The Saint Paul globe., 1899-04-13


Committee on Foreign Relations
Makes His Counsel Important.
BE Avoided.
I WASHINGTON, April 12-The acute
situation in Samoa gave rise to grave an
prehension among officials during the
early day. in Washington, but the con-
clGs1on was reached, as the departments
closed, that the situation is one that will
yield to sensible and cool treatment. If
all the parties to the Berlin treaty are
sincere In an effort to prevent further
trouble AS put by a cabinet officer, the
Killing OF the sailors has not materially
changed the general problem, though 1t
mas undoubtedly added to the difficulty
OF dealing with the specific situation. The
only official news received touching on
tho last incident was contained. In Ad-
mfral Kautz's cablegram. The secretary
said that no additional instructions were
to be sent by him to the admiral. The
secretary of state, however has been told
that he Is at liberty to forward anv in
struction to the admiral that he may
10 DO SO he must act Immediately, as the
mail steamer leaves the nearest cable
point for Apia tomorrow.
The Philadelphia was short-haaied for
officers before the loss of Lieut.. Lansdale
and Ensign Monahan, and the department
today promptly sent telegraphic orders to
mare Island to dispatch some officers to
| recruit the force. Lieut. Scheutz goes out
q tive
Huses' Lieut.. Scofield and Lieut.. Hethar-
ington. Surgeon Steel is ordered from
the New York navy yard to the Philadel-
phia. All Of these officers are expected
to take the mail steamer of the 18th inst.
for Apia.
The diplomatic negotiations of the dav
were not directed particularly to the en-
counter, as the official inforrns.; ION ia
too meager thus far to warrant positive
f. Official action. There were many in
quiries, however, and the state .iepart-
ment and the British German embassies
exchanged such advfces as they had on
the subject. In the main the iIplonlat tic
negotiatiens ntinued to center around
the high commission. On this subject
breach is gradually opening between
Great Britain and Germany because of
the refusal of Great Britain to have the
commission leave San Francisco on the
10Th.
BRITONS WANT TIME.
While the Germans are anxious and our
officials are willing that the start should
be made on the 18th, Great Britain insists
on proceeding with delibera ton, sliowjrg
full time for instructions to the British
commissioner by mail, ami mt by cable
This, OF course. would make 1t impossible
for the commission 10 leave in q todv
this month. To overcoms his. stand by
the British foreign office, a suggestion has
been made that the appointment of an
umpire, which is one Of the points sti,!
in dispute, be settled after the commits
sfoners start. If this IS agreed to, the
commission can be away, though with
some branches of its Instructions incnm.
plete. The remaining features, including
that as to how decision shall be made,
and In what case an umpire shall be cal-
led in, would be forwarded to them Letter.
In the meantime they could be making
their preliminary examina tons the final
decisions being reserved until ,cOnnlete IN
structions were in hand. This German
proposal does not meet with favor among
the British officials. who have determined
that the British commissioner, Mr. E,l:ot
shall not leave until mis- functions tan
be exactly defined
Lieut. Freeman, killed in Samoa is
given in the British naval list as Lieut..
Angel H. Freeman, the senior lieutenant
of the cruiser Tauranga, the next to
Capt. Stuart in command of the vessel.
AS chief lieutenant he was executive Of
flcer of the Tauranga.
The British admiralty has a number of
warships not far from Samoa in the
Australasian islands, a special design of
small cruiser being used In that locality
Inc chief naval station accessible to
Samoa Is on the China coast, where the
Asiatfc squadron embraces some of the
largest warships in the British navy. In
number, armament and tonnage the
British ships on this station far exceed
those of Germany or any other power
The chief German naval station near
Samoa also is on the China coast, at
ktao Chou, where Admiral Prince Henry
is tn command. Admiral Deweys fleet at
Manila Is the nearest assemblage of
American warships to Samoa The sail
from Manila to Samoa Is about fourteen
days.
Senator Davis. chairman of the senate
committee on foreign relations, was one
OF the earliest visitors to the president
today. Asked for his views on the situa-
ton he said:
We must be careful and not lose our
heads. We must not form an opinion
until all the facts are known
Representative Hull, of Iowa. chairman
of the house military committee. was also
one of the presidents visitors He said:
This government will not attempt to
discredit our men there unless it IS shown
clearly that they are In the wrong If
Germany persists in her present course.
there may be war. 1 do not believe this
administration will allow Germany to run
this government as she seems to be try
ing to do. In my section of the country
the feeling against Germany has been
strong for six months. The people believe
that she was hostile to us in the war
with SPAIN The people are in such tenn
per that they will not permit any trifling
or hedging on the part of the United
States. IL there should be war I do not
believe that all the European countries
could or would stand against Great Brit
ain and the United States
Senator Thurston said that 1t would be
pretty hard for three of the most enlight-
ened nations of the earth to have war
over a few little Islands which are of no
consequence. He considered the situation
as somewhat grave.
Senator Stewart said docs Germany
want to fight? If so, she may be accom-
modated. We are a peaceful people. but
we don't permit others to go around with
chips on their shoulders"