New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-30


credit for this Government express the opinion taat
the example It exhibited Of treating with Samoa As an
independent STATE led to similar course ana Similar
acknowledgement native independence IN snas issnu
rroup By Germany and Great Britain.
Mr. Bayard also gives his version % vnV Great
Britain and the United States. in washington III
June. 1887 and says:
when the conference was suspended In July last until
the autumn it done with the concurrence ., al .a
raembers and solely for the purpose OF enaoing inc
Of Germany and Great Britain 10 consuS
their respective governments No inumaslon was then
given that The status quo would be changed or that any
acts Of hostility against the Samoan Government OF Ming
Msiietoa personally, were In contemplation
That the Government Of Her Britannia Majesty iuiiy
concurred In the Importance OF careful maintenance Va
the status QUO and in the understanding that no s'cp
shoud be taken 10 change It, appears from the neca
tim Of the British Minister the first session OF ne
conference when in presenting the plan OF his SoVern
msnt he said that In view OF native dissensi0ns ne"
election Of King seemed 10 be imperauvey esioa loi'
and that Maiesty's Government expressed no opn
on fayorabiy or adversely the election OF haane.o
On tho same subject the German Minister SAID! hs
Malieos having VIGOROUSLY violated his treaty oOng~on
Inward Germany and having even smohs "ie 49,,
comparatively but few psrtisans' whne o'n'pi0'y
80. nav election of King Will have TO taKe place ae
eoYdinR 10 the customs Of the country rms eeS 3,
- p, t,aslv mads BY the chiefs and the people Oh samoa
IA is unnecessary to cite other statements equauy
.,.t - show the apparently complete concurrence
- s 10 the peaceful and benevolent purpose OF the
conference
Continuing, Mr.. Bayard says:
nce bismarck has referred In his note as the German
Minister did in the conference 70 guarantees !" % 40
manded and obtained the Samoan Government Whsn
these guarantees explained they have peeh
found virtually involve the foreign control OF tha gov
,ruuent as was proposed the German Samoan convcn
zion st the 10th Of November 1884, and also In the plan
presented by the German the conference The
ground upon which control has been deemed essential
is Of the native government And II cannot
be doubted that II the Of Samoa were now
administered by any powers the islands would
be governed nearly in accordance with the forms anu
usages OF civilized States and order be better assured
But for the very reason that the native government
Of Samoa weak seemed all the more clear 70 the
United States that control OF the islands by any
strong foreign power its representatives would defeat
the great object OF securing native independence ana
autonomy and the practical naturalization OF the group
Under such control native government would necessa
rily cease to have than nominal existence Inc
native element In the islands deprived Of voice ana
influence IN tho management OF their Affairs. wouio
quickly succumb TO the aggressive and exclusive
tendencies foreign residens and, under tnese
circumstances. the islands would inevitably become :
colony OF the foreign power by which, or oy wh's'
REPRESENTATIVES, Government actually ainisoIou
These general observations are made because hoV
ythsaring the efforts OF the Government TO state us
respect to Samoa in spirit Of enufe
IL has sometimes that they had not been ru'y
suprehended or the Governments OF tne ohVeu
States and Germany while agreeing 70 the same general
principles differed their relative Importance ana
the order in which they should be applied. owing
doubtless to her commercial preponderanee in tbs islands,
10 Germany the primary object has seemed 10 oe'e es
tabiishment Of a stronger government To the Umtea
states the object first importance has seemed 70 DC
the preservation Of native Independence and autonomy
And 30 regarding the matter, this Government while
mt questioning Germanys Of the absence Oh
any Intention on her part to annex or establish pro
ectorate over the islands has been compelled to dissent
from propositions which seemed 70 subordinate all oner
TO the strengthening Of the German com
erca and landed interests the islands and CORE
spopdngy diminish, entirely TO destroy the prooa
bity Of Samoan government and Of the neutraiizauon
Of the group at least respect TO the powers now I'M
raediately concerned