Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-24
SAMOAN SITUATION.
GERMANY busy IN DISCUSSING II
AT WASHINGTON.
BERLIN TREATY IN DANGER.
IL IL Not Impossible That IL May lie
Rcpudiated by All Concerned,
Though No Clash, IL IL Thought
Would Follow.

WASHINGTON. ID. c., March 2.-Ih'
German Ambassador, Dr. Won Hoileben
called at the state Department to-day
20 further confer with the officials ther'
concerning the Samoan situation. Inc
Berlin authorities have communicated
very freely on the subject within the ias'
few days, and as a result or extended as
patches from the Foreign Office, the Am
aassador has presented long note. cover
ing the latest phases Of the case. 1T Is
understood that the German advices con-
s.rm the arrival OF Admiral Kauiz and
The convoking by him Of meeting OF
soll the officials on the 18th instant, but
shey DO not show what resulted from
the meeting. The German view Is. evil
IDENTITY one OF apprehension lest serious
results may grow out Of the meeting, IN
which event. the German view is. the
responsibility should be borne by those
bringing about the meeting.
Further than this. questions are arising
as 10 the extent OF authority Of the Bri-
fish and American cOnsuls. acting to-
ge;her 10 do anything without the con-
currence of Consul Rose. OF Germany
The Berlin treaty requires the three con-
suls 10 act unanimously, and not through
1: majority.
AUTHORITY OF NAVAL COMMANDER.
Another question is as 10 the right Of a
naval commander TO take any political
action. The Berlin treaty, In their view,
would limit the rights Of naval COM
manders within very narrow limits,
leaving them simply to execute what the
three cOnsuls. by unanimous agreement,
determine upon.
These are the main points engaging at
tontion, and in view Of the questions in
Tolyed. the news OF Admiral Kautz's ac-
lion. following the meeting OF the 11th
instant, IS awaited with much interest
and not little concern. Admiral Kautz
has sustained fully the actions Of the
Chief Justice Of Samoa, far as his in
designations have gone. Ever since the
1irst news OF the emeute at Apa last
January. the Department OF State and the
German and British governments have
been separately pushing Investigations
into the matter, and 1T Is i'm pursuance
of our branch of the inquiry that Admiral
Kautz was sent TO Apia. IL is not under
stood that the investigation is complete.
30 far as he Is concerned, but at the
point at which he stands he has felt
obliged 10 sustain the conclusions already
reached by the United States Consul
Luther Osborn. Ii also appears that
these conclusions are in exact accord with
those reached by the British naval com
mandor. Captain Sturdy. of the POrpOise
who was present at Apa during the out
break. and of MIR. Maxse, the British
Consul at Apia. who was also a partici-
pant Thus. there is an array Of four
witnesses. combined in their testimony,
while opposed TO them is only the Ger
man Consul. Dir. Rose
GERMANY STANDS BY ROSE.
The German Government. as is gather
ed from the Berlin advices, is disposed
20 stand firmly in support of its repre-
sentative, although IL has been intimated
10 II that by his retirement. Rose would
facilitate a satisfactory and speedy adj
justment Of the complications in Samoa.
ii is manifestly impossible for the United
States TO discredit its representative. the
Chief Justice. or for the British Govern
mont TO repudiate MIR. MaXse, in view Of
the weight Of testimony i'm their favor,
80 that "A practical deadlock has been
reached. so far as the matter Of changing
the representation of the three Powers
concerned at Apia is concerned.
These conditions lead to the belief that
there is some danger Of the reputation
OF the treaty Of Berlin, and in the present
temper Of the parties it would not be sur
prising If this happened. without an at
tempt on their part TO replace IL, al
though ii is, OF course, believed that even
in that event some manner of mOdus
Nivendi would beproyided, 10 prevent an
other such clash between the conflicting
interests as happened ten years ago, re-
SultinE In the treaty of Berlin.