The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-24
Action os Chief Justice Chambers
Sustained by the United states ana
British Naval officers.
ADMIRAL KAUTZ'S INQUIRY
FOUND NOTHING TO WARRANT
CHARGES MADE BY GERMANS.
state Department and British Embas-
sy Trying to Locate Scene of the
Alleged Collision In Alaska.

WASHINGTON. March 23.-The German
ambassador, DIR. Won Holleben. called at the
State Department to-day to further confer
with the officials concerning the Samoan
situation. The Berlin authorities have COM
municated very freely on the subject with
in the last few days. and, as result or ex-
tended dispatches from the Foreign Office,
the ambassador has presented long note
covering the latest phases of the case. 1t is
understood that the German advices confirm
the arrival OF Rear Admiral Kautz and the
convoking by him of a meeting of all the
officials on the 18th inst, but they do not
show what resulted from the meeting. Ali
their reports are silent thus far this
point, and the German view is evidently one
of apprehension lest serious results may
grow out Of the meeting, in which event
the German view is that the responsibilities
should be borne by those bringing about the
meeting Further than this. questions are
arising as to the extent of authority OF the
British and American consuls acting to-
gether TO do anything without the concur
renee of Consul Rose, of Germany. The
German view evidently holds that the Ber-
lin treaty requires the three consuls to act
unanimously and not through majority.
Another question Is as to the right OF
naval commander to take any political
action. The Berlin treaty, in their view,
would limit the rights of naval commanders
within very narrow bounds. leaving them
simply to execute what the three consuls,
by unanimous agreement, determine upon.
These are the main points engaging atten-
tion and, in view of the questions involved,
news of Admiral Kautzs action, following
the meeting of the 11th, is awaited with
much interest and not a little concern
Rear Admiral Kautz has fully sustained
the actions Of the chief justice of Samoa,
50 far as his Investigations have gone. Ever
since ne first news of the emute at Apia
last January the Department of State, the
German and British government, have been
separately pursuing Investigations into the
matter, and 1t was in pursuance of our
branch of the inquiry that the rear admiral
was sent to Apia- 1t is not understood that
the investigation is complete, so far as he
Is concerned but at the point where he
stands, he has felt obliged to sustain the
conclusions reached by the United States
consul, Luther Osborne, and the chief JUS
tice himself IL also appears that these con-
clusionS are in exact accord with those
reached by the British naval commander.
Captain Sturdy, OF the Porpoise, who was
present at Apia during the outbreak and of
Mr.. Maxse. the British consul at Apia, who
was also a participant. Thus. there is ar
ray of four witnesses combined i'm their tes-
timony, while opposed to them is the Ger
man consul, DR.. Rose.
The German government, Is gathered
from the Berlin advices, Is disposed to stand
firmly in support of its representative. al
though Ii has been intimated to 1T that
Roses retirement would facilitate a satis-
factory and speedy adjustment of the COM
sible for the United States to discredit its
representative. the chief justice, or for the
British government to repudiate Mr. Maxse,
in view OF the weight of the testimony in
their favor, that a practical deadlock has
been reached so far as the matter of chang
ing the representation OF the three powers
concerned at Apia is concerned.
Our government knows nothing as vet
of the reported combined protest of the Ger
man citizens OF Samoa against Mr.. Cham
bers. II the German government cares 10
proceed to that length. it can under the
treaty OF Berlin. request the United States
government TO withdraw him. But I'm ac-
cordance with the provisions of the treaty
IL the United States does not care TO ac-
cede to this request. Mr.. Chambers would
continue in Office unless the German gov
ernment manages TO secure the approval for
their application OF the British government
In view OF the facts above stated this is not
likely TO be had.
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 attempt
on their part TO replace it. although it is, OF
course. believed that. even in that event
some manner of modus vivendi will be pro-
vided TO prevent another clash between the
conflicting interests. as happened ten years
ago. resulting in the treaty OF Berlin.
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THE Alaskan rRnIuIE