Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-08
SEWELL TALKS FREELY.
The tx @ ynsul General Airs His knowledge
Of Samoan and State Affairs

WASHINGTON. Feb. THE Associated
Press reporter called this afternoon upon
hfr. Sewau and asked for statement of
the reasons given by the state department
in its request that he should tender his
resignation as consul general at Samoa.
Mr. SewalI in reply said: The reason
Given in the letter asking my resignation
is the disagreement OF my expressed views
with the views entertained by the state
department in regard TO Samoan affairs.
This refers, I suppose, to the testimony
nave given before the senate committee on
forei9n relations, and which has not yet
been published. No GisapDTOval OF my
conduct I'm Samoa as consul general has
ever been expressed by the state
department so far as ] know, and indeed
If will appear from the communication
sent TO congress in regard to the situation
of affairs in Samoa that the department
wrote me commencing my course Ia the
irving and delicate position, rs it was
STYLED. in which ] was placed during the
deposition of Malietoa at the time OF the
conference of the powers. Only two
months ago when | requested that my
leave OF absence be extended, request was
denied for the reason as stated that the
situation of affairs in Samoa rendered my
presence there advisable, suggesting no
doubt even then of my fitness for the
place. As is well known was
on my way to my post Wnen
summoned to Washington TO testify be-
fore the foreign relations committee. views
| EXPRESSED on the situation and the rem
edv necessary We're given at the request OF
The committee. 1t was not for me to con-
slider whether those views agreed with MIR.
Bayard's or not. do know, however
that nv views coincide with all Amerl-
cans who have given the matter any
thought, the state department excepted.
sor which | cannot speak.
What are these views, Mr.. Sewal?"
81 believe" said ir. Sewali with dellb-
Grafton. that the deposition of Malietoa
was determined upon before the confer
ance of the three powers began and
shat it was the German intention
TO carry ont the policy 1t had
decided upon, regardless OF That confer
ence. The purpose OF Germany Is TO Sc
cure control of Samoa in defiance OF the
solemn and repeated assurances 1t has
given TO our government. Furthermore
believe that Lord Salisbury Is party TO
this scheme and that the movement
against Samoa is only precursor OF an
Anglo-German attempt to secure supre-
macy in the Hawiian islands.
"What, in your opinion, Mr.. Sewall,
will be the effect of the despatch OF
American ships Of war to protect our III
terests in Samoan"
y concur with Mr. Bates, our late com
missioner to Samoa, in his published
opinion that Admiral Kimberly can
accomplish nothing under his instructions
from the state department. Mr.. Bayard
expects Admiral Kimberly to succeed III
dong by protest what he has been trying
without success to do for a year. \ pro
test Does Mr.. Bayard suppose protest
Will turn Germany from the course she has
been steadily pursuing! Commander,
Leary and Millen have protested. and
their protests have been received with con-
tempt, and does anyone expect Admiral
Kimberly will be treated better?'
What do you believe should be done:'
II believe with Secretary " hitney that
definite pJlicy should be adopted
in Samoa. To send our ships
there with only their present instructions
is simply to subject their officers and mel
TO humiliation or, as Secretary whitney
using a polite term out of respect | sup
pose to MIR. Bayard-terms irritating con
ditions.' from which their self respect
makes them revolt. But Secretary Bay
ard can not punish Secretary Whitney OF
Mr. Bates. / am the weakest and an
therefore, singled out for sacrifice
Mr. Sewali said that whatever mis- per
sonal opinion of the attitude Of Mr. Bay
ard in Samoan affairs might be he haC
during his entire term of service Loyalty
aud implicitly followed the secretary's in
structiops. Notwithstanding they PLACED
him in false and Illuminating position.
Said he: ''As the representative Of th
government TO which our citizens looked
for protection, / was forced TO see indlgni
ties inflicted upon them, their PROPERTY
seized and their trade destroyed. | ha,
no power whatever 10 give them redress.
In reply to an inquiry as 10 whethe
German aggression had been going on fol
r long time. MIR. Sewall said the recen
xx-li hai Ia
the country was only a repetition of wha
had happened before, Nv ny, said he, -
great stir has been made by the announce
ment that martial law had been declares
by Germany in Apia, but this
not the first time the German
consul has declared martial lsl
in force. German sentries. even befor
the Americans had been deprived of thei
right 10 a Joint vote IN the government {
the town, had been commanded TO shoe
until dead men not answering the cha
lenge. and the notice giving warning
this was posted IN German script Only
and an American banner had been tor
down by Germans and trampled on. Whe
war was declared against MaIietoa Apl
was occupied without notice 10 the Ame
leans. \ leading merchant standing c
his own land was Knocked down by a Gel
man sailor, who on returning TO his sh'
WAS imprisoned for not having bayonette
the man. l myself was stopped o
the highway of Apia even befol
war had been declared aud the ofllc'
whose command had takken posss ssion 4
the part of the town threatened that
would be shot il ! proceeded. Germa
seDtries were posted around my consuIa
at night.
at is for tes5ityiug Co these facts, pr
sumo, that nay resignation WAS asked.
II not natural | shouid differ from NJ
BaYard IN d policy--.f such il can