New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-01
\ ohMpITGY OF CONQUEST.

1 GERMANY mas eUDtItu upOh n Noh'P'ASNf
conquest in Samoa That may seem iree
rendering of Prince Bismarck's letter to Count
Won Arco Valley, but it is fully justified by the
latest dispatches from New-Zealand. The Ger
man officials have suppressed "Ihe samoan
Timesv assumed control of the Apia PONCE
| and declared their intention Of searching every
vessel that arrives and oonfscating all prop
erty coming under the description OF contra
band Of war. They are now in full possession
of the capital, and when their military and
naval forces are increased will complete the
subjueation of the islands. The defeat of the
| German marines by the natives in December
is the pretext which they required for war
of conquest; and Prince Bsmarck's explicit
statement to his representative at Washington
discloses the aggressive policy which is to be
pursued. Germany will avenge what the Chan
cellor describes as murderous attack upon its
soldiers. Mataafa's forces comprising nearly
the entire native population, are to be defeated
at whatever cost, and the islands reduced to
condition of absolute dependence. That is the
situation which now confronts the demoralized
State Department and the American Congress.
Prince Bismarck with his usual skill at
tempts to conceal hts purposes by divering tho
attention of the United States. He has in
formed the State Department that new propo-
sition for conference has been sent to Wash
ington by mail. It would have been easy for
him to telegraph the basis of that conference.
as was done by Mr.. Bayard when Greenebaums
action was disavowed. His neglect to avail
himself of rapid means of communication shows
that be is bent upon wasting time and allow
4 l. ,tok;x IN iunnr0yo
their opportunity. While the work Of con-
quest is proceeding rapidly in the South Seas.
he listlessly proposes conference and blandly
promises 10 respect English and American in
terests and treaty rights This is an old trick
of the willy Chancellor. Diplomatic chatter as
idle as the wind blowing down a chimney Ito
use one of his favorite metaphors) preceded
the war on Denmark. He was loudest in his
protestadons Of regard for European treaty
law at the moment when he was tearing up an
international compact and violating solemn
agreements. His campaigns with Austria and
France were opened with diplomatic by-play
equally insincere. His proposal for a renewal
| Of the conference is only convenient method
OF throwing dust in the eyes Of Secretary
Bayard, who has been his credulous dupe for
| four years.
| The only basis for conferences which the
United States can accept with dignity is Sa-
moan autonomy and neutrality. That was tho
ground taken by Secretary Bayard when his
invitations were issued for the conference Of
June, 1887, and accepted by Germany and
England But as soon as the conference opened
the German Minister proposed that the islands
should be handed over to his Government, and
the English Minister expressed his assent. Sec
rotary Bayard was compelled to adjourn the con-
ference, and then the German acts Of usurpatiOn
in Samoa quickly followed. Why should the
United States be drawn into another confer
ence when the conditions under which the last
one was held were wantonly violated by both
Germany and England Those two Powers
are acting together in the South Seas, and tho
United States viii be left in a minority when
ever q conference is held.
Two courses are open to the United States.
One is policy of action with the risks which
| it involves. sThe other is policy of inaction
with whatever apparent discredit attends it..
Germany has every intention of securing alb
solute control of Samoa. 1t has become n COM
mercial depot in the South Seas, and occupies
central position in Prince Bismarck's scheme
of colonial enterprise. Samoa is to be the col
lecting and distributing point for German COM
merce in the South Seas, and will be a de-
tendency Of the Empire unless the United
States is prepared and anxious to intervene
with vigor and determination. Diplomatic
expedients such as the proposed conference viii
be of no avail. 1t is Congress that is now
armed with full responsibility for deciding
whether German usuipation is to be challenged
or condoned Are we enough concerned with
these petty disputes, FIVE thousand miles from
our Western frontier, TO take one step that is
not actually compelled by National self-respect 2