Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-09
THE SAMOAN QUESTION.
SOUND LOGIC ADVANCED By
MISSIONER GEORGE HI. BATES.

What Bismarck's Proclamation Amount
to in Recalling the Order to Search Al
Vessels Arriving mt the Samoan Islands
It Does Not Do Away with the Neces'
sity of the United States Acting Wisely
Theoretically and Bravely.
WASHINGTON, February 5.-George b.
Bates, late United States commissioner,
was to-day asked by an Associated Press
reporter what, in his opinion, would be the
probable effect upon the policy OF our gov
eminent of Prince Bismarck's recent orders
the German consul at Samoa and the COM
mander OF the German fleet. He said:
I do not see why the more recent dis
patches from Germany should affect the
attitude of the United States. The proc
lamation OF martial law and the assump-
ton OF the direct administration OF affairs
in Samoa by the German consul, which are
now reported to have been discountenanced
by the Prince. were not the grievances OF
our trouble there, which excited the atten.
tion OF the residents aud of Congress. The
~interposition of Congress was invoked by
previous aggressions OF local German off,
cials and residents there. their disregard OF
the understanding expressed and implied
pom which all our negotiations with Ger
many have proceeded, n the evident dis
position of the powers
TO ABSORB THE GROUP
without further consultation with US.
With respect to these matters there is |
yet no sign of any concession unless it is
in the proposition published this morning
for a conference at Berlin.
In my Judgment the restoration of the
status quo ought to be a condition pre-
.cedent to any further negotiation, n in
wolves, among other things, the reassem-
bling OF the conference at Washington. 1t
seems to me that Prince Bismarck's pro-
posal to remove negotiations to Berlin
both a slight and q compliment to our
Secretary Of State. A slight, because he
was our representative there and could be
present as such nowhere else; q compli-
meDt. because it would indicate that in the
conference, the proceedings Of which are
yet unpublished, he excelled in diplomacy
the German and English representatives
combined, but il Germany's claims were
enough to cover the whole subject
involved in the. Presidents com
nunication to Congress
PAST wAR US Il
to be too quick in relying upon assur-
lnces from Berlin as indicating the course {
Of events in Samoa. Successive violations ,
0y German local officials in Samoa, OF the {
assurances made. to this government, in I
licate either a gross insubordination, which
s entirely contrary to all our notions Of
discipline, or else that some under
standing exists oy which the consul there is
authorized to act on his W responsibility, I
Iccording ia his views OF the necessities OF {
he case and to exceed his instructions as d
here. r
What do you think OF the declaration =
the war by Germany against Samoan" y
The prosecution seems to me utterly IL
Inconsistent with the restoration OF the
ormer status II Germany goes to war c
Samoa, it will be useless to have a con- n
at all. OF course Germany can a
Ultimately u
DRIVE Il sAMoANs INTO SEA, '
nd take the island by conquest. This "
7ould be no less the destruction OF Samoan il
utonomy than if it were done by gradual IL
ncroachments. +
II, however we should insist on an abso- y
tie halt; il we consent to less than this,
e may as well wash our hands of the
hole business and abandon all idea OF
reserving the neutrality OF those islands. III
When asked il the newspaper report was al
rue that d part OF his report on Samoa :
ad been suppressed in the copy furnished '"
Mr.. Bates said the query will be OF
etter answered when the report is pub 8.
shed, if it is at all. He did not feel ty
t liberty to comment on the matter. hi
ILITARY STRENGTH OF THE UNITED STATES. ".
WASHINGTON, February g. Secretary W,
ndicott, yesterday, transmitted a report o,
Adjutant-General Drumm, giving the to
OF the organized militia Of the al
and territories and force Of men u.
for military but not organized. =:
he totals are: Commissioned officers ~
397, enlisted men 8 ,109, number men I"
Vailable but not organized s, 104, 62S.
WASHINGTON, February 5.-The navy de-
5ment is informed that the Mohican
ting out at Mare Island, will be ready T,
r sea tomorrow. She proceeds to Pana- :.
where, it is expected she will receive ~ ;.
to join the feet at Samoa. ri
IE GERMAN MINISTER ON BAYARD. W
WASHINGTON, February 5.-Count Won IT,
rcovalley, the German minister called at th
e State Department, Monday afternoon, ar
I'd had a conference with Secretary Bay. Pr
ID in regard to Samoan affairs. He in. tn
rmed the secretary he had received a al
,mmuniCation from Prince Bismarck to
le effect that the German government
resumption at Berlin OF the con.
Iltations which took place in Washington
'tween representatives Of Germany, Great ce
and the United States in 1887, on d.
subject OF Samoa. to
The above information was furnished to DIR
e press by Secretary Bayard, with q re,
atement that it was all he would say on
o subject at present. 1t was therefore ~,
to obtain the full text OF the -
communication. 1t is probable,
,wever, that it will be transmitted to to
'ngress, tomorrow or next day, with RI
Bayard's views on the subject. IN