The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-31

Dcubt Cast on the Report that Herr
Rose Acted with Nataafu.


BERLIN, March 30.-The German govern
ment was taken wholly by surprise with the
news from Samoa. The imperial chancellor,
Prince Hohenlche, is spending his birthday,
which occurs tomorrow. at Baden Baden,
and the minister of foreign affairs. Baron
Won Buelow is enjoying fortnights vaca-
tion i'm Holstein. But a well-informed in
dividual says the government here is skepti-
cal as to Admiral Kautz's instructions. He
adds that the instructions for a lombard
ment were based on the British and Amer
leans claims that Mataafa was contravening
the Samoan act. But, the correspondent
informant points out, the contravention was
rot specified, and the government presumes
that if the act was really fnfringed, Herr
Rose the German consul, would also have
protested, as his government had instructed
him 10 strictly conform to the act. The
assertion that Herr Rose protested against
the deposition of the provisional government
is doubted here as, it Is claimed, Herr Rose
instructed not to identify himself with
Mataafa more closely than the representa-
tives of the other powers.
There is considerable curiosity in this city
as TO the effect the outbreak will have on
the attitude of the United States and Great
Britain, but the view remains that the final
settlement will be in no way changed by the
outbreak of hostilities, but must be ar
ranged by the joint action of the three
Cabinets The semi-official Post comments
calmly upon the new situation and says that
Germany will remain neutral.
A brief official dispatch received to-day
from Apia. Samoa, dated March 20, says:
1.-The bombardment continues. In pursu-
ance to military orders the whites have
evacuated many houses The chiefs of
the Tanus party. who were exiled to other
islands, have been brought back frcm Upolu.
The firearms and ammunition taken from
Tanus on Jan. % have been returned"
The National Zeitung to-day commenting
upon the Samoan situation. says: While
it appears that the American and British
representatives thought the Mataafans were
contravening the treaty. the meeting held
on the Philadelphia had no jurisdiction, be-
cause the unanimous approval of the three
consuls is necessary TO make any decisions
legal
The National Zeitung adds that further
information is necessary in order to show
whether the Americans and British had
sufficient reason for reSorting to armed in
tervention and concludes with remarking:
Thus far the only result appears to have
been destruction and anarchy"
Replying to the allegations Of the Daily
Chronicle of London. that the United States
ambassador here, Mr.. Andrew u. White, has
been pro-German in his handling OF the
Samoan question, the Cologne Gazette says
semi-officially: For some time we have
noticed that the efforts of the English press
TO create bad blood between the United
States and Germany have taken fresh i'm
pulse from the latest developments at
Samoa Not TO mention other instances
which show the mood of the English press
the London Times a few days ago circu-
lated false story 10 the effect that Ger
many was intending TO Withdraw from the
Berlin treaty Now the Daily Chronicle
claims to know as fact that the United
States ambassador, Mr. White. has aroused
great dissatisfaction in the United States
because OF his handling the Samoan ques
tion principally from the German stand
point Il would be honoring the Daily
Chronicle too much If we were to endeayor
TO protect the American ambassador against
that absolutely unproven accusation OF a
serious violation OF his duties. For US II is
Sufficient 10 say again how bitterly and with
what talent in inventing false reports the
English press Is pursuing everything which
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