Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-24
THE SAMOAN rnoUBLEs,
Views Of George III. Rates why
This Government should Strongly


WILMINGTON, DEL, Jan. 81, 1881
sought Mr.. George II. Bates, who was
commissioner from the United States 10
Samoa, and interviewed him respecting
the Samoan troubles.
"Have you read the dispatches son.
corning Samoa p inquired.
II have read them with very great in.
terest," he replied, land have no doubt
that they give substantially accurate
impression of the state of affairs there al
the time the steamer left. In fact.
think that probably every ono who i, M
all familiar with Samoa and its peopIe
and has followed the course of events
there for the last two years has iutor-
preted, as | have done, that tho strife
there would culmlnate in such conflict
between Germany and the SamoRns as ia
now reported.
NEUTRALITY OF THE Islands NEoEs srTY.
81 do not think that either our govern.
ment or our people, excepting those liy.
ing on the Pacific coast, have ever an
preciated the interest our country has in
she preservation OF the neutrality of this
group Of islands. THIS interest ia Of q
twofOld nature. While the value of
American property in Samoa and tho
number OF our citizens there may not be-
30 large as those of Germany, both are
quite sufficient TO demand adequate pro.
lection But aside from the interest Of
individual Americans residing there, we
have q national interest in the neutrality
OF the group precisely of the same nature
ms that which has always been asserted
by statesmen OF both parties with respect
to the Hawaiian group. Thus far our
.x.fN "a L.. A.. 49, "a 4
parent, bat when canal across thu 18TH
mus Is an actual fact-as it certainly will
be in the near future, In my opinion
Samoo will be of more importance than
Hawaii
EXISTING TREATY OBLIGATIONS.
"Has not this neutrality been secured
by tresty?'
"Yes not Only by our original treaty,
but throughout thu whole diplomatic
correspondence on this subject between
Great Britain, Germany and the United
States. The neutrality has always been
asserted by each of the three govern
ments, and il has been admitted by tho
others that the neutrality OF the group
was to be respected. Even in the con.
vention between Great Britain and Ger.
many providing for virtual partition Of
the Pacific Islands 30 far as occupied by
them already, TO which our government
was not party, Samoa was especially
omitted, because that country had entered
into treaty relations with tho United
Btates, and during the last few months,
while Germany has been strengthening
her grip upon the Islands. her aggressive
movements there have always been ao-
cCmpanied by diplomatic assuranocsfrom
Berlin to Washington that the neutrality
Of Samoa will NOT be interfered with.
yet, from tho deposition Of Malietoa
until the outbreak which resulted in the
overthrow of Tsmasese tha country was
governed practically by the German con-
sui, or eithes by the German trading
hrm md the German consul together,
backed by the whole force OF the German
feet.
GERMAN INCONSISTENCY.
aThe Inconsistency Of the professions
of the German foreign office with the
actions OF the German officials in Samoa
were thoroughly exposed by Secretary
Bayard in long dispatch to tho German
foreign office, dated Just about year
ago, dispatch which, so far as the cor
Tespondence yet published showg, has
never been answered"
( "Then you do not pur much depend.
ence on the German assurances 2"
mot particle. After man or gov
eminent has been for three years pro-
Tossing one thing and doing another one
ought to be pardoned for oeasing to
place reliance on such profession. The
whole course of Germany seems to me to
indicate logged determination 10 have
possession of Samoa and implicit reliance
upon the fears of England and the indif-
ferance of the United States government
TO secure non interference by either Of
those governments There are 30 many
complications in European politics Affect
ing colonial interests in Great Britain
and Germany that 1t naturally results
that one government should tacitly agree
to not interfere with another at one point,
In consideration Of similar treatment
elsewhere, and there seems to BIO no doubt
that the present British policy in Samoa
Is deliberate carrying out OF such an
agreement.
STERN REBUKE CALLED FoR.
"What do you think will be the result
Of the recent conflict between the Ger
mans and the natives 2"
"There oan DO little doubt that unless
somebody calls a halt in q tone which
Germany cannot misunderstood the Ger
mans will pursue their policy OF making
war on the natives, destroying their
villages, aud, under the pretence of in
demnity for injuries to German property,
take possession of the island"
"What will be the effect Of the naval
force our government has ordered to
Samoan
"That depends entirely upon the
amount of discretion oonfided to our
naval officers. I do not know precisely
what the present policy of our govern
ment is, not having seen the full text Of
our Presidents recent message to Oon-
gress on the subject. have, however,
read carefully the instructions TO Admiral
Kimberly as published, aud cannot see
that he has any greater authority than the
officer who preceded him. He is directed
TO protest against German action and to
cooperate with the German authorities
there. Our officers have been protesting
for the last two or three years, and their
protests have had about as much effect as
the pope's bull against q comet. As to
cooperation with the Germans in estab.
fishing peace and maintaining tho neu
trslity Of the group, in the light of re-
cent history IL can msnifestly
amount to nothing. In the pres
emit temper of the Germans il
Samoa no regard seems 10 be paid to
American protests neutral rights, or the
property and lives of American citizens.
bellows the administration TO BIO IN
favor OF more active measures to protect
the lives and property of our citizens and
our national interests in Samoa, but It Is
considered that the executive has not
the power to do more than has been