The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1888-12-11
MARSHAL RECEIVER.
Senator Edmunds ON Mr..
Dyer's Trial.
MR.. PETERS ALSO IN FOB 1T.
Church suits-samoa Affairs
Other DoiDgs in Congress.
SENATE,

SENATE.
WASHINGTON, December 10.-In the
Senate to-day, Frye offered resolu-
ton instructing the committee on
foreign affairs to inquire into the con-
dition of affairs at the Samoan Islands,
as far as the interests and rights of
American citizens there are affected,
the relation of the United States to the
island, and her obligations under the
existing treaties, causing the necessity
of maintaining the neutrality or indie
pendence Of the Islands; what steps
had been taken in that regard by the
United States Government and what
action, if any, was demanded. In his
(Frye's) judgment, the existing state of
things at those islands made the in
curry an imperative necessity at this
time, although it might disclose
AN EXCEEDINGLY DIsREPUTABLE CHAR
ACTER
of history in American diplomacy.
No American citizens could question
the inter of the United States in
the preserva tion of the independence of
Samoa. A little while ago ihe United
States had obtained concession of one
of the most magnificent harbors in the
world In those islands, and established
coaiing station. The United States
had made treaty with Samoa, in 1873,
u ond GnrY11 ho6
made treaties with Samoa in tAe follow
ing wear, in which treaties it was under
stood and agreed that the independence
preserved. King AM1aletoa was a yery
warm Irie:-..a of the United States, 80
warn, in fact, that it provoked the
/ jealousy of the German business men of
the island.
MALEToA HAS BEEN A WARM FRIEND,
hHscause he looked on the United States
as being bound to protect Samoa's neu-
trality. In 1885 Tamassi renelled
against the King, but the rebellion
could have been put down without
difficulty, because Maletoa was the
King of one of the braYest people in
that part of the world. American and
English representatives in Samoa, how
ever, called the attention of Maletoa to
the obligations of the United States
and Great Britain, and persuaded him
to allow Tamassi's rebellion to proceed,
as far as it could, for it was feeble one,
unaided. Maletoa, therefore, did moth
ing, but
TROUBLE WAS BREWING IN SAMOA.
On the complaints stated to the de-
partment from the American consul,
commissioner was sent out and an
investigation made. Finally, it was
considered an absolute necessity that
there should be some settlement and
a conference was agreed on, to be held
in Washington in 1887 between the
United States, Great Britain and Ger
many. That conference has been held.
In the progress of it, Germany had de-
manded, or asked, that sne would abso-
Iutely control those islands. Secretary
Bayard had refused to comply with
such unreasonable request. The con-
ference had not dissolved, but simply
had taken recess.
GERMAN FLEET HAD SAILED
for Samoa, entered the harbor and
took possession of the islands. Ger
many did this, Frye said, undoubtedly
with the consent of Great Britain, and
with full understanding in advance
with Great Britain. If there had been
no such understand, Great Britain
would never have allowed it to be done,
or would have required Statu quo to be
restored. An English feet would have
gone to Samoa and the German fleet
would have retired. II was an outrage
and insult to the United States, to
which no great country would submit
for single moment. The Germans, he
said,
HAD TAKEN PRACTICAL POSSESSION
of the islands; had espoused the cause
of Tamsssi; had compelled the surren
der of King Maletoa and had him de-
parted to remote island, where he is
power and had appointed as his premier
q German consular clerk; they had boy
cotted the American consul with Ger
man guards; hauled down, or COM
PEELED to be hauled down, the Ameri-
can flag, and had
EVERY CONCEIVABLE OUTRAGE
on those poor people, who had been
the friends Of Maletoa. The had
broken up the business of American
business men there and treated the
American Consul with insult. Finally,
the German feet had sailed away.
leaving Tomassi in power. He tFrye)
very well that Secretary
Bayard had defined distinctly to the
German authorities the position as.
sumed by the United States, but having
defined that position the matter rested
there from that time to this, and moth
ing had been done to restore the rights
of American citizens in Samoa. A
short time ago he perceived that Ma
daafa, legitimate successor Of Maletoa,
had raised troops among Maletoa's