The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-31

WAsHiNGToN. March Admiral kautH, in
attacking the Provisional Government set up In
Samoa under Mataafa aud recognized by the
German Consul. acted within his orders. These
orders were. rs stated to-day by a high official
in the State Department. who is authorized to
speak for the administrator in the matter of
our foreign relations. to have been in effect as
follows:
ITO preserve order in conjunction with the
representatives Of the other powers Interested
in the management OF affairs in Samoa to
guard American interests and residents
against attack and injury. and not TO take any
action In regard to a settlement OF govern
mental affairs without the support and as
sistance Of the representatives Of at least one
other power-in other words, unless a majority
OF the Consuls advised the course. he was to do
nothing.
THE German contention. said the state
Department official. that the Consuls are of
equal rights and powers. and that no action
should be taken save by concurrent approval
Of all three. is justiiiable by the terms Of the
treaty. But our contention is that the German
Consul. by his action. violated the terms OF
the treaty Of Berlin and the other parties were
justified thereby in taking the stand they did.
suppose Admiral kautz found such a con-
dit on of affairs existing in Samoa as to satisfy
him and the representatives Of Great Britain
that their joint interests were unsafe. and.
supported by them. the attack upon Mataafa's
forces was made
Although the Government deeply regrets
that the occasion arose in Samoa for a resort
to force by the naval representatives of the
United States. the conflict at Apia has not
caused nearly SO much concern as might have
been expected. There is evidently an honest
confidence felt among the officials here that
the matter will be amicablr adjusted by
| ,lillnmnti. mnang To nrpIpnt thn nkp-
lihood OF serious international difficulties,
however. instructions Were scnt this az
tnrnoon by the Navy Department to
Rear Admiral kautz. directing him to main
tain the status Quo and tuexercisr the greatest
caution in dealing with the political aspects ~
the Samoan question. These instructions were
cabled to the United States Consul at Auckland,
New Zealand. FOR transmission TO Apia ly
steamer. The State Department also sent in
structions to Mr.. Osborn. the United States
Consu'-Gencra! at Apia. to transmit by teic-
graph at the first opportunity a full report Of
the circumstances resulting In and embracing
the bombardmenf ~ Samoan villages by the
Philadelphia and III" British cruiser Porloise.
The news Of the conflict in Samoa has re-
suited in bringing out som" interesting infor-
nation ns to the character OF the secret in
stru"tions to Admiral kaut2. as given above
by an official o! tho state Department Ad-
mlral hautH, II VII! De seer. WIS not T'S'Tl'leu
ir his actions to what was unanimously do
creed hy the Consular representatives Of
ermany Great Britain and the United
States. but discretion was given him to act IA
he saw ht. il supported by the authorized
delegates OF one of the other powers. and
not necessarily OF both OF them. This impor-
tant addition to the Admiral's inst auctions was
doubtless made TO meet the not uneA. 'acied re
fusal Of the German Consul General u co.
operate with the British and American repre-
scntatives in carving out those provisions Of
the Berlin nc: which have become obnoxious TO
Germany. 1t is evident. therefore. that in
Smelling Samoan villages in which the adher-
ents OF Mataafa had gathered. Admiral kautz
was acting entirely within the rights conferred
While the imme1ist" cause Of the determined
action of the American and British naval com;
m mM'mion t + hot th xn1 "Tpd @TfS; Of the he G Es r
G%nsni,GenerMl t" any n agreE nm tia l99k IN ,6 To
berlin act reiating to the powers OF the Su,
IRENE Court in thu settlnmen, ofthe right OF
succession 70 the samoan thI"hc made u nee.
esSarv for them to proceed To carry out theli
Instructions for the protection OF, life and
rropnrty and the maintGnan;Iu c "r r. st"t"'
tween Germany. Great Britain and The lnitcd
a it appears. has set M the principle. that th'
three ConsuIs. at Apla are of equal rights anC
: s pSWShis y the The c ci'n RI t., ,Hpproyoi, q all tfree
Both Great Britain aud the United States have
J abe by the terms Of the treaty. as lar a. IT ap
u Piled, but this Government. with the support
; i is InteEsto"d; o, Gr"nt Bris4lp' IN Wn bis in.
issal to abide by. the decree. Of thu
supreme Court; violated the terms .
necessary for the representatives Of Grea
britain and the United States to act with
cent adviccs tho authorities here. however. as
sumo that Admiral kautz and the British com
|. OF securing II return to orderly, conditions an
= that in. 50 doing they did not i]ntcriere In an
d 4 t T%y ln MlaH ahs E", y sam risn'fb being eli s'I a1!uatei i" "
, much by Il regard for the interests OF, GermHl
IS Su td / as w +, ehI recently er fg' came to this Govern
v ment from a source that is not disclosed. bu
a presumably from Admiral RHut IT,, (; throws SON r
$ Admiral to take the positive measures agains
Z Matanfa and his adherents' When Admire
II March ! he found existing there 2 state {
affairs bordering on ANARCHY; The DEGREES c
Y aud we're not respected in, any way. III
e lives Of the Chief Justice and other American
n force Of armed men surrounding Aria, and b
d and his followers were defiant Of AUTHORITY
e which the lives Of British and Americans an
2. adhercnts Of Mal!etqa Tanu would upguestior
a ably BE- sacrificed; Realizing these things. AC i
z, representatives and naval commanders OF, IN
ID three powers to discuss means OF endlhR ines
:. iNll'llNlOlA7s u'lh ~ '''HN 49, "N''
ia ment.
r commanders. or at least those representa-
id Great Britain and the United States, agree
that positive measures were necessary to en-
I'd the dangerous conditions and proceeded
ut serve an ultimatum on Matania that he mul
1r dispersc his forces because their ,IrcStnc" WI
disturbing the peace ot the islands. The PREF
IN DISPATCHES say that Mataafa refused to obe
n and the conflict followed. -,
Tn negotiations between I'll" parties to ~
IN protsctorate have reached II point. where u
II. basis OF "a temporary adjustment ~ the exis
lg ing difficulties may be reached, ermnn III
he suggested that commissioners he appointed
i'd arrange u new agreement for the goyernnel
err OF Samoa. and IL Is not unlikely that the | nit
n States and Great Britain will ultimately co
ra sent to that mode Of dtSpOsing OF the question
g. at issue. This was the method pursued by q
three powers that led to the signing OF II
We general act Of Berlin. which has not Prov
i'll satisfactory to any Of the parties concerned,
Strangely enough no oliicial advi"cs ha,
been received here from COnsul-Gencra q
born or Admiral Kaut2 relating to the conf
with Mataata. The only confirmation OF I
press advices has come through oi"rmj
vs., sources, and the despatch containing this GO
frmatOry Information was exceedingly meaR
Sir Julian Pauncrfote.. the British AmbH
sador. and Baron !Speck Won Sternbcrg, I