New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-18
AUsTRALASIAN PROTESTS.
VIEWS ON GERMAN CONDUCT IN SAMOA
opor.ARING THAT THE BRITISH NAVY HAS
sEEN DIsGRACED-THE WAY THE GERMAN
PROCLAMATION OF WAR FELL AWAY
TO MERE ANNOUNCEMENT OF


PROCLAMATION OF WAR FELL AWAY
TO MERE ANNOUNCEMENT OF
POLICE CONTROL
San Francisco, Feb. IT, Melbourne papers
brought by steamship Mariposa relate an incident
crowing out Of the Samoan complications which
occurred at a public dinner given at the close of
the Melbourne Exposition by the Chief Commits
sjoner. Sir James Machain, TO Frank McCoppen,
commissioner for the United States. just prior to
the departure of McCoppen for che United States.
In bis speech Sir James Machain spoke of the close
fies Of relationship existing between Australians
and Americans Mr. McCoppen in -eply spoke
of the future growth of fraternal feeling between
she two countries and also touched upon tho
growth of commerce. between the two countries.
He said
aRight in the track of that commerce lie GER
tain groups Of islands which possess much interest
for both America and Australia. America is now
striving to preserve the autonomy of those islands,
but Australia is silent still and silent all lt
would be deplorable if in a give-and-taKe game
now being played by the statesmen Of Europe the
Independence Of those most interesting lsanas
should be sacrificed"
This sentiment was loudly appiauoeo oy oH
James and his guests, and Herr Wermutn' uernlan
Commissioner. got up and left the room. Mel
an ,nsult TO the host and the American Commits
s,onsr Australian and New-zealand papers criti-
else the inaction of the Home Government of Great
britain. aThe Sydney STAR of January 1s, COM
,nentinr on the Samoan trouble, says:
aTbe Government of the United States has
ex;aeutIv determined TO protect the in
arrests Of Americans in Samoa ana 10
urevent the Germans from riding rough
sbod over the patriotic leader, Matsafa, and
his followers Great Britain shows desire TO do
che same and il is to be hoped that the same ener-
getjc steps taken by President Cleveland VIII oe
followed by Lord Salisbury. The unwarrantaoie
deposition and deportation Of Mahetoa, ana tne
effort to establish tool of their own on the throne
of Samoa, added to their harsh treatment OF tne
natives and foreign residents have generaVeu
formidable rebellion against the Germans ana IL
seems more than probable that If the patr'o1c
leader Mataafa. is left TO deal with the forces oil
the usurpers, the latter viii SOON De over
thrown 1t is sincerely to pe hopeu
that the American admiral will arrive IN time
TO prevent the defeat Of that patriotic army
the forces of Admiral Kimberly be not sufficient
~ accomplish this. the British admiral in these
waters would be justified in lending his assistance
The conduct of Germany throughout this matter
IS not likely TO cause her presence in the Paclhc
to be we elcome TO the people OF Australia
sThe Auckland, New-Zealand, News Of January
12 saws: "A more humiliating and degrading
spectacle than this of British warships cowed ana
silenced in the presence of German Outrage is
hardly TO be conceived and perusai OF the IN
cidsnts which have occurred at Samoa, ana the
yaporng and violence of these people, VINO nave
shown their unftness for colonial extension oy
their rough, unreasoning and arrogant treaemen'
of inferior and weak races, is enough 10 MAKE
the blood of every British subject boil WIN snae
and iudignation Had England not been COM
mitted TO the maintenance of the treaty rights OF
Samoa, no blame could have attached 70 ner.
s il ia her conduct Is slrnsnefu and thc presence
of British warships at Samoa. silent and motion
less in the presence Of the Germans, WHO are pro
o.ea;ro IN fins high-handed and lawless fashion,
= aeorading to the British Navy. We may be
a;snosed 10 accept with grain OF salt any OF the
statements as to the events preceding which en-
apafe from writers heated in the contest but In the
face of the fact that there was peace IN samoa "l
the Germans set up a usurper on the throne ana
,be fact that the vast.maiority Of the people are
,o IN revolt against the nsurper. and the further
fact that the faith the word, the strength OF Eng
land were pledged for the maintenance of Samoan
i,derendence. the present attitude Of England In
Samoa is painful and humiiating TO the last
degree
No further mail advices oan be expected from
che Samoan Islands until March 16, when the
steamship Zealaadia win arrive with information
TO the close Of the present month In the mean
fine Admiral Kimberly, with the man-of-war
Trenton. reinforced by the man-of-war Vandaha,
will have reached Apia, and possibly the Omaha
from the Asiatic station Ncw-zeaand and Aus
traljan papers express the belief that Admiral
Kimberly will be able to re-establiSh the rights
of American citizens soon as he arrives.
John Christafferson, paymaSter OF the American
man-of-war Nipsic, returned from Samoa on the
Marposa, having obtained leave OF absence he
exuressed himself as believing that affairs would
end in war unless action is quickly taken by the
American Government. Close watch has to be
kept on the German war vessels TO prevent
any overt act on their part while the Americans
on land are compelled to put up with repeated
insults from the German portion of the popula-
ton. It is openly charged In the Islands uat
DR.. Knappe, who has charge OF the postoince'
opens the United States mails, only delivering
what he sees fit. Both American and British
citizens at Samoa have denounced Knappe FER
sonal feeling against him is bitter. 1t is even
declared that Knappe had succeeded in obtaining
the United States Governments secret cipher.
for in q number Of instances, when the Govern
ment dispatches of a private nature had been
sent through the mails. it was afterward dis
covered that they had been tampered with
After the warlike proclamation Of the German
Consul, proclamation was issued by the British
Consul on the afternoon OF January 20, in which
all the British subjects in Samoa were informed
that notwithstanding the proclamation of the
German Consul declaring martial law; they were
subject solely to the jurisdiction of the Queen
and the authority Of himself and also Of the
high Commission sitting at FIJI. Within two
hours after the English ConsnPs proclamation
had been issued, Captain Fritz had issued
counter proclamation warning British subjects
that Notwithstanding the proclamation just issued
BY the British Consul, all English subjects in
Samoa were under martial law, and that. if
they should in any way interfere with the German
authorities, they would be tried by martial law. Al
o'clock on the following morning an armed guard