Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-01-24
CONGRESS TAKES ACTION
The President to Be Supplied
with the Sinews of War.
MIR. sEwALEs BOLD CRITICISM.

Two Appropriations, Aggregating $780,
600, TO BE Recommended for Protecting
the Interests OF the United states ia
samoa--A New coaling Station.
WASHINGTON, Jan. "a The Samoan con-
troversy is the only topic now attracting any
attention at the national capital In both
branches OF congress and at the navy depart
ment it is freely discussed, but within the
mysterious recesses OF the state department
the discussion is carried ON in ghostly whis-
pers
The senate committee on foreign relations
held a meeting 60 consider the Samoan
question. A long session followed, much Of
which was spent in a critical examination
Of the testimony given by Consul General
Sewall during the recent secret hearings OF
The committee. As a result Senator Sher-
man reported to the senate an amendment
TO the consular and diplomatic appropria-
tion bill TO insert the following:
For the execution OF the obligations and the
protection Of the interests Of the United States
existing under the treaty between the United
States and the government OF the Samoan Islands,
! $4,000, or much thereof as may be necessary,
10 be expended under the direction Of the presi
dent. This appropriation to be Immediately
available.
Also the following paragraph;
/ : For the survey, improvement aud occupation
Of the bay aud harbor Of Pago. pago in the Island
Of Tutinla, Samoa, aud for the construction OF
the necessary wharves and buildings for such
occupation, and FOR coang station therein,
under the direction Of the president, Sl0O,O00.
This appropriation to be Immediately available
The testimony Of Consul General Sewal
before the committee on foreign relations it
is thought, may get that extremely frank
and fearless gentleman into trouble with his
superiors in the state department He did
not hesitate to criticise the secretary of state
and to make II plain that the state depart
ment had by no means backed him up in his
efforts to see that the treaty rights of tho
United States in the Samoan Islands were
respected by the Germans The natives Of
the island, Mr.. Sewall said, were very favor.
ably impressed with our attitude towards
their country when the existing treaty was
negotiated That this treaty had ever been
negotiated Mr.. Sewall regarded as an unfor-
tunate occurance for the reason that the
United States had uniformly failed TO insist
upon tho Observance OF It's provisions by the
Germans
The most sensational statement in Mr.
Sewalls testimony refers 70 an alleged inter
national conspiracy. His utteranccs ON this
point have attracted a great deal of atten-
tion and created a decided breeze in the
state department The very comprehensive
scheme which Mr. Sewall outlined. by which
the German government was 20 take posses
sion Of Samoa and the British government
eventually Of the Iongo Islands aud HawQi
was noted with great int9rest The sirptegi,
Importance Of the latter island, which is t,
be the northern landing place Of tho cabl,
between Vancouver and New Zsnan a, cur
hardly be overcstimated AT the state dc
partment the utmost incredulity was ex
pressed as to these statements OF Mr. Sawall
A prominent official said TO a correspondent
Il do not for moment believe the Englsl
have anything TO do with the present stat
} Of affairs in Samoa. So confident Is the sec
retary upon this point that he has made rep
resentatjons 70 Lord Salisbury, through Min
ister Phelps, looking to unte1 actin on th
part Of England and the United States I,
stop the aggressions Of Che Germans and /,
J secure the enforcement Of the treaty rights o
: the Americans and ~ e..ons:ay of the sa
moan g5verIpieht Nothing definite has ye
J been received from Minister Phelps, but W,
have no doubt the English governnicnt vii
readily Join US In the effort we are mal,ipr
II is certainly to her interest to do 50, and 81,
generally acts in accordance with her inter
eat The state department really cas- Dc
nothing until congress shall direct US By
the resolutions already adopted tho mat Sci
has been taken out Of our hands; but ans
cburse which may be outlined will be most
wiliagly and cheerfully followed by the de
partnent.n
No etitieism Of Consul Sewalls testimony
could be secured from any state department
official though there is a general feeling that
his career as consul general at Apia is very
likely 10 be speedily cut short When Mr..
Sewall was asked by the committee what
effect the recent action Of the government
in sending another war vessel TO Samoa
would have on the Germans, Mr. Sewall re-
piled that the instructions Of this government
to Admiral Kimberly were but ordinary in
structions; that the Germans knew the linn
tied authority they gave, and that under
these instructions the representative OF the
United States cannot reach the real cause OF
the trouble at all
Consul Blackjack, at Samoa, sent to The
state department cablegram, via Auck
land, as follows:
Hon Thomas +. Bayard, Secretary Of State.
The fire which destroyed the German consu
late at Samoa was purely accidentally
BLAcKLocK, Consul.
LONDON, Jan. 24-The Cologne Gazette
referring 70 the recent troubles in Samoa,
asserts that England and Germany have 4
cordial understanding on the subject, anc
are acting together for tue restoration o.
good order in the islands.