Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-15
A TREATY WITH SAMOA.


A correspondent Of the Baltimore American
writes as follows: There has been considerable
controversy OF late regarding the existence or
the non-existence of a treaty between the
United States and Samoa. am prepared to
furnish proofs that such a treaty was signed by
representatives of this government and the
king OF Samoa on the 18th day of July, 1878.
On the 10th of May, 1878, left the harbor of
Panama on the United States steamship Adams,
bound for the Samoan Islands. We touched at
Nuka Hira, of the Ms-quesas group, and, after
stay Of three days, sailed straight for Apia,
on Pola Island one Of the Samoan group. We
arrived June %, 1878. It was understood aboard
ship that we were at the Samoan Islands for the
purpose of making treaty with the chiefs OF
the Samoan nation.
The treaty or protectorate was negotiated,
and on the 18th day of July party Of officers
and seamen of the Adams marched from Apia
to the village of Mamea, accompanied by the
American consul. They were received by the
deposed king and his chiefs in the council hut,
and they and the United States officers signed
paper which purported to be treaty, In
which the United States of Anerica agreed to
protect the natives and their rights, and in con-
sideration of which our government was given
one OF the islands in the group, to be used as
coaling station.
The signing of the treaty was celebrated by
jubilee and feast, in which all the natives
participated. Apia is the capital, and head
quarters of all commercial houses in the
island Here the German. American and
English consuls established, the Germans
having the largest commercial interests OF
any of the foreign powers.
1t has fine harbOr, being protected on
both sides of the entrance by coral reefs.
Toward the inland the island is mountainous,
with sloping lowland near the beach, which is
heavily timbered.
The climate is delightful, the average tenn
perature during our stay being 70 degrees at
night and so degrees during the day.
IN VERY FINE HARBoR.
On the 29th of July we sailed from Apia
under sealed orders. On the 3Oth we reached
Pago-Pago pronounced Pango-Pango), and
took possession Of that harbor in the name of
the United States as conceded by the Samoan
government. 1t is one of the finest harbors 1
have ever seen, and at very small cost could
be so fortified as to render 1t virtually impreg-
nable The entrance to the harbor is Just
large enough to admit man-of-war, the water
being from so to 100 feet in depth. There
is small island in the center of the entrance
which can be passed only on one side, a coral
reef extends from it to the main shore OH the
other side. On the 4th Of August the ships
carpenter made flag pole, which we planted
on the little island. Next day at sunrise the
American ensign was hosted to the top of the
pole and huttered in the breeze until sunset,
when it was hauled down.
On 9th of August we steamed down to Leona.
We left almost Immediately for Apia, where
we arrived on the 7th of August, and remained
until the Goth of August. when we sailed for
Valparaiso. These dates and incidents are
taken from private log, which is in my pos
session, and 1 am sure if the State depart
ment were to have the records serched care
fully something relative to this matter would
he found