The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-31
Great Anxiety In Diplomatic Circles
at Washington.
SITUATION IS SERIOUS
NO FEAR OF INTERNATIONAL
COMPLICATIONS.
Washington Government will Uphold
Admiral Kautz, But the Three
Powers viii Not Quarrel Over So
Trivial Cause-Attitude of the
German Government.

Washington, March 30.-The Samoan
crisis divided attention with the fight
ing about Manila. in all official quarters
| today. At the foreign embassies, where
this has been a subject of consideration
of late, considerable anxiety was shown
lest the affair should assume a grave
international aspect. Sir Julian
| Pauncefote the British ambassador
went to the state department at IL a.
M, accompanied by his secretary, Mr..
Elliott, and conferred with Secretary
Hay. AS this was the regular diplo-
matte day, little significance would have
| attached to the call under ordinary
I circumstances, but with British and
American warships cooperating in a
| bombardment, more than usual interest
atteched to the call. There is no doubt
that the serious developments in Samoa
| were discussed.
! While there may be a dearth of Off
cial information, at the same time the
actual events carry out what has been
| anticipated and give a basis for intelli-
| gently considering the further joint ac-
| ton of the two governments in the
! complete settlement of the entire Sa-
moan trouble. Both nations are acting
! in complete accord, not only as to the
g neral solution of the Samoa problem,
| out in particular, with reference to the
force eXerted by the British and Ameri-
can naval commanders.
AS to the German attitude, it is stat
ed positively in a quarter thoroughly
familiar with German official sent1-
ment, that the outbreak now reported
can under no circumstances be con-
strued as an overt act against Germany
nor as a casus, belli. This is from such
source that it largely removes the
possibility of international compiica-
tons.
AS an evidence of the conciliatory
sentiment of the German government,
it was said today that the note deliv-
cred to the department last week urged
in behalf of the German government
that the good relations existing be-
tween two such nations as the United
States and Germany would not be in
terrupted by a matter of such compar-
ative unimcortance as an official dis
pute in Samoa. It is said that the Ger
man government probably would have
accepted Admiral KautZ as a sort of
umpire, taking his decision as final,
but that the objection quite forcibly
expressed to the state department was
the manner of his going to Samoa
while friendly exchanges were going on,
without notice to Germany.
The German ambassador has received
no advices. and no Instructions rela-
tive to the reported bombardment and
there is no evidence thus far that Ger
many will protest or assume a belliger-
ent tone. From the German stand
point, the most serious aspect is that
the Commandment will excite public
feeling on both sides of the water, lead
ing to popular outbursts, which will
overcome the efforts to secure a settle
rnent.
One of the latest propositions towards
a settlement is that three commission
ers be appointed, one from each coun-
try, to meet in Samoa, and sit as a.
court in settlement of the difficulty
The state department has not yet
received official advices. The demon
stration is regretted, but the opinion is
expressed that Admiral Kautz acted on
what was his best judgment and infor-
nation. The state department acknowl-
edges that no permanent aS cement can
be reached under the treaty in which
all three powers do not agree, and the
hope is that some settlement of the
difficulty may be brought about when
it becomes apparent that the present
conditions cannot exist definitely.
Admiral Kautz acted within his in
structionS. 1t is believed he concluded,
after consultation with Captain Sturdee
of the Porpoise, the senior British naval
officer, and the American and British
officials, that state of anarchy exist
ed which called for action. The fact
that the edicts of the chief justice We're
disregarded and were ignored, although
sustained by the representatives of two
of the governments, made such a course
There is no doubt with the
facts now at hand that Admiral KautZ
will be sustained by the United States
government.