The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-01-27
OUR POLICY IN SAMOA,
THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FORMING
1T LEFT TO CONGRESS.

secretary Whitney's Request for
Statement from Secretary Bayard
Unansw ered-The Latter Referred
the Matter to the President and Ee
Turned 1t Over TO Congress.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20 The following
letter from Secretary Whitney to Congress
man. Herbert was made public this after
noon;
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON. Jan. 25, 1889.
SRI have the honor to acknowledge the re
ceipt of your letter of Jan. p, in which you re-
quest that there may be transmitted 10 the
naval committee of the house any recent re-
ports from officers of vessels stationed at the
samoan Islands showing the condition of things
and the request Of the department for
nouncement of the definite policy referred TO
by me In my letter OF Jau. % In
part of the records of tho department. There
are no later reports than those copies OF which
we're transmitted 20 congress in the message Of
the President of Jan Is, 1889 and printed in
executive document No. GS of the Senate The
communications of the department TO the Sec
retary of State in reference to the announce
ment OF a definite policy is Contained IN
letter, copy of which is inclosed.
Your letter also contains the following request:
Il should be glad to know if any further en-
largement OF the appropriations of your de-
partment should BE- made in view of existing
conditions. This inquiry, upon its face, seems
to put upon this department the responsibility
Of estimating for possible expenditures
arising out Of conditions which it
cannot anticipate. Until decision
is reached as TO the policy of this government
regarding the Independence of the Samoan
group Of islands. no Judgment can be formed
upon the subject of the possible expenditures
Up to the present time the department is not
aware that have had any national policy
upon the subject Neither the Monroe doctrine
nor any other expression Of national policy
is understood to apply to the islands of the
Pacific one by one they have beent kan with
out Interference from us. If there is to be no
new departure affecting this group of islands
conceive that the department is quite able now
to perform every duty arising out Of exist
ing conditions. Unless there is
conflict between the policy of
this government and that Of some other, the
differences will doubtless be harmOnilsd and
no extraordinary expenditures Will be called
for. Having brought to the attention OF the
appropriate department the circumstances
specially within the observation Of this depart
ment seeming to call for definite instruction to
its officers and the whole matter having been
subsequently laid before congress by the Presi-
dent. it wonl1 be preferable that this depart
nent should not anticipate conditions beyond
its authority or control Very respectfully,
Secretary of the Navy.
To Hon. II. 4. Herbert Chairman Committee
on NaUdL AGdirs, House Of Representatives..
THE INCLosURE.
Following is the uclosure above referred to:
NAVY DEPARTMENT, WAsHINGToN, D. c.,
Jan 5, 1882 I
SIR-Iuclosed herewith, ! send copy of a
dispatch Just received by way Of New Zealand
from the captain of the Nipsic, at SR-
moa The department is able to send imme-
diately two additional vessels, in response to
this request, and has given directions that
they may be made ready to receive sailing
orders, and would be pleased to strengthen the
force at Samoa toy these and other vessels Of the
Pacific squadron if any useful purpose is to be
served thereby. If, however, the purpose Of
the German government, now made entirely
clear, imposes no duty upon the officers Of
the squadron, to strengthen the naval force at
those islands it would place the officers under
irritating conditions with no duty to perform,
and it would in all probability give rise to
trouble. The Nipsic is entirely adequate for the
protection of our consulate and as an
asylum for non-cOmbatants entitled
to the protection Of our government. In
view Of the critical situation at the Samoan
Islands IL seems to the department that the Off
GERS of the squadron if further vessels are to be
dispatched, should receive Instructions Of
definite nature as to their duty in the premises.
From the correspondence heretofore held be
tween the department of state and the German
government, and from reports received from
our naval officers and the consular agency at
this islands, il appears clear that the conquest
Of these islands is intended by that government
in the interests of commercial company, and is
being cousummated by overt acts, which
are multiplying day by day. There
which can be explained the interference Of Ger
man men-of war in the contest in progress upon
the island Of Apa
I Iapprehend that the officers Of the navy will
not understand, without definite adyices to
that effect, what their duty may be under the
circumstances as they are developing. Our an
tecedent relations to this group Of islands
and to the Sandwich Islands have
been Of an exceptional character and will be
likely to give rise to doubts in the minds Of the
officers as 10 their duty under the existing con
Il FsHHT. ref
treaty, harhors have been reserved for use OF
the navy Of the United States and TO the
samoan group, three governments
many, Great Britain and the United
acted together upon the theory Of mutual
cooperation in preserving the autonomy Of the
people Of the Samoan Islands. The-harbor at
Samoa will become Of national consequence to
us in the future a naval power, but If the
Islands are to 20 under the domination OF Ger
many it would cease u be- OF use
rected the officers of the squadron 10
act In accordance with instructions which the
consular agent at Samoa shall receive from the
department Of state but in view Of late advices
and this request for an additional force, the de-
partmcnt desires to be advised whether u Is he
purpose OF this government to announce any
policy regarding the Samoan group OF which
the officers should ba advised. Very respect
fully, W G. "HITNEY,
To Hon. Thomas F. Bayard, Secretary ofStdte,
" dhltngtDk, H. -
The dispatch received by Secretary Whit
ney from the commander Of the Nipsic re-
ferred 10 above, bears date Of Auckland,
Jan. 5, and Is as follows:
Three German war ships at Apia threaten 10
disarn Nataafa, and landed men at Laleug0 10
prevent Mataafa's retreat. An engagement
followed The Germans lost twenty Killed and
thirty wounded. The Germans swear vengeance
aud are sheing and huralng native villages.
Neutral property is not respected. Protests are
disregErIed. American property is ia danger.
The cons Isrep0rts that Americans IN boat
flying an American flag, were seized 10 ApIa
haraof by au armed German boat, but we're re-
LEASED after investigat The German cap.
tain say 40 hGg VAS shown. The stAte OF AZ.
fairs ID 30 serious that / request an additional
force. I vii remain AZ Auckland three weeks.
REPLY by SECRETARY BAYARD.
Inquiry at the navy department this
afternoon developed the fact that Secretary
Bayard has made no direct response TO Soc
ret.,ry Whitney's letter inqUiring as 10 the
policy Of this government 1t 10 Understood,
However, that the Presidents action Ia
referring the matter to congress was based
% n considerable degree upon the points
made in Secretary Whitneys letter. In
answer to an inquiry on this subject Secre.
tary Whitney this Afternoon said; There
f. no antagunism between tho state depart
ment and the navy department in this mat
ter. For tue protection cf the naval officers
who are at Samoa or who may be sent