The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-12-22
The Samoa Correspondence
Before Congress.
WHAT Observation-Disclosures
Suggestions Regarding an In
ternational Matter.

gress the Samoan correspondence men
toned in his annual message. The cor
respondence opens with a communica-
ton from Consul General Sewell, at
Aka, to Assistant Secretary Porter,
October Sth, 1888, enclosing state
ment from A. J. Moons, a leading
American merchant of Samoa. stating
plainly the case of the Americans
whose land titles are endangered by the
statement of Tomassee asking and con-
sequent control of the government by
the Germans On November 4th, 1855
Baron Zadtwilze, German charge d.
affairs, handed Secretary Bayard a
memorandum containing counter
project of the German government to
the proposition of Bayard.
BAYARD's PROPOSITION
was that the executive branch of the
future government of Ssmon should
consent to council composed of FIVE
persons, viz: King, vice king and
three foreign ministers, to be chosen
from the nationalities of the three treaty
making powers, and to discharge the
duties of Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Ministers of the Interior and Treasury.
These ministers should have seats on
the floor of the Falpulea and take part
in debates. The principal objection to
this plan urged by the German govern
ment was that in country like Samoa,
where there is 6 population of 80 900
living in the most primitive condition;
the division of the government into
separate branches, is not at present
practicable, and that the appointment
of three white ministers would entail
TOO GREAT AN EXPENSE.
In Communication from the United
States legation at London, dated May
9Th, the Under Secretary of Foreign
Affairs for England is quoted as saying
"Her Majesty's government has seen
no cause to take part on either, side in
the differences between King Malieten
and the Emperor of Germany. AT
present Tamasesee is king de fqctp. and
will be recognized by Her -Maiesty's
government
Consul-GeneraI Sewell, On May 24th,
maintained by the German ships of war,
but native disaffection prevails through
out the group. He also says the Ger
man government has sought to reinforce
its supremacy on the islands by the
control of mails and appointing
ITS vICE-coNsUL POSTMASTER.
Under the same date Consul General
SewelI recommends abolishing the pre-
sent government and temporarily occu-
plying the island.
In letter of August 22d, by Secre-
tary Bsyard to Minister Phelp, in
which he expresses the views of this
government upon the Samoan treaty,
he says: II do not perceive at present
any reason why the United States
should yield any part of its exclusive
consular jurisdiction over Americans
in Samoa"
On October 1st, Bavard COMMUNE
Gated to Pendleton. Minister to Ger
many, the intentions of the United
States to respect the choice of Samoans
in their selection of Malieten, and
assumed the other treaty making
powers would take similar course.
In response Mr.. Coleman, of the liti-
CATION at Berlin, teleRraphed Bayard
that Prjvy Counselor Halstein had in
formed him that the German consul st
Apia had been directed
TO RESTRICT HIS ACTION
to what was necessary to secure the
lives and property of German subjects.
Under date of Apis, October 18th,
Commander Leary informed Captain
Fritzs that under the shadow of the
German fort at Mulinun atrocities had
been committed on American property,
and the lives of American owners had
been threatened and jeopardized by
armed marines of the naval force be
longing to the vessel under Captain
Fritze's command. In reply Captain
Fritze said: such is the state of affairs
in Samoa, that have to regard instruc-
tions addressed to me as not totally
DEVOID OF POLITICAL CHARACTER,
and so beg you to consider the matter
il the hands. of the diplimatic repre-
sentative of the United States ard
Germany, residing IN Samoan"
November 21st, Bayard wrote to
Count Arco, German minister at Wash
ington, I'm consequence of the verbal
communication made to me by you
yesterday, under instruction of govern
ment In relation to the interests of
Germans and OF Americans at Samoa,
1 have informed our representative at
Berlin, and so similarly instructed the
United States consul at Samoa, that
every endeayor is to be made to avoid
a friction for
CONFLICT OF INTERESTS
between the citizens Of the two govern
ments in their business operations in
the islands. In case any question
arising which cannot promptly and
satisfactorily be arranged between
those officials, their point of dispute
should at once be RENTED for decision
to Berlin or this Capital. | believe it
was really understood between the
United States that the present condition
of affairs at Samoa has been reported
similarity in letter of August I'd by
Secretary Bayard to Minister Phelps,
n which he expresses the views of this