The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-22
WITHOUT GERMANrS CONSENT
WAS THE OTFICIOUs ACTION OF
HER CONSUL IN SAMOA.

Ah"hGeus nut Nhui 1t Is. the Ahrec
Powers Must Live Up to It--Ger-
many's Statement of the Trouble
Puts II in "a New Light-Secretary
Hay ana Sir Julian PauncefOte
Confer Informally.
Washington, Jan. 21.-It can be stated
authoritatively that, il the published re-
ports of the events at Apia are true, the
acts of the German consul, Rose, and of
the president of the municipal council,
Raffel, were not the result of instructions
from the German government, and so far
as these acts were yioative of the Berlin
treaty, ii is not believed at the state de-
partment that they will receive the ap-
proval of the German government.
While the situation is regarded officially
as requiring delicate treatment, one of the
parties to the exchanges that are taking
place As authority for the opinion that It
win certainly yield TO calm discussion, and
that satisfactory understanding will be
the outcome. This is presumlng that the
matter can be handled entirely by the
governments of the three countries, either
through their foreign Offices or their am
bassadors.
The danger apprehended is the irrespon-
sible action of some minor officials away
off in Samoa, beyond the immediate con
troll of the authorities in Berlin, Wash
ington and London. So far as the last
reports Indicate, the issue between the
German representatives and the American
and British representatives, in Samoa, had
certainly not developed beyond point
where it could be readily adjusted upon
mere statement OF the actual facts for 1t
is stin believed that all the parties to the
treaty are willing to live up to its pro-
visions, which, of course, would involve
readiness to disavow any improper actions
on the part of their respective agents, and
even go further and undo as much of the
mischief already done by them as it might
be possible to reach.
Must Live Up to the Treaty.
Assuming that the trouble at Apla has
passed the acute stage, and that it will
be adjusted satisfactorily by such meas
ures as are required, there will remain for
treatment in the immediate future the
treaty relations of the three Powers rela-
tive to Samoa.
The condition precedent to any action
looking to amendment of the treaty OF
Berlin, or its abrogation, is that It's pro-
visions must be lived up to meanwhile.
Upon that point our government is set
ted and the British government can be
reckoned upon to take the same view
The state department has always been
ready to consider favorably any sugges-
ton looking to the change of the Berlin
treaty to meet the new exigencies asking
only that the changes be made in the law
full method. and resisting the attempt to
secure certain results desired by mere un-
derstandings between two of the three
parties to the treaty.
AS much turns on the accurate state
ment of the facts in this case, the follow
ing may be accepted as the official Ger
man view of the situation as sent here
from Berlin:
Germany Statement of II.
''The old Mataafa was overwhelmingly
reelected. the vote being 10 /. But the
chief justice annulled the Mataafa cleo
ton and confirmed that of the opposing
candidate, Malieatoa Tanus,a son of Maie-
atoa Oatter thought TO refer to the old
King, but dispatches does not dsclose).
"On Jan. a short fight occurred between
the two parties which ended with The fight
of Tanus, his party and Tamasese. They
went on board a British man-of-war No
foreign property was injured The three
consuls, American, British and German
declared Mataafa's party as the proyls
ional government until the arrival of an
structions from the powers.
The chief justic also took refuge on
board the British man-of-war, which caus
ed the Samoan government to declare his
functions temporarily suspended. HE
office was closed temporarily by a proc
lamation"
Differs From Other Reports.
The foregoing il will be seen. nresents
important differences to the view inns 90
accepted. In particular. IL presents the
view that the three consuls-Cerpnan
American and British-acted together ~
establishing a Mataafa provisional gov-
ernment; that the Samoan government ana
not the German consul, deposed The chief
justice, and that the office of the cbiaf
justice was closed by a proclamation from
the Samoan government. II also states
that the three consuls are acting together
pending instructions from the powers.
In a reliable diplomatic quarter Il was
stated that all three OF the governments
were now in possession of reports from
their several representatives in Samoa.
But there nave been delays the reports
are incomplete on many important de-
tails, and Germany has been able 10 Sc
cure the fullest information. In the main
the official dispatches bear out the press
reports, although the German position that
the consuls of the three governments act
ed together in declaring provisional gov
ernment differs from the other reports.
Diplomatic Discussion.
The conference between Secretary Hay
and the British ambassador nave led to
a very fun discussion of the mutual in
terests of the two governments concern
ing Samoa Thus far, however. Sir Ju
Ian has not received any instructions as
TO acting jointly with this government.
and the conferences have been simply TO
discuss a question in which both oflcials
felt common interest. 1t may be said
ulso, that this has developed an entire ac-
cord between the Secretary Of State ana
the British ambassador as 10 the rights
and duties involved, and the probable line
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