The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-22

II Places the blame on other OmciaIs
Besides RafYeI and Rose.


BERLIN. Jan. 2.-The correspondent here
of the Associated Press has had a CONVEX
sation with a high official of the German
Foreign Office, DR.. Hamann, who said:
1.-THE government has just received a de-
tailed report from Samoa, which it thinks
reliable, all the more so because the report
distributes the blame for the errors COM
mltted there pretty evenly, though some
points remain unexplained. The report says
that Mataafa, prior to his election, was
recognized as eligible by the three consuls.
It is true that Mataafa in 1888 was hostile
to Germany but the situation is different
now and Germany no longer objected to
Mataafa. And why Chief Justice Chambers
annulled Mataafas election we do not know.
1t was certainly not under the terms of the
Berlin treaty. The decision is all the more
regrettabie because bloodshed might have
been foreseen. No property of the whites,
however has been destroyed and we DO not
know why the chief justice sought refuge on
the British war snip Porpoise DR.. Raffel,
the German municipal president acted IL
legally in breaking into the courthouse. We
can only explain these things by assuming
that everybody there has grown nervous.
The German government, however, takes
the whole business calmly and doubtless
it will be adjusted automatically by nego-
tiations between Washington, Berlin and
London We do not expect any difficulties.
Germany adheres strictly to the terms of
the Berlin treaty. Whatever illegal excuses
Germans may have committed we shall dis
avow."
The United States ambassador, Mr.. An
drew d. White. said to the correspondent
OF the Associated Press, after having been
Informed of the above interview: Il am
without news and instructions, but do not
anticipate considerable trouble. expect
the matter viii be anlicably settled as IN
the case of similar difficulties in the past
Further particulars regarding the trouble
at Samoa, received later in the day, show
that during the fighting an armed detach-
ment from the British war ship Porpoise
occupied the house of Chief Justice Cham
bers. half mile outside of Apia, and that
another detachment occupied the London
mission station on the beach, where Ma
lietoa Tanus and his party had sought ref
uge. Tamasese and his party sought shelter
under the guns of the PorpOise. The fugi-
tives were compelled to surrender their arms
and the rest of the Malietoa Tanus party
was captured by the Mataafaites on the
Peninsula of Mulinu, near Apia. Mataafa
did not take part in the fighting and the
German war ship in those waters held aloof
from the trouble.
The news from Samoa has not caused
great surprise here. 1t was foreseen long
ago that trouble would break out sooner or
later. The tripartite arrangement has al
ways been considered in official circles here
as being a most peculiar diplomatic docu-
llIAts ti0dliiiS al uilsItlltu SiluHAlph, NUl-u
is really at the bottom of the present dis
order. although the election dispute precipi-
tated hostilfties. 1t can be safely said. how
ever, that the German government is not
particularly annoyed at the fact that mat
tiers have come to a crisis, as 1t will give
Germany an opportunity for reopening the
Samoan question with the view of establish
ing order on a permanent basis
The official Reichsanzeiger says: 1.-THE
German press lately has repeatedly dis
cussed the nature of the relations between
the German and American naval officers in
the Pacific. From the reports recently re-
ceived here we are in a position to state
positively that these relations were not only
free from tension. but on the contrary the
intercourse between the officers was of
sociabe and cordial character, as demon
strated by invitations. visits and other
friendly attentions which were repeatedly
exchanged The attitude of the German
naval officers has always been correct under
all circumstances.