New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-04
4 NATIONAL FOREIGN POLICY.
THE EARLY HISTORY OF AMERICAN RELATIONS
WITH SAMOA.
TO ne kdftor ofTAe Trtbnme


To the Edttor Of the Tribune
Sir: The interest awakened by the recent develop
nents in the Samoan Islands, and your editorials
| upon the subject induce to send you a pamphlet
published by me in 1872, entitled Reports OF Captain
f. Waterman to W. H. Webb the Islands Of the
Samoa Group"
Captain Wakeman was dispatched 10 those islands
In connection with the establishment by In 1871
Of the first line Of American-bul steamships between
San Francisco and New-zealand via Honolulu, under
mail contract with that colony, 1t being the first
and, believe, only subsidy for carrying mail
obtained by American citizen from the English.
The distance between San Francisco aud Auckland
being the longest run made by any steam line, 1t
most desirable to have a coalng station on tho route
and the barbor of Page Paso in the island Of Tutulla
ono of that group afforded very suitable one II
being about midway and the harbor Of easy entrance
with safe and convenient anchorage His visit
suited not only in the selection and purchase OF land
for wharfs and storehouses for the steamers. but
II was desirable that such property should be as much
as possible under the protection OF Government
Captain Wakeman selected lard for eoaling station
for our Navy and at the same time negotiated in be-
half Of our Government treaty fully executed and
signed by all tho chiefs Of Samoa.
These negotiations were chiefly conducted through
the agency OF a Protestant missionary then living
on Tutuila, and a NATIVE who spoke some English
It Is true Captain wakeman was not delegated or
authorized 20 act for our Government but the ma
dives expressed strong a desire to tho pro-
lection OF the United States, and it being mani
testify 10 tho interests OF the line, the captain did not
hesitate TO take the responsibility Of doing so, and
thereby the good will Of The natives and solid
advantages for our people
The treaty gave 10 our Government not only good
location In tho harbor Of Page Page for coaling
station but did so for all time to como and without
cost only requiring that tho United States flag should
fy over the promises occupied When Captain Vale
reached Honolulu his way home with tbs
treaty in hand, he found there Admiral Winslov, In
command Of the Pacific Squadron, who was so much
impressed with the importance of the treaty that he
forthwith dispatched Captain Richard W. Meade, In
command OF the United States steamer Narraganset
10 Pago Page 20 give such official sanction TO the
treaty as was proper and necessary, as IL was then
well known the Germans active In their efforts
10 obtain control In those islands The treaty
IN due time delivered by me in person to President
Grant in Washington, who expressed himself much
pleased with what had been done and promised to
lay II before the Secretary Of State.
10 In due course reached the Senate Committee on
Foreign Affairs and there lt rested and probably stl
rests 10 not being deemed by tho late senator Conk
ling then chairman Of the committee, good policy 10
disturb H. Had this treaty been then followed up
By our Government as IL should havo been, II would
not now be necessary to appropriate 100000, as is
recommended by an amendment to tho Consular and
Diplomatic bl 10 secure that which could once have
been had by simply occupying IT,
II was part Of my scheme IN establishing this
mall line TO bring 10 san Francisco portion of that
Pacific trade which has enriched the Australian
colonies particularly New-south Wales. II in
tended to make PagoPago not only port of call for
Tho steamers Of tho main line. but
for vessels that would run from Tahlta
and other Islands, connecting at Pago
Page, and thoro transferring their most valu
oble and profitable trade 10 American bottoms and
American ports. when the mail contract was made
with New-zoaland, the Ministry Of New-south Wales
held out Inducements by way Of subsidy for mall
service provided the Government OF the United States
would do likewise With this in Wow, approached
my own Government, asking for subsidy and danced
attendance at Washington during three sessions OF
Conrress At each session obtained nearly unani-
nous report from tho Post ONCE Committee Of tho
Senate favoring the payment OF the paltTy sum OF
$3.50 900 per annum. Their reports were not ac-
cepted by tho Senate, chiefly owing to naction Of
Senator Conkug senator from my own State. and the
opposition OF few Southern carpetbaSseS inc
majority vote IN nearly full Senate on each occasion
being in two sessions two and IA the third session
three votes against accepting the report Of the com
mttec.
In the meantime visited Australia and found great
Iealousv eystinr among the Colonies, each wanting
their chief port mado tho terminus OF
tho line Tho Government OF NewSouth
Wales behaved very badly IN an effort TO
Indnee mo 10 break my contract with NewZcaland.
However I mado a contract with tho colonies OF
Victoria and NewZealand, jointly TO run semi
monthly mall service making the Port OF heinourne'
In Victoria, the terminus
On nv return to this country began Immediately
TO prepare my ships for the service, but when the
Government of Victoria learned that inc congress Oh
the limited States had refused to grant mo subsidy,
4. adopted the most shameful, unheard-of and dis
honorable course ever taken by any other people
spe,ktno the English tongue, and utterly repudiated
tho contract made I'm regular and due FORM as the
document now I'm my possession Will show. a., ...,,
This ended all further eH1 h teamers after being
run for nearly two years at continuous tUSs} "euV
Withdrawn and the contract Wi.n.somt navment ~
esed by mutual eSnSsn Had our Government
pursued all this CONNECTION, Tho enteys
In encouraging an1 ProtectthS ts people. ss
Firnpean Covernments do Of theirs, our country
would have been enriched and the % slauo
OF affairs at Apla now disturbing INC @ man wnnId
OF our Government with that OF Ho' o,, cto,cr
newer bave arisen Is II not high time ou SONSrIL
mont should. adOpt and declare some S s g ~
by which II shall loo known ulat ou held abroad
Now as x wei known BY traders 20 iovis r pol,s,
ouf flag Is not respected the protests OIL oe ~ r
are not needed, the lives, business anu ma oftenfmes
merchants and traders arc eopardLea any ,n,e
univ saved fron totaI destruction by the nterpostoh
OF the officers Of friendly Pow" ~ aaairs should
hl to a. people that this S'a'e W " II WEBB.
longer continue.
Now.YorE, Jan. g. 1882
EXTREMELY QUEER CIVIL sEKt iOh-
To the Edftor Of The TrfoH"e
Sir: II there ever was one thing more tlah a''o'1er
that needed reformation and general ~
tha