The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-01-27
The Secretary Of the Navy Prepared
to do His Duty When the
Order is Given.
ONLY WAITING THE WORD
European Nations Have Annexed ths
Pacific Island While the United
States Has Looked on and
Said Nothing.

committee, wrote q letter 10 Secretary
Whitney asking for any recent develop
ments in the Samoan matter and for copy
OF Whitneys letter OF the 9th asking the
state department TO announce n definite
policy on the Samoan question. Whitney's
reply is Just made public. lie says: "No
news has been resolved from the comman-
ders in Samoa later than conveyed in the
press dispatches of the l7th." The letter
continues: "Your letter also contains the
following request: 4 should be glad 20
know II any further enlargement OF the
appropriations OF your department should
be made in view OF existing conditions
This inquiry, upon its face, seems to put
upon this department the responsibility of
estimating the possible expenditures
arising out Of conditions 1t cannot antici-
pate. Until a decision Is reached as TO the
policy OF this government regarding the in
dependenceof Of the Samoan group of islands.
no judgment can be formed upon the sub
jeet Of possible expenditure. Up 10 the
present time this department is not aware
that we have had any national policy upon
the subject. Neither the Monroe doctrine
nor any other expression OF national policy
Is understood 10 apply TO the is ands OF the
Pacific. One by one they have been taken
without interference by the United States
IL there is ~ be no new departure affecting
this group Of islands, | conceive the de-
partment 10 quite able now 10 perform
every duty arising out OF existing condi-
tions. Unless there Is conflict between
the policy of this government and that of
some other power, wifferences will doubt
less be harm0nized, and no extraordinary
expenditures will be called for. Having
brought TO the attention OF the appropriate
department the circumstances specially
within the observation O. this department
seeming to call for definite instructions 10
officers, and the whole matter having sub
seQuently been laid before congress by the
president, II would be preferable this de-
partmeDt should not anticipate conditions
beyond Its authority or control"
The following is the full text OF Whit
ney's letter TO Bayard:
NAVY DEPARTMENT WASHINGTON,
Jan. 8, 1SS9.-Sir:-Enclosed herewith |
send copy Of a dispatch Just received by
wire from the captain of the "Nipsic,"
now at Samoa This department is able TO
send Immediately two additional vessels to
Samoa In response 10 this request, and had
given directions that they be made ready
to receive sailing orders and would be
pleased to strengthen the force Mt the
Samoan Islands by these and other vessels
of the Pacific squadron where any use for
that purposes Is 10 be served thereby. IL,
however, the purpose OF the Gers gov
ernment, now made entirely clear, imposes
no duty upon officers Of the squadron
TO strengthen the naval force ut those Is
lands, II would only place the officers un-
der Irritating conditions with no duty TO
perform and would in all probability give
rise to trouble. The Nipsic is entirely ade-
Quate for the protection Of our consulate
and as an asylum for non combatants
anfitlad A tn thu prafapttAn nf nttr Uavarn-
ment In view of the critical situation at
the Samoan Islands. II seems 10 this depart
ment that the officers of the squadron, II
further vessels are TO be dispatched. should
receive instructions 0fa definite chaI acter
as 10 their duty In the premises. From the
correspondence heretofore held between
the department Of state aud the German
ceived from our naval officers and
consular agency at the islands, IL
appears clear the conquest Of those
islands Is Intended by the Gera an
government In the interests OF CONNER
cial company and 10 being consummated
by overt acts, which are multiplying day
by day. There is no longer any other pre-
text upon which can be explained the in
reference OF German man OF war in the
contest In progress upon the island of Apia
l apprehend that the officers Of the navy
will not understand, without advices 10
that effect, what their duty may be under
the circumstances AS they are developing.
Our antecedent relations TO this group of
islands and the Sand wich islands has been
OF an exceptional character, and will be
likely To give rise 10 doubts In
the minds OF the officers as 10 their duty
under existing conditions. In these
groups of islands by treaty harbors have
been reserved for the use OF the navy OF
the United States, and as 10 the Samoan
group, three governments, Germany, Great
Britain and the United States, have up TO a
recent date, acted together upon the theory
of mutual cooperation In preserving the
autonomy of the people Of the Samoan isl
ands. A harbor at Samoa will become OF
national consequence 10 the United States
In the future as naval power, but II the
islands are 10 20 under the dominion of
Germany, IL would cease TO be OF use. The
department has heretofore directed the Of
ticers OF the squadron 10 act in accordance
with the instructions which the consular
agent at Samoa shall receive from the de-
pariment OF state, but In view OF late ad-
vices, and this request for additional forces,
the department desires 10 be advised wheth-
er IL Ia the purpose OF this government 10 an
nounce any policy regarding the Samoan
group of which the officers should be ad-
yised. Very respectfully,
w. q. WHITNEY.
The dispatch from the COMMANDER Of the
Nipsic referred TO above is dated Auck-
land, Jan. 8, and was given In the Asso-
ciated Press dispatches some days ago. IL
details the happenings on the Islands and
asks for additional force.
Inquiry at the navy department this
afternoon develops the fact that Secretary
Bay ard has made no direct answer 10 Secre-
tary Whitney's letter Of inquiry as 10 the
policy OF the government Ii II under
stood, however, thar the presidents action
in referring the matter 10 congress was
based 10 a considerable degree upon the
points made IN Secretary Whltney's letter.
In answer 10 an inquiry Secretary Whit
ney this afternoon said: "rhere Is no An
tagOnism between the state department
and the navy department In this matter +"
| Chalrman uefheri- Of the hnnaa naval