Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-12-09
PEACE AND SAMOA.
Rather Racy Review OF Consul
Greenebnum,s Policy.


New York Times.
Mr.. Bates OF Wilmington, the special |
commissioner to Samoa, has returned TO
Washington with bis report In season 10
enable President Cleveland to announce 20
Congress that the late political troubles at
Apia are over. This lie a matter that con-
Germs the government, inasmueh as before
Mr.. Bates went to the South Paciho our
enterprising consul, MIR, Berthold Greene.
baum OF San Francisco, had thrown himself
with vieor into the local governmental DIS
putes and had announced protectorate
OF the United States over Samoa In general
and King Malietoa In particular. To add
to the complication, the three consuls were
at odds, the American and English support
ing the King, while the German consul DR..
Steubel, accused him OF violating treaties.
Much bitterness was added TO the con-
troversy by the acquisition OF Moule-Non-
hou Point, tho seat of the kings govern
lnent, by Mr.. Weber, one q the leading
German merchants, who thereupon pro-
ceMisd 70 eject haIuonarch az trespasser,
parry Of Germau sall.rs frcm the AHA
tross harding and hauling down the samoan
flag. Since Mnlietoa is described by one
Observer as man u lmpre= siva appear
ance, clad In a breenhcluth, reinforced by
SHIFT on some occasions of ceremony, ara
as claiming q royal lineage lnsting ON these
islands through i've centuries, II may be
| imagined that such an act OF dispossesslou
| caused him much chagriD.
| The special offence, however, which led
| to the raising of the American nag seems
/ TO have been the visit OF the German naval
/ commander to Tdmasese, the relative OF
Malietoa. This chief had established him
self with his armed followers 10 miles from
| Apia and claimed to be the genuine mon
arch OF Samoa. Malietoa, alarmed ~ TINS
| proceeding and at the friendly attitude thus
assumed toward his rival, threw himself
upon the protection Of Consul Greenebaum,
adding: eve desire you to issue procla-
nation and to bid all people In Samoa to be
quiet and orderly, and to go their own VII.
lagos and there live In peaceful and
orderly manner" This was In May last
and without the slightest hesitation Mr.
Greenebaum issued the desired proclapa'
ton Gin the name OF the United States ol
America" and then hoisted the United
States flag over the Samoan In token OF a
protectorate.
It must be owned TINT this energetic
diplomacy produced an immediate effect
The German fleet having put out to sea ant
the Mohican of our navy arriving, kint
Malietoa undertook to assume the offensive
and moved to attack the camp of Tamasese
The three consuls at this juncture interferet
again. and Joint proclamation signed by
DIR. Steubel Mr. Powell and Mr. Greenebaun
announced that they and their government
| mao never reCOHuAZtu 1hnldsosb az ktuk y
Samoa" aud enjoined peace.
Thus the diplomatic victory remained
with Consul Greenebaum; but 1t proved a
disastrous as defeat to his personal am
bition. The news thai the United State
had declared n prdteetorate over Samoa
having been sent by him to Washington
Mr.. Bayard hastily summoned him hom
for an explanation. While this explanation
seems TO have been given lngeniously,
did not relieve the state department from
wonder as to what might be done next by
consul who used the flag and the authorit
| Of the q government with such unhesltatinl
, confidence. 1t was therefore agreed wit
Berlin and London that the three govern
ments should send out special ENJOYS +
Apia to inquire into this curious conaula
method Of running the local government
and that the hostile eonsuls should be- With
drawn. Those arrangements have bea
carried, pence has been restored, the eS
| porting of cotton, coffee, and copra goe
on quietly, and the joint rights of GEL
, many, Great Britain, and the United State
In the islands, which will not bear mus
violent diplomacy without dangerou
straining, are re- established.
What with the career Of Col. Steinbergel
, who otflciated about 10 years ago as Oh
Samoan Kings prime minister, and that 9
| Gen. Bartlett, who became minister OF wa
and finance, and finally that Of Consr
: Greenebaum, who practically constitute
: himself protector, our national reputatio
for very vigorous diplomacy must be no
( we'll established in Samoa. 1t Ii fortunat
3 that no serious harm has come from thes
. remarkable displays OF energy.