serious
condition Of affairs in Samoa engaged the
attention of officials throughout to-day and
there were conferences at the White House
between the President and Secretary Hay.
and at the State Department between the
secretary and the British ambassador and
Paron Speck Won Sternberg. first secretary
of the German embassy. But out of ii all
not word of additional information was
contributed from any official source. The
only authoritative statement came from the
Navy Department, giving a brief dispatch
from Admiral Kautz. This threw no light
ON the latest outbreak, and owing TO a tangle
of dates ii served only to further involve the
official mystery. In view OF the fact that
the fighting was widespread and long con-
tinued and that the foreign Offices at Lon
don and Berlin had been officially advised
of the affair, 1t was regarded as somewhat
strange that the State and Navy depart
ments should be entirely without infOrma-
tion on bombardment by an American adj
rniral. Up TO the close of Office hours it was
stated nothing had come from any of our
representatives in Samoa dealing with the
outbreak of hostilities. The calls of Sir
Julian and Baron Sternberg were mainly for
information. for at neither of the embassies
had there been a report of the occurrence
or instructions up to the time of the calls.
At the foreign embassies, where the Sa-
moan situation has been a subject of con-
sderation of late. considerable anxiety was
shown lest the affair should assume a grave
International aspect. Sir Julian Paunce-
fote. the British ambassador, went to the
State Department at II o'clock. accompanied
IL
with Secretary Hay AS this was the regu-
lar diplomatic day little significance would
have attached to the call under ordinary cir
cumstances, but with British and American
war ships cooperating in a bombardment
more than usual interest attached to the
call. There is 10 doubt the serious develop
ments in Samoa were discussed. While there
may be dearth of official information, at
the same time the actual events carry out
what has been anticipated, and give a basis
for intelligently considering the further joint
acttcn of the two governments in the settle
ment of the entire Samoan touble. Both ma
tions are acting in complete accord, not only
as to the general solution of the Samoan
problem, but in particular with reference to
the force exerted by the British and Amer
lean naval commanders.
NOT A CASUS BELLI.
AS to the German attitude it is stated pos
itively, in a quarter thoroughly familiar
with German official sentiment, that the
outbreak now reported can. under no cir
cumstances, be construed as an overt act
against Germany. nor as a casus belli. This
is from such a source that it largely re-
moves the possibility of international COM
plications. AS an evidence of the concilia-
tory sentiment of the German government
IL was said to-day that the note delivered
TO the State Department last week urged
in behalf of the German government that
the good relations existing between two
such nations as the United States and Ger
many would not be interrupted by a mat
ter of such comparative 'unimportance as
an official dispute in Samoa 1t is said the
German government probably would have
accepted Admiral Kautz as a sort of UNI
pire, taking his decision as final but that
the objection, quite forcibly expressed to
the State Department, was the manner of
his going TO Samoa while friendly exchanges
were going on without notice to Germany
The German ambassador has received no
advices and no instruction relative to the
reported bombardment, and there is no evil
dence thus far that Germany will protest
or assume belligerent tone. From the Ger
man standpoint the most serious aspect is
that the bombardment will excite public
feeling on both sides of the water, leading
to popular outbursts which will overcome
the efforts TO secure settlement. One of
the latest propositions towards a settlement
Is that three commissioners be appointed,
one from each country, to meet in Samoa
and sit as court in settlement of the diff
ficulty.
The demonstration is regretted here. but
the opinion is expressed that Admiral Kautz
acted on what was his best Judgment and
information. The State Department ac-
knowledges that no permanent agreement
can be reached under the treaty in which
all three powers do not agree and the hope
is that some settlement of the difficulty may
be brought about when il becomes apparent
that the present conditions cannot exist in
definitely.
Admiral kautz acted within his instruc-
tions. 1t is believed that he concluded. after
consultation with Captain Sturdee. of the
Porpoise the senior British naval officer.
and the United States and British consuls.
that state of anarchy existed which called
for action. The fact that the edicts of the
chief justice were disregarded and were ig-
nored although sustained by the represen-
tatives OF two of the governments, made
such a course imperative. There is no
doubt, with the facts now at hand. that
Admiral Kautz Will be sustained by the
United States government
ADMIRAL KAUTZ'S DISPATCH.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Allen to-
day received the following from Admiral
kautz, dated Auckland. New Zealand.
March -. the dispatch having been for
warded from Apia by steamer: situation
is improving since telegram of 18th. via
Sydney. New South Wales" This is the
only dispatch received from Admiral Kuatz