The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-03-30
GREAT INTER EST IN WASHINGTON.
The Situation in Somoa Very Delicate
 The Attitude of Germany.

l
 The Situation tn Somon Very Delicate e- The Attitude of Germany.
 Washington, March 29.-The news
 from Samoa that the United States
 cruiser Philadelphia and the British cruisers Porpoise and Royalist had bom-
 barded the towns held by Mataafa, who
 has thus far had the official support of
 the German government, came with
 displaced for the time being the atten-
 tion given to the fighting around Man
 fla. The shelling of Mataafa was looked
 upon as of secondary importance, but
 the deepest interest attached to the at
 titude of the German government. At
 first apprehension was fe-t that grave
 international complications might ensue.
 But those most familiar with the latest
 official exchanges between Washington,
 London and Berlin did not take such gloomy view of the outlook While rec
 ognizing that the bloodshed at Samoa
 created very serious and delicate situ- ation, yet it was said to be situation
 which had been clearly apprehended
 and had been discussed in advance be- tween the representatives of the three 1 governments The real crisis from an | international standpoint occurred last
 week when this apprehended outbreak
 was discussed. Although relations were
 greatly strained 1t was possible to secure
 an understanding which is said to make
 sure that the outbreak now reported
 will not caues a rupture in the relations ! between the United States and Germany
 or between Great Britain and Germany 1 The details of the bombardment, as conveyed in the Associated Press dis patches were read with eager interest by leading government and diplomatic off, cers, who have been most directly con-
 cerned in handling the Samoan question. There was nothing of an official charac- ter, either at the state or navy depart ments or at the British or German em-
 basSies, to augment the very full press
 reports. Upon this officials based their
 views. In all quarters there were ex- press!ons of concern and surprise at the seriousness and extent of the lombard
 ment and the resulting loss of life. That
 some overt act would take place had
 been apprehended for many days, but
 there was little idea it would take broad sweep and lead to such heavy loss of life. In this aspect of the case the actual results were regarded as far more serious than those which had been ex- pected and provided for during the re- cent diplomatic exchanges between the f1.an tC al ments of international danger had un- expectedly arisen. These include the proclamation of the German consul Rose, which, it is believed, tended to in- cite the Mataafa party to an open re- volt, also the wounding and killing of British sailors and marines, the shoot ing of an American sentry and the at tacks on the several consulates. These i all involve unknown possibilities of se rious complication. While they had | been guarded against as far as possible | by the recent anticipatory exchanges, | yet it was felt that the German press and national sentiment might be | wrought to a high pitch by the events which had occurred and that this out burst of popular feeling might overcome the strong efforts of officials to keep the subject within pacific bounds.
 In an authoritative quarter the atti- tude of the British and American off, cials was stated as follows It was mutually understood between the two governments that the first essential point in Samoa was to maintain peace and order. For that reason it was de- termined that any lawlessness on the part of Mataafa or any other Samoan element which threatened the lives or of residents would be SUD- pressed, even though force was requir- ed. This was entirely without reference to the rights of the three governments, Great Britain, the United States and Germany, and was merely a rule of f-preservation and police security. It was not proposed to give Samoa over to a reign of anarchy simply because the German consular official zt Samoa differed with the British and American Outside of these difficult ties it was proposed to protect life and property at all hazards. It is evil dent that the bloodshed has arisen out of the united effort of the American , and British commanders to protect the law abiding and peaceful elements against the dsorderly and rebellious I subjects of Mataafa. This is evidenced oy Mataafa's action in hemming in the town where the American and British ( officiale resided, also in the attacks on he consulate and in the general law l essness which prevailed since Mataafa i began his reign. The American case ( will rest on the paramount necessity l 'f preserving peace and order 1 The German view, it can be stated on [ Tery eminent authority, is not likely to \ aise direct issue on the position thus | aid down by the British and American ( ,fficia's. On the contrary, there is said | o be a growing disposition on the part c if Germany to hold Herr Rose ac- Il ountable for the difficulties into which le has directed his government For
 time he was sustained with the nat ral desire to protect him in the proper t scharge of his duties. but the German h authorities has not contemplated that E e would carry the matter to an open h upture and result in bloodshed. s