The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-04-18
Copyright by Associated Press.)

Copyright by Associated Press)
Berlin, April 15.-The Samoan ques-
ton continued to overtop all others
during the week, so much so that the
interest in the subject has even seiz-
ed the masses.
The most remarkable feature Of the
affair is the united daily onslaught
made by the entire agrarian, anti-Se-
mite and part of the conservative and
national liberal press on the cabinet
and especially on the minister of for
eign affairs, Baron Won Buelow, who is
charged with following a vacillating
policy and yielding too much to Brit
ish insolence and Yankee impudence."
a regular campaign of abuse has been
opened against the leaders in foreign
politics, many of the utterances being
of unusual vigor and venom, for the
German press conditions.
1t is learned on good authority that
the aim of this is to discredit Baron
Won Buelow with the emperor, thus
force his retirement and prejudice pub
lie opinion and the reichstag against
the United States and thus defeat the
meat inspection bill, which is consider
ed by the agrarians to be too favorable
to America and too harmful to German
interests.
1t is added that Fridays interpella-
ton of the government in the reichs-
tag on the Samoan question, and Ba-
ron Won Buelow's reply were intended
as a test Of strength between the two
contending parties, as Baron Won Bue-
low, as well as the cabinet, which is
more or less swayed by him, is cons.d-
1.xyff x~oxa y Ha< lfc%Ixa flxr
hostile to their interests; but the great
noise of the agrarian press and it's al
lies ought not to deceive people into the
belief that they represent public opin-
ion. They are merely the blatant mi
norfty. Neither the emperor nor the
government have allowed themselves to
be influenced by these mischief makers.
The officials of the United States en-
bassy are we'll satisfied with Baron Won
Buelows speech which agreed with his
previous statements to the United
States ambassador, Andrew d. White,
who considers his speech to have been
moderate and pacific, and he SO cabled
to Washington.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press learns that both Great Britain
and the United States expressed the
hope that the unanimity principle
would not be carried to an unreasonable
extent, which might easily Illustrate
the whole purpose of the commission
and result in a deadlock if one power
stood out against the others on every
question. Germany gave conciliatory
assurance
The German press comments on the
occurrences in Samoa this week differ
ed remarkably, according to the party
standpoint of each paper until Friday.
While the fate Of the high commission
was trembling in the balance, the COM
ment, naturally, was more vivid and
more bitter.
The Deutche Zeitung headed a page
editorial with THE Shame Of Samoa"
and condemned the action of the gov
ernment in toto. 1t declared the cabi-
net was wholly devoid of national SEN
timent and aspirations, and asked iron
ically: What more do we want? The
dreibund has fallen to pieces, Russia
is allied with France, England with the
United States, Austria is secretly al
lied to France, and Italy is wholly de-
pendent upon England, with the pos
sibility of her sliding over TO France.
Add to all this the brutal treatment
we have been subjected to by England
and the United States, by Count Won
Thun-H -Hohenstein (the Austrian pre-
mier), Mr.. Maxse Ghe British consul
at Apia). Mr.. Chambers (the chief JUS
ticejof Samoa), and Admiral Kautz.
Indeed. we ask, what more do we
want?'
One agrarian organ spoke Of the
''impotent weakness shown in Samoa
and concluded: I'VE stand aghast at
the tombstone of German honor"
The more reasonable part Of the press
also expressed itself most bitterly The
KreuZ Zeitung, often inspired, said: 1T
seems to be settled that we were too
optimistic in judging from the declara-
tions Of Mr.. White (the United States
ambassador, that England and Amer
lea had not identified themselves in the
Samoan matter. This, indeed seems 10
be the case, not alone in Samoa, but
generally in the White house and
Downing street"
From inquiries made among leading
members Of the colonial party, the cor
respondent of the Associated Press as
United States wants the Samoan is
lands and is going to have them
The correspondent here of the Assc-
ciated Press has had an interview
with a high foreign Office official, who
bitterly complained of the many er.
roneous statements doated by the
London press regarding the Samoa
cry instance these Statements were ev-
identity made for the purpose of Gre
ating unfriendliness against Germany
in the American press or with the in
tention Of causing an anti-Americar
feeling here.
The appointment OF the Samoan com.
mission and the final acceptance by
Great Britain Of the German proposal
as TO its scope and methods is hailed
with joy by the entire press and the
belief is expressed that something like
order and harmony will now be re-es-
tablished in the islands, and thus re-
move one OF the main disturbing fac
tors in the way Of an understanding