Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-02-07
MH. BATES ON SAMOA.
He Reviews tho situation and
speaks About mis- official IL Report.

MT. BATES ON SAMOA.
-
He Reviews tho situation and
speaks About Hsis official ~ eport.
WAsuiNaToS, Feb. g. George Il. Bates
Of Delaware, late United States commi5-
sionsr Of Samoa, was to-day asked by an
Associated Press reporter whit, In his
opinion, would be the probable effect
upon the policy of our government OF
Prince Bismarok's recent orders to the
German consul ut Samoa and the poIa-
mander of the German fleet. He enid:
~ do not see why the more recent diB-
patoheD from Germany should affect the
attitude Of the United Etatsa. Tie pro-
clamation Of martial law and the assnmp.
ton OF the direct administration Of affairs
IN Samoa by the German consul which
are now reported TO have been dscnunte-
nanced by Prince Bismarck were not the
gravemen OF the troubles there, which ex-
cited the attention OF the President and
Congress. Those harsh measures were
determined upon aud reported long after
tho eubjact had been referred to Con-
greas with the Recommendation Of action
by that body. These measures did not
cause public indignation in this country,
they only aggravated it. The interposition
OF Congress was invoked by previous
aggressions o. the local German officials
aud reBidents there, the disregard of the
understanding expressed and implied,
upon which oil our negotiations with
Germsny have proceeded, and the evident
disposition OF that power to absorb the
group without further consultation with
us. With respect to these matters there
is as yet no sign Of any concession, IN
less II be the proposition published this
morning for conference a. Berlin. In
my Judgment the restoration Of the status
quo ought to be condition precsden. to
any further negotiations and involves,
among other things, the reassembling OF
the conference at Washington.
A SLIGHT AND A COMPLAINANT.
''It seems to me that Prince Bisnlarck's
proposal to remove tina negotiations to
Berlin involves both slight aud COM
plimsnt to our Secretary of Srats--n
slight because he was our representative
hero, and could bs present as such no.
where else; compliment, because il
would indicate that In the conference,
the proceedings OF which ore as yet un-
published, he 6xcslled in diplomacy tho
German and English representatives ooTa-
bined.
"But even If Germany's disclaimer
were broad enough to oover the whole
subject matter involved in the Ptesidsnt's
communication to Congress, past expert
encs warns us net TO be too quick in re.
lying upon assurances from Berlin as IN
dicatiDg the course Of events In Samoa.
When the German flag was raised there
oontemporaneously with Tamssese's re-
bellion the act was solemnly disavowed
by Bismarck as soon as reported and yet
the flag continued to fly until our flag was
raised by Consul Greenbaum, months
afterwards.
1.-THE successive violation by German
local officials in Samoa of assurances
made to this government indicate either
gross characterization, which is entirely
contrary 10 oil our notions of German
discipline, or else some underatandinp
exist5 by which the consul there Is
authorized 10 not on his own RESPONSE
bility according to his views OF the no.
cessitieB Of the case and to excsed his in.
structions, as reported hese"
"WhAt do you Thick OF the declaration
or war by Germany against Samoan"
WHEN IT WOULD IN USELESS.
''ItH prosecution seems to me utterly
inconsistent with the restoration Of the
former status. II Germany goes on with |
war 10 Samoa It will ba useless to have q
conference at all. OF courBs Germany |
can ultimately drive the shmoRns into the
sea and take the islands by conquest.
This would be no less the destruction of |
Samoan autonomy than IL it were done
by gradual enoroackments. If we COZ
fer we should insist on an absolute halt
II We consent to less than this we may as
we'll wash our hands Of the whole bust. |
ness and abandon all idea of preserving
The neutrality of those islands"
"Your report on Samoa has frequently
been alluded TO Of late. Ia IL true that
portion of 1t was suppressed in the copy
furnished Congress? II has been slated
hat this was because you were instructed
10 report facts, not opinions"
The newspaper suggestion that it was
because it stated opinions not
acts, will be better answered whsn IL Is
published, II that Is done hereafter.
lave not stated, nor can do SO, what It
and no one in the state depart
mont would be likely to aulhoriga any
Iuoh statement, in view Of ray inAtruc-
ions ard the facts OF the oass. was
directed to report upon the political con.
iition of the islands, and the remedies
Vhich and the other commissioners pre-
'osed-
REPORT DENIED
"Thls did, supporting my conelu-
ioas with the reasons which seemed to
ne pertinent. The supposition that l
arnished to any one statement OF opln.
OnS embodied In the unpublished por-
ION of my report ia without sny fouuds-
ion. lido not know Senator Frye and I
o not think have ever seen him. The
enator obtained what is termed tho con-
Dental copy from the Secretary Of State i,
imselt, as he distinctly states in his
pssoh upon the subject"
The Grandest Bali Of tho Age.