New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-22
BAYARDS SECRET AGREEMENT
HIS COURSE IN REGARD TO SAMOAN AFFAIR1 a
NATTER OF PRIVATE COMPACT.
rnr TELEGRAPH TO TIE rarsuskI

fnr TELEGRAPH THE rRIsuxkI
Washington, Jan. 21.-Ths most astonishing
disclosure vet made in the Samoan difficulty comes
through Secretary Bayard himself IL is in the shape
of an admission hs part that tho agreement reached
by the representatives CT Germany Great Britain ard
the United States in tho summer Of 1887 was, by
mutual understanding between the ncgohators, to bs
kept secret unless consent to make IL public was
given by each and all Of the parties to tho agreement
The parties TO the agreement wero on tho part OF
the United States Mr. Bayar himself. on tho part
of Germany, Baron Won Alvensleben, thon minister
to this country: and on the part OF Great Britain
Lord sackvile, of recent memory. The Senate within
few weeks called by resolution for ell tho papers
and correspondence relating to Samoan affairs secrc
tary Bsyard transmitted the same in two patches,
6mitting however to include the agreement and max
ing no mention of 10 whatever.
In an interview given to the Washington CORE
spondent OF Z" The Baltimore sum- and printed In
the issue of that paper Of to-day, Secretary Bayard
calmly states:
The State Department has gone to the extreme linis
Of It's discretion in trying TO arrange the trouble over
the Samoan Islands In dgnfed and honorable manner
The has been furnished with all the correspondence
on the subject and remains with that body 10 de-
the policy Of Government in dealing with tbs
subject further
Thus, with characteristic irresoution, Attempting
to escape the responsibility and 10 shift the burden
for future conducs Of affairs from his own shoulders
to those OF the Senate Mr. Bayard makes through the
same channel the following additional and startling
statement:
The commission remained in session many days. and
detailed report o. tho proceedings kept and IL now
on he in the Department Of State. An agreement was
entered into between the three commissioners that the
protocol should be regarded confidential which accounts
Of document from the correspondence
and other this subject which have already been
transmitted to the Senate
The conference called at the suggestion OF Mr..
Bayard. with TO ESTABLISHING independent form
Samoa and having that group Of islands
terested. An agreement OF that nature virtually
entered into, and to tho present time neither tho
German the English Government has notified, the
United that the conditions then entered into have
requested tho German and English representatives TO
allow the protocol to be given to the public, but they
have insisted upon regarding It as sacred.
These are not Mr.. Bayari's own words, as thoss
above quoted were, but there IS the best for
stating that they were revised by him and have his
approval. Naturally enough there IS good deal OF
suggestion of Mr. Bayards that they VIII be expected
y s IN Sr e 70 pS DS
difficulty, when the Secretary OF State blandly informs
agreemcnt with the representatives, Of foreign powers
about tho nature Of which those powers may be In
%aRSs Of uer Mnsn the ls Of tho United
staics-must be kept In ignoransei rance r,,.s,r ..
been s Sss % Sss q state beo fair
presume that Mr. Baysrd II another four years Of
BIS diplomacy had been Inflicted upon the country,
would have bcel ready to make treaties with other
have ignored the Senate altogether At any rate II 10
an edying spectacle 10 the Secretary OF state of
Unied States chasing two foreign ministers all over
the world to obtain nom them permission 10 communi-
cate the contents of American papers 10 an American
sepate Won AHensloben Is al present stationed
In Brussels ord sackvillo Is somcwhere IN the south
OF France or " leave OF absence Until they g1a-
cIousy give permission, Secretary Bayard must keep
his mouth shut. Did Secretary OF state ever occupy
more humlliatng positioni
TIE SAMOAN CONSUL STARTS FOR WASHINGTON
The United States Government is represented In
Samoa at present by the viccconsul, Mr. Blaoklock-
Harold NJ. Sewall tho ConsulGeneral, has been AWAY
from therc since last September. He came homo on
leave of absence to enliehten the House COMMITTEES
on Foreign Relations regarding the Samoan situation
since his appearance before that body, he has been
awaiting orders to return TO his post He has been
staying at the windsor Hotel for few days, but
started for Washington last evening in obedience to
an order from Secretary Bayard. Before going away
ae was asked about the troubles in Samoe Ha -