The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-02-14
Proceedings of the Samoan Conference
of 1887 Laid Before Congress.
BISMARCRS BACKBONE
The Duty of the Civilized World is to
Stop BarbarOus Cruelty.
THE BLESSINGS OF PEACE.
The President Anxious to Spread
Light Among the Semi Civilized.

tocols' Tor official minutesl of the con-
ferees of the conference on Samoan
affairs held in this city in 1887, to-
gether with additional correspondence
on the subject were laid before con-
gress this afternoon.
The memorandum of instructions of
Prince Bismarck to the German min
lister at Washington, read by the lat
ter to the secretary of state, February
4, is as follows:
1.-The present situation in Samoa re-
garding the interests of the three
treaty powers render it necessary to re-
new the attempt to bring the future of
these islands to an understanding.
The position or the three treaty powers |
in the civilized world make |
it their duty to stop the
bloody combat accompanied by
barbarous customs of those not numer-
GUS tribes, for whose welfare, accord
ing to the judgment of the civilized
world, it is duty of the treaty powers
to provide. Prince Bismarck in conse-
Quence considers it duty of the par
ticipating governments to put an end
by the agreement of the treaty powers
to the troubles which have originated
| in Samoa, by the restitution of peace
among the Samuans themselves, and so
| make an end of future bloudshed aud
| the horrors of a civil war conducted
with barbarouS cruelty among the ma
| tIves. The best remedy seems to be ii
resumption of the consultation which
| took place between the representatives
of Germany, England and the United
States in the year 1887 at Washington
and at that time adjourned without
| any possibility of their representatives
| coming to an agreement. In conSe-
quence have teen requested by Prince
| Bismarck, to propose to YOU. to resume
| with Germany and the British govern
ment, the consultation regarding the
Samoan question.
THE last conference took place at
Washington. According to the equal
rights OF the three treaty powers. 1t
seems proper that the place for the
negotiations shall change in regular
turn. Based upon this opinion, am
directed to invite the government OF
the United States to a conference re-
garding Samoa to take place at Berlin,
and similar invitation has been sent
to the British government.
~ am also directed to declare that
any suppositiun that Germany would
not feel satisfied with a neutral posi-
ton in the Samoan Islands is unfound-
ed, as we have already declared in the
last conference (of 1887 it IS neither
our intention to put in question the
independence of the island group, nor
the equal rights of the treaty powers.
We simply desire to create a condition
which offers permanent security fol-
bringing to an end blOodshed and de-
capitation and which grants Derma-
; nent safety to the commercial interests
g of the three treaty making powers in
Samoa"
On February 5th the secretary of
state sent a communication to Count
Arco Valley stating the president fully
, shares in the desire expressed by the
Prince Chancellor. to bring the bless
ings of peace and order to the remote
! and feeble community of semi-ciViliZeC
people inhabiting the island of Samoa
and that he clearly recognizes the dnty
of the powerful nations of Chr1Sten'
dom to deal with these people in g
. spirit of magnamity and benevolence.
son motion of the Tinted States
government, continues the secretary.
, 1.-The president instructs me to express
his acceptance of the proposal of the
: government of Germany to resume the
! consultation held in this city between
! the representatives of the United
: States. Germany and Great Britain
| which was suspended on the Doth OF
? July, 1SS7-Such consultation to be re-
u neWed as 1t was undertaken for the
i purpose of establishing peace and an or
DERBY stable government in the Samoan
l Islands on the basis of their recognized
: independence and the equal rights o.
the three treaty powers. The resump
; ton of such conference as is now pro
: posed by Prince Bismarck upon the
Z | general lines advanced by each of Cht
! three powers, as set forth in the proto
. coles of the conference as far as it has
,. progressed and embracing certain
points of agreement, appears to pre-
sent the hopeful prospect of securing
the welfare of the Samoan people. anC
such an equalization of the territorial
e jurisdiction as will prevent preponder
u ant control by any nation and secure
u equal rights of commerce and naviga
ton to all.
e The sooner this conference can b.
). resumed, the better. And in view o
T the late deplorable scenes of bloodshe'
b which have been exhibited upoI
g able loss to Germany, it appears to b
IS essential that a truce should b
il forthwith proclaimed and furthe
l. armed action should beO arrested
y d contention of arms by such a scant
, band as the Samoans against the vas
armament of Germany has, of course
, but one result, assured in advance, ant
70 no feature of equality in such a strug
), gle. AS the assurance of Prince Bis
marck, that the pacification of the Sd
l man group and the occupation of
l, neutral position are his only objects
q as frankly accepted by the Unite
l. States as it is rendered by Germany 1T
e suggested ia furtheTance of the desire
r result of the conference that instruC
tiOns to suspend beligerant action an
II | await the action of such conferenc
It should at once be telegraphed to thei
!. respective officers in Samoa by tn
u three treaty making powers.
To continue to prosecute war O
D destruction and reprisal, even upo
c. admitted pTOvOcation, would surei
le the three powers. It is hoped there
If fore that orders of the nature indicat
5, ed will be forwarded to Samoa withou
g. delay. The announcement of the con
IS ference between the treaty powers, it j
confidently expected, will at one
p cause cessation OF hostilitles anon
oa the natives and their speedy electio
T. Of king would certainly be long ste
n towards harmony. except as the cond
rs tons may be changed by fair electio
b of king by the natives it is deeme
IS essential that affairs in Samoa sha
E. remain in statu quo. pending the con
o. ference. Ii we may indulge the hop
le which the adoption of this suggestio
Do promises. for successful issue of th
el conference. the government of the Un
N ted States will at once take steps to b
r properly represented at the meeting c
E. such conference in Berlin.
The statements you read to me q
s. emanating from the German consul &
&c Samoa in which he finds fault with th
u conduct of Captain Leary, of the NeI
sic, and of MI. Blackjack, the Unite
n States consul, as yiolative of the il
structions of this government to mali
tain an impartial attitude in the col
flicts in Samoa do not appear to be sui
up stantiated by any personal knowlede
n, of the facts must have been based O
e. information and belief only, or are Il
peated at second hand, and must l
CHASED as merely hearsay eyidenc
n. These conflicting statements of IL