Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1889-02-08

1t is understood that Consul-G General Sew.
all who has been detained in Washington for
some time by the senate foreign relations
committee, expected to leave on Friday or
Saturday for Samoa. Secretary Bayard was
shown the dispatch from Auckland, stating
that Germany had given notice that all yes
sells arriving at Samoa will be searched for
contraband goods. He said the department
had received a dispatch from Consul Black
lock stating that war had been declared
against Mataafa, and that martial law had
been proclaimed by the German consul at
Ap'a. He did not know whether the state of
martial law referred to included all of Sa-
moa or only Apia. Reference was
made to the criticisms of the de-
partment Of state, and the secretary said: II
would like the gen lemen who have been
iticising everything done by the state
department to show one instance in which l
have broken the law or permitted it to be
violated. l do not know of such an instance.
There has been great deal of misrepresenta-
tion, and in time my countrymen will see
that the state department has done every
thing that could be done.n
81 see," continued the secretary, 'that Mr..
Sherman stated in the senate that no Ameri-
can had been injured in Samoa. That is 80,
and have yet to learn that any American has
been injured OF any of their rights as defined
by law and treaty taken away. Our policy
has been fixed and st ady in the direction Of
the preservation of American rights. The
German government has constantly given
assurances that Germany would not violate
any American rights, and Prince Bismarck
in his last letter to Count Arco Valley re-
news bis assurances tn It Germany will
scrupulouslly respect these rights. The
department cannot stop the fighting in
Samoa; we cannot prevent val commercial
companies quarrelling and fighting. 1t is
not for us to try and give every country
stable government"
Secretary Bayard said that he had not vet
received the proposition which Count Arco
Valley had informed him Prime Bismarck
had sent for conf renee between Germany
and the Unite1 States in regard to Samoa,
lie could not, therefore, say whether or not it
was for an entirely new negotiation or for
renewal of the conference suspended about
year ago, at which the secretary said he had
endeavOred to bring about an understanding
between Germany and the United States to
better the condition Of the unhappy natives
A gentleman who is well acquainted with
Samoan affairs said that mat ers had
reached very serious state, and he would
not be surprised to hear that conflict had
taken place between the Germans and the
Americans The natives had bea. en- the Ger
mans repeatedly, and, according to the Auck-
land dispatch (which he regarded as entirely
ralIable), Germany now proposed to whip
them by preventing arms being sent in. The
newspaper read by Americans had been sup
nVNd fIn A-I-..
control of the police Of Apia The American
residents contributed to the fund for the
support of the municipal police, and it was
bad enough to have them under the direction
OF IamaseSe, but under German control was
infinitely worse. He said it might appear
an unusual and bold thing for us to say that
we would protect the independence of coun-
try far away but our national honor and
our obligations required that we should come
to It,
Assistant Secretary Rives, who has been
the medium Of communication at the de-
partment on all foreign matters announces
that no more information in regard to af-
ia rs in Samoa will be given out at the state
department at present Hereafter all CORES
pondence on that subject he said, will be i'm
mediately submit to congress and its
publication will then be q matter for that
body to det rhine. In the senate the Samoan
amendments as adopted read:
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, $500, 900, or 50 much thereof
as may be necessary to be expended under
the direction Of the president, this appropri-
alton to be Immediately available For the
survey, Improvement and occupation of the
bay and harbor of Pagopago In the island of
Tutuila, Samoa, and for the construction of
the necessary wharves and buildings for
such occupation and for coaling station
therein, under the direction of the president,
100000 this appropriation to be immediate
ly available.
1t is announced that the Union iron works
at San Francisco, have received a dispatch
from Secretary Whitney ordering them to
get the new cruiser Charleston ready for sea
within twenty days if p-ssible at no matter
what extra cost.
Advices from Samoa state that the Ger
man officials have given notice that all YES
sells arriving there will be searched for arti-
cleS contraband of war. They have sup
pressed the Samoan Times. A passenger ON
the British steamer Walnut, who vi tied
Mataafas camp, was placed under arrest,
but was subsequently, released in comph-
ance with demand of the British consul.
A proclamation has been issued, placing the
Apia police force under German control.
Mataafas followers number 6000 They
are strongly intrenched, and other Samoans
are rapidly joining them. Upon the arrival
of the steamer Richmond she was boarded
and searched by the Germans
1t is not expected that German military
operations In Samoa will commence until
sufficient re-enfr rcements are sent to the
i.lands. At present there are at Samoa
three German war ships, with an available
landing force of 300 men.