The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-12-27
DIPLOMATIC CORRESPONDENCE.

Samoan Question.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2I.-The preSi-
dent to-day transmitted to congress the
Samoan correspondence mentioned in
his annual message. The correspon-
dence opens with a communication
from Consul General Sewall at Apia to
Assistant Secretary Porter. under date /
of October 8, 1887, enclosing state
ment from II. j. Morse, a leading
American merchant at Samoa, stating
plainly the case of the Americans
whose land titles are endangered by
the installment of Tamazese as king, |
and the consequent control of the gov
eminent by the Germans. He says the
property of Americans is liable to lie |
taken from them on the slightest pre-
text, and calls attention to the needs |
of government p rejection for its citi- |
zenS.
On November 4, 1887 Baron Led
WY, German charge de affairs, handed |
to Secretary Bayard, memorandum
containing the counter project Of the |
German government to the proposition |
of Mr.. Bayard. Mr.. Bayard's pro-
positsoD was that the executive branch |
of the future government of Samoa, |
should consist of a council, composed |
of five persons, VIZ, the king, vice |
king, and three foreign ministers, to be |
chosen from the natIonalities of the |
three treaty making powers, and to |
discharge the duty of minister of for
eign affairs, minister of the
| interior and treasurer. These
/ ministers should have seats on
| the floor of the Fairpule and take
part in the debates. The principal
objection to his plan urged by the Ger
man government was that in country
like Samoa where there is a population
of two hundred white persons and
native population of $4,000, living in
the most primative condition, divis-
ion of the government into separate
branches is not at present practicable,
| and that the appointment of three
| white ministers would entail too great
expense. If the American government
cannot be convinced of the practical
advantages of the German-English
proposition and if it regards
the carrying out of the same as
dangerous to the independence and
neutrality of Samoa, and as deviation
from the traditional policy of the
United States in the Pacific ocean, the
imperial government has no desire to
adhere to the plan and will renew the
discussion thereof. The imperial gov
eminent, however, for the reasons
stated, considers the counter PROPOSE
ton made by Mr.. Bayard during the
conference. for an executive branch OF
the government composed of five MEM
berS, as impracticable, and is unable 10
regard the same as sufficient ground
for further negotiations. The memo
randum IS signed by Count Bismarck.
In a communication from the United
States legation at London, dated May
s, the under secretary of foreign
affairs for Great Britain was quoted
as saying: Her maiesty'S govern
ment has seen no cause to take part
on either side in the differences be-
tween King MalietOa and the emperor
of Germany. AT present TamaZes is
the king defacto and will be recognized
by her majesty's government.
Consul General Sewall, on May 4
says: That peace and order shall con-
tinue to be maintained by the German
ships of war, but that native diSaffec-
tion prevails throughout the group.
He also says that the German gov
eminent has sought to en-
force its supremacy on the islands
by control of the mails appointing its
vice consul and postmaster. Under
j, the same date Consul General Sewan
recommends the adjustment of the
!. present government and temporarily
! occupy the island. He is aware that
! such step has never been contem-
I plated by the department, but says it
and seems to be the only solution OF
: the trouble.
In letter of August 2, by Secretary
y Bayard to Minister Phelps, in which
q he expresses the views of this govern
= ment upon the Samoan treaty
he says: II do not perceive
e at present any reason why the
4 part of its existing exclusive consul
= lar jurisdiction over Americans in
3 Samoa.
on the 1st of October Mr.. Bayart
communicated to Mr.. PendIeton, min
+ lister to Germany, the intention of the
! United States to respect the choice Of
! the Samoan people in their selection o.
9 Malietoa. and assumed that the othel
treaty making powers would take {
similar course. In response Mr.. Cole
n man, of the legation at Berlin, tele
graphed Mr.. Bayard that Privy Consu
!, lar HalStein had informed him that the
German consul at Apia had been di
rected to restrict his action to what
p was necessary to secure the lives anC
property of German subjects.
II Under date of Apia. October s, Com
: mander Leary informed Captain Fritz
i that under the shadow of the German
e fort at Mulinnm atrocities have been
It committed on American property, and
y the lives of the American owners have
n been threatened and jeopardiZed by
It armed natives, who appear to be shell
It tered by the naval force belonging Il
IS the vessels under Captain FritZ'S com
e mand. In reply Captain Fritz says
t. tSuch is the state of affairs in Samoa
e that l have to regard the questions ad
II dressed to me as nrt totally devoid of {
e political character, and so beg you tC
consider the matter in the hands OF
t the diplomatic representative, of the
4 Init a6 tot nd " nrIT M
e in Samoa.
s November u, Mr.. Bayard wrote tx
Count Arico, German minister al
l. Washington: In consequence of the
Is verbal communication made to me by
If you yesterday under instruction OF
If your government in relation to the in
2. terest of Germans and of Americans al
e Samoa Ihave informed our representa-
n tives at Berlin and shall similarly in
a Struct the United States consul al
:. Samoa that every endeavor is to be
e made to avoid all friction or conflict o.
interest between citizens of the two
e governments in their business opera.
d question arising which can
r not be promptly and satisfac-
IS torily arranged between those officials
then the points of dispute shall at once
REMIT for decision to Berlin or tt
this capital. i believe it was clearly
= understood between us that the pre-
ia sent condition of affairs at Samoa haC
: been reported similarly to the foreign
- officers at Berlin and to this depart
T. ment, and when the dispatch from this
If department was read to Baron VoI
+ Halstein he had stated he had received
the same account from the German
II representatives that his government
ID was Indifferent as to their choice of g
d king by the Samoans, only requiring
-. that German interests should not be
= injured, and certainly this would bt