Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-02-07
MORE PEACEFUL.

GhA Prompt Action OF the United States
Causes q Halt In the Reckless Haste Of
tho Gernsn Authorities in Samoa-Bis.
marck Backs Down rs Gracefully rs Pos.
sible.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-The President
sent to the Senate yesterday an account
of an interview had yesterday morning
between Secretary Bayard and the Ger
man Minister in which the Secretary was
informed that the proclamation OF martial
law in Samoa had been withdrawn by the
German Government as far as it relates to-
foreigners, and the demand that the adj
ministration of the islands be turned over
to the German Consul had been also with
drawn, that the neutrality of the islands
might be preserved.
Secretary Bayard, in transmitting Count
ARGOS Enclosure, said to the President:
As the question of German action and Ameri"
can rights in Samoa is under consideration by
the Congress, beg leave to transmit herewith,
with the view Of their being laid before Con-
gress. copies OF certain correspondence touch
ing affairs in Samoa, which has taken place
since January 80 the date of your last message
to Congress on the subject. These consist OF q
telegram to this Department from Mr. Black
lock, the Vice-Consul of the United States at
Apia. dated January 81 and the paraphrase or
my Geographic instructions of the same date
to our Minister at Berlin, of which a copy was
also sent to the Charge d'Affaires of the United
States at London, and my note OF the same
date to Count Arco-Vallev.
To-day was waited on by the German Minis
ter at the Capitol, who read me note from his
government, which 1 transcribed from his die
taton. and now inclose a copy of its text.
Mr.. Bayard also incloses the follow
ing:
January 3I.-Consul Blackjack telegraphs
Mr.. Bayard: German Consul declares Ger
many ut war with Mataafa, and Samoa under
martial law"
On January 81 Mr.. Bayard instructed
Mr.. Pendleton to inform the German Gov
eminent that advices from Apia stated
that the German Consul had declared
Germany at war with Mataafa, and Sa-
moa to be under martial law.
Mr.. Bayard, in view of this, instructed
Mr.. Pendleton to say that the United
States assumed that the German officials
in Samoa would protect American citi-
zens and property.
Hi>marck Back. Down.
WASHINGTON, Feb. "A message from
the President transmitting correspond
ence on the Samoan question was re-
ceived by the House yesterday after
noon.
Under date of February 1 Count Arco-
Valley, German Minister to the United
States, under instructions from the Ger
man Chancellor, sent the following
communication to Secretary Bayard:
When the state OF war declared against
Mataafa the commander of the German SQUAD
ron issued a proclamation by which the for
eigners established in Samoa were subject to
martial law. International law would, to
certain extent, not prevent such measure, but
as Prince Bismarck is of the opinion that our
military authority has gone too far in this in
stance the military commander has received
telegraphc orders to withdraw the part OF his
proclamation concerning foreigners.
In negotiation with Mataafa, our Consul at
Samoa has asked that the administration OF
the islands of Samoa might be temporarily
handed over to him, which demand not being
in conformity to our previous promises regard
ing its neutrality and independence, Mr..
draw his demand.