Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-02-07

OFFICIAL ACTION.
khe Presidents sends = Message to Congress
on tho samoan Question-The Case
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3l-The President
mas sent to Congress additional CORES
pondence relative to Samoan affairs. ac-
companied by che following message:
I had the honor ON the 18TH instant to COM
municate to your honorable body certain cor
resp0ndence and documents in relation to af-
fairs in the Samoan islands, and having since
received further dispatches from the Vice-Con-
sui at Apia and the commander OF the
United States naval vessel Nipsic In those
waters. lose no time in laying them before
you I also transmit herewith the full
text OF instructions from Prince Won Bis
marck to the German Minister at this capital
which was communicated on the afternoon of
the 28th instant. This appears to be an axnpl-
ncation OF prior telegraphfc instructions on the
same subject communicated through the Same
channel and which being set forth in the note
OF the Secretary of State to Count Won Arco
valley. the German Minister, of the 18th instant
was duly laid before Congress with my last
message In relation to Samoan affairs.
IL Is also proper to inform you that on Mon
oay. January q the occasion of the communi-
cation OF the note of the Prince Chancellor the
secretary OF State was given to understand by
the German Minister that q proposition from
nis Government to that OF the United States
fora conference on the Samoan subject was on
It's way by mail, having left Berlin
on January.20. SO that its arrival here in due
course OF mail can be looked for In q very short
time. In reply to an inquiry from the Secre-
tary OF State whether the proposition referred
TO Was for renewal of the Joint conference
between the United States. Germany and
Great Britain, which suspended in July.
1887, or for the cOnsi GRAFTON of Samoan affairs
De novo the German Minister stated his in
ability to answer until the proposition which
left Berlin on January 90 should have been re-
ceived.
shall hereafter communicate to the Con-
gress all the Information before me in relation
to the Samoan status.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Tho correspondence accompanying the
message gives amplified accounts of re-
cent events in Samoa. It opens with a
record of current events by Vice Consul
Blackjack, including an account of the
fight between the natives and the Ger
mans as heretofore printed. a6
On December Is and 16 the Consul saws
that about $50 sailors came ashore from a
German man-of-war, and, becoming
drunk. maltreated the natives badly. The
marshal of his Office, he also says, was
beaten by the drunken fellows. There
were only old men, women and children in
town and it was with difficulty he prevent
ed a squad of armed natives being brought
, in and attacking the Germans
December 20 the German Consul sent
Mataafa word to come on board the Adler
that day and his life would be spared.
He. of course, did not go, as he knew he
would never come on shore again. The
Consul says he arranged meeting of the
three Consuls at the German Consulate,
but nothing could be done, as the German
Consul said he had lost so many men he
must now take the matter in his own
hands and revenge the losses. The days
diary closes as follows: Captain Mullan
sends more marines on shore to this Con-
sulate, and a Calling gun, and has fifty
men detailed on board the Nipsic tde1and
at once in charge of the first officer when
ever the signal is made at this Consulate"
December 81 the German Consul in
formed Mr.. Blackjack that a German man
of-war would go to Mataafagatele and
wait one hour for the Mataafa natives to
come on board and give up their guns.
Mr.. Blackjack protested aud notified him
that there was American property in the
town. The natives warned British and
Americans to put a black band on their
arms as they intended to retaliate on the
Germans if attacked again.
december % meeting of the three
Consuls and the representative captains
of inhabitants within the neutral boundary
but the German Consul would agree to
nothing.
January 1, Captain Mullan having
written to the captain of the German yes
sci which had seized an American boat
received a reply to the effect that there
was no flag flying on the boat. This was
not true as the boat was seen from the
Consular Office, also by others in other
parts of town, plainly flying the Ameri-
can flag. This was the usual way the
Germans adopted for Strengthening out
the outrages they committed.
In conclusion the Captain says: Il am
of the opinion that our Government should
have at this point more vessels, especially
at this time. I have caused to be posted
in the town of Apia a notice, to wit: That
the lives Of all American citizens will find
protection on board this vessel under nv
command, and that at the first intimation
or outburst of hostilities in Apia shall
land my force for the protection of
property"
The last letter is from Prince Bismarck
to Count Won Arco Valley, in which, while
regretting the necessity, he declares Ger
many will carry on the contest against
Mataafa, with, however. the utmost con-
sideration for American and English in
terests. In confirmation of this declara-
ton a Geographic dispatch has been re-
ceived from Auckland. N T., which reads:
Samoa advices say that the Germans
have declared war against Mataafa, and
that probably all the Samoans will Join
against the Germans"