Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-03
PEACE OR WAR?
Shall We Fight Samoa "A Question
Congress Must Answer.
Arts of Diplomacy Enthusiastically the Pres
ident Refused to Proceed-Seeretary Bay
ard Explains the Situation.

Washington Correspondence Baltimore Sun.
The question as TO what action this
country win take in view of Germany 5
recent acts of aggression III the Samoan
islands continues to be the absorbing
topic in political and diplomatic circles in
Washington. The situation is conceded,
on ali sides, to be grave, the more so as
it is to some extent confused by the lack
of intelligent comprehension Of the issues
really involved. It is the misfortune of
the administration that in the present
crisis the department of state is repre-
sented at Samoa by subordinate official
Vice. Consul BIacklock-who is mar
2 rie3 TO a Samoan woman, and whose
statements are thought 10 he colOred by
his peT9Snai sympathies. Consul-General
SegeIl, who occupies a position Of hostH-
ity TO his official superiors at present, has
not been al his post since August last.
DEFINITE POLICY.
IN order to obtain . clear statement of
the policy of the administration and of
the actual status of affairs in the Samoan
islands, a representative of the Sun
called upon Secretary Bayard at his resi-
dence tonight and was cordially re-
ceived Mr. Bayard described the course
of the department OF state III relation to
Samoan affairs and the latest phases of
the question To the statement that the
administration had been twitted with
having no definite policy on the Samoan
question, he replied by referring
the sun correspondent to the presi-
dent IS message to congress, and accom-
panying documents, which show that the
administration long ago defined its policy
with reference to the Samoan islands,
and has consistently adhered to it ever
since That policy was one Of friendly
interest in Samoa, with neutrality, so far
as the other powers having interests on
the island-Great Britain and Germany
were concerned. ar. Bayard has eX-
hausted the arts of diplomacy to secure
the Samoan people the right to govern
themselves and protection from foreign
control. Germany and Great Britain
both assented to this policy, and tie acts
OF Germany inconsistent with her pro-
fessions have grown ont Of pettJ political.
intrigues among native chiefs and the
rivalry Of foreigners for influence and
-. .7,glreInacy
~ 4 - s,-ezsEs plaaI-Rrr, cT2TGTX,TED
LIE 3 r. .s12-s,15A I'lr0tracted disorders
ns 10 the C Re ob w ra r gnaes
nized a. lin, 5sf Texa1 soa,suls of Germany,
Great BritaNy IeAi1 nae United States
ThislcoantryNA extA eyiousiy. in 1875,
concluded a tl5lSSqs Ch Samoa, guaran-
teeing to use rs X I'D Offices in behalf
OF the kingdom, bSFiahot as has been er-
roneously supposedly y many, agreeing to
establish protectoTI9te over the islands.
Later on the United States government
was expressly precluded from this course
by its insistence upon the independent
sovereignty of Malietoay the principal
point OF contention now raised in connec-
ton with the German support
of the rebel King Tamasese.
The United States could not con-
sistently do. itself, what il objected to
Great Britain or Germany doing Ac-
Cordingly, when, in 1886, United States
Consul Greenebaum raised the American
Mag ana proclaimed a protectorate over
&amoa, his action was promptly dsa-
vowed by Secretary Bayard as being III
violation of this comtTy's understanding
with Germany and Great Britain, by
which none Of the three countries was TO
seek 10 obtain political control of the
islands In other words he took the pO-
,sition, which seems 10 be a practical ap-
trIication Of the very Monroe doctrine for
1i0n are Now vOciferating, that American
interests should not be jeopardized by the
assumption on the part of any power OF
the right to interfere N the political af-
fairs of the island Even had this coun-
Try not been restricted by It's treaty with
Samoa, and its understanding with Great
Britain and Germany, Mr.. Bayard would
have bad no authority whatever to
practically annex the Samoan kingdom
and TO make the United States responsible
before the world for so arbitrary pro-
Ceedmg. Our treaty with Samoa de-
manded no such course. II would have
been clearly unauthorized, and a Just
cause Of offense TO Great Britain and
Germany. Just here it may be remarked
that anti q comparatively recent period
the United States has been officially
represented ut Samoa by Germans.
Canisius and Greenebaum, the predeces-
sors of Consul Blackjack, were both Ger
mans, 50 that we have the curious
anomaly of Germans opposing Germans
la al the complications leading up TO the
deposition of King Malietoa.
TIRE SEIZURE or OIALIETOA.
Mr.. Bayard has been criticised for not
protesting vigorously against Germany
treatment of the Samoan king, but he
states that le had no authority for such
a course. Malietoa was not citizen Of
the United States, and American rights
had in no way been invaded. Germany
claimed that he had violated his treaty
obligations ana that he was an enemy
whom she had the right TO seize. Mr..
Bayard, however, did what the treaty
with Samoa obligated this country to do.
He used the good Offices - of this coun-
try again and again, in NTalietoa IS be- |
half, but without result.
GERMANG'S FRIENDLY PROFESSIONS.
Mr.. BayaTd states that from the very !
beginning Of the Samoan troubles Ger /
many has professed the utmost friendli- /
ness 10 the United States and regard for |
American interests on the islands. Only (
to-day he received a communication /
from the German minister expressing |
sincere desire TO reach n settlement salts /
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