The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-07
Baron Won Buelow Assailed for Al
legged Obsequiousness Towards the
English and American Authorities.
LOUD Wall OVER CLAIMS
FOR DAMAGES IN THE PHILIPPINES
AND THE SAMOAN ISLANDS.
Demands for Enormous Sums Based
on Private Letters-OutrageOus LIZ
bel ON Chicago Packers.

Copyright. 1899. by the Associated Pressl
BERLIN, May 6-The belief has taken
complete possession of the public mind in
Germany that German interests in Samoa
have been brutaly and ruthlessly dsre-
garded by both England and the United
States. II seems that this view is steadily
gaining strength with nearly all classes.
The press certainly reflects the sentiment
with increasing violence. The government
has done nothing the past week either to
fortify or to dispel this trend of public
opinion. The government press has been
strangely silent on the subject. The Agrar-
ian newspapers and many other journals
have seized the occasion on the birthday an
niversary Of the imperial minister for for
eign affairs, Baron Won Buelow. to severe
ly attack him for what they style his supine
disregard of Germany's legitimate interests
in Samoa and his alleged obsequiousness
toward Great Britain and the United States.
The matter of claims for damages. both
in Samoa and the Philippine islands, for
German property destroyed in recent en-
gagements has also been injected into the
press discussion with singularly growing
excitement, the assertion being made that
the United States meant to disregard these
lust claims" The imperial Foreign Office,
however, has done nothing to create or fos-
ter this condition of public feeling. In the
course of an interview with the correspond
ent here OF the Associated Press the United
States ambassador TO Germany, Andrew d.
White, said: The question Of German
claims for damages for property destroyed in
the Philippine islands or In Samoa in con-
sequence of acts OF naval or land forces
was never once mentioned during all the
Uh r ba ha wit m
perial minister for foreign affairs. So far
as 1 am aware. no such question has yet
come up at the Foreign Office. At any rate,
1t is too early TO discuss the subject,
evidence, pro or con, has been advanced on
either side"
1t appears that the sole basis for the
wholesale charges in the newspapers with
regard to these alleged enormous damages
is few private letters received from the
Philippine islands and Samoa, in which the
writers seek TO make out a case in advance.
The Vossische Zeitung and other journals
have reproduced two Of these letters, taking
for granted all that was therein claimed,
and arguing on the lines presented by the
writer's Of the letters, who, among a num-
ber of alleged facts. asserted that Major
General Otis. at Manila, had bluntiy de-
clined to recognize any German claims for
damages. When United States Ambassador
White was asked about this matter by the
Associated Press correspondent he was very
reticent, only saying: "Of course, the re-
ports Of General Otis on any of these cases
would have great weight with the State De-
partment, but in any event the final ad-
justment of such claims must be made at
Washington and not at Manila"
The Kreuz Zeitung in the course of an
editorial article that has attracted a great
deal of attention. said: despite the African
agreement between England and Germany
and despite the civilities interchanged. this
extraordinarily perfidious action in Samoa
was planned by the English, who kept in
the background and sent some American
hotspurs TO the front in order to establish
the fact of an Anglo-American brotherhood
I'm arms and embroil Germany and the
United States TO the extent that an under
standing was rendered next to impossible
This much is certain. that the friendly un-
derstanding between the United States and
Germany is a combination that British
statecraft just now relishes least of ALL"
The North German Gazette mentioning
reports that English and American mer-
chants in Samoa express desire TO see
Germany annex the whole of the group.
bitterly attacks the imperial Foreign Once
for suppressng this statement and keeping
it out of the press.
The Agrarian Deutsche Tages Zeitung. i'm
the course of a severe review of Germany's
attitude toward the United States during
the past years. blames the imperial Foreign
Office with ''knuckling down to the Amer
leans in every case, even recalling the in
stance of Admiral Won Diedrichs at Manila.
so as not TO hurt the feelings of messieurs
the Americans" The article concludes as
follows only by now showing bold and
unyielding front can the prestige of the
empire, which has suffered so seriously lat
terly. be re-established."
The same newspaper and a number of
others blame the Emperor for showing too
much friendliness toward Americans and
charge President Mckinley with a gross
want OF tact in not replying 10 Emperor
Williams telegram Of congratulation on the
subject of the new transatlantic cable in
Germany, and thus outraging all interna-
tional courtesy" On the other hand. the
Berlin Tageblatt, the Cologne Gazette and
a large part OF the Liberal press take a
more rational view of the relations between
Germany and the United States, aIluding
to the good will Of the United States as re-
Gently shown on several occasions in highly
complimentary terms
The failure of the Filipinos to secure an
armstice is generally regarded here with
regret. and the hope is expressed that an
amicable understanding will soon be
reached.
The animosity of the Agrarians toward
Baron Won Buelow and the foreign policy of
Germany Is doubtless largely due TO the
meat inspection bill. the provisions of which