Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1889-02-06
Bismarck's samoan Plans.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 8. - George II.
bates, OF Delaware, late United States
Commissioner at Samoa, was to-day ask
ed what, In his opinion, would be the
probable effect upon the policy of our
Government of Prince Bismarck's recent
orders to the German Consul at Samoa
and the commander Of the German fleet.
He eaid:
~ do not see why the more recent de.
spatches from Germany would affect the
attitude OF tee United States. The proc
lamation Of martial law and the atsump-
tion OF the dir, ct administration OF af-
fairs In Samoa by the German Consul,
which are now reported to have been dis
counteusnced by Prince Bismarck, were
not the gravamen OF the troubles there,
which excited the attention of the Presl-
dent and Congress Those harsh meas
ures were determined upon and reported
long after the subject had been referred
to Congress, with the recommendation of
action by that body. These measures did
not cause public indignation In this
country, they only aggravated It,
The interposltioH OF Congress was III
voked by previous aggresslons of the
local German officials and residents there,
the disregard of the understanding ex-
pressed an implied, upon which all our
negotiations with Gsrmany have pro-
ceeded, and the evident disposition OF
that power to abs0rb the group without
further consultation with us. With
respect to these matters there is as yet nc
sign OF any concession, unless 1t be the
proposition published this morning for q
conference at Berlin. In my judgment
the restoration Of the status quo ought
to be condition precedent to any further
negotiations and involves among other
things the reassembllng of the conference
at Washington.
''But even II Germany's disclaimer
were broad enough to cover the whole
subject matter Involved In the Presidsnt'i
communication to Congress, past exper
ience warns us not to be too quick IN
relying upon assurances from Berlin q,
indicating the course OF events In Samoa
When the German flag was raised there
cont mporaneously with Tamasese's re.
bellion, the act was solemnly disavowed
by Bismarck as soon as reported, and yst
the flag continued to ny until our hal
was raised by Consul Greenbaum month";
afterwards.
''The successive violation by German
local officials In Samoa of assurance:
made 70 this Government indicate eithel
gross insubOrdination, which is entirely
contrary TO all our notions of German
discipline, or else some UNDERSTANDING
exists by which the consul there Is au
thoriz d 10 act on bis own responsible,
. according to his views of the necessltie
of the case and to exceed his instruction
as reported here."
what do you think of the declara.io
OF war by Germany against samoa
"lts prosecution seems to me utterl
Inconsistent with the restoration of I'll
former status. II Germany goes on wit
war In Samoa 1t will be useless TO have
conference at all. OF course German
can ultimately drive the Samoans Into III
sea and take the islands by copques
This would he no less the destruction {
Samoan autonomy than If 1t were dor
4 by gradual encroachments. If we conit
we should insist on an absolute malt,
we consent to less than this we may 8
well wash our hands of the whole bus
ness and abandon all idea of pres, rvir
the neutrality of these islands"
MORE COAL FOR PAGo PAGo.
p WASHINGTON, Feb. 8. The Navy d
. partmrnt is negotiating with ship oWne
> TO carry about 5000 tons of coal fro
!. New York or Philadelphia TO the Pag
4 Pago coal ng station, but no AgreemeI
: has yet been reached. The last shipmer
of coal to this station was made in 1888.
and the supply OF $500 tons sent at tbs
time has not yet been exhausted. III
fuel will cost the Government a goo
! prize, the charge Tor tran. portation bein
Sl2 to SIS per ion.