The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-02-06
ON SAMOAN MATTERS.
Late Commissioner Bates In
terviewed
UPON GOVERNMENTS POLICY.
He Puts No Faith in Bismarck-what
the United States Should
Demand.

WAsHISeToN, February George
81. Bates, late { United States Commits
sioner. was asked. by an Associated
Press reporter what, in his opinion
would be the probable effect npon the
policy of our government of Prince
Bismarck's recent order to the German
consul at Samoa and the commander
of the German feet. He said: Il do
not see why the more recent dispatches
from Germany should effect the at
titude of the United States. The
proclamation of martial law and the
assumption of the direct administration
of affairs in Samoa by the German
consul, which are now reported to have
been discountenanced by Prince Bis
maIck, have not been the gravest of the
troubles there which excited the atten-
ton of the President and Congress-. The
interpretation of Congress was invoked
by the previous aggressions of local
German officials and residents there.
Their disregard OF the understanding
expressed and implied, upon which all
our negotiations with Germany have
proceeded, and the evident disposition
of that power
TO ABSORB THE GROUP
without further consultation with the
United States, with respect to these
matters, there is as yet no sign of any
concession, unless it is the proposition
published this morning for confer
ence at Berlin. In my judgment, the
restoration of stala quo ought to be a
condition pecedent 10 any further ne
gotiations, and involves, among other
things, the Resembling of the confer
ence at Washington. 1t seems to me
that Premier Bismarck's proposal to
remove the neg citations 10 Berlin is
both a slight and compliment to our
Secretary of State. A slight, because
he was our representative here and
could be present as such nowhere else.
A compliment because it would indi-
cate that the conference proceedings,
which are as yet unpublished, excelled
IN diplomacy both the German and
English representatives combined.
But even if GermaDy's disclaimer were
broad enough to cover the whole sub
ject in the matter involved in the Pres
ldent's communication to Congress the
past experience warns US not 10 be
quick in relying upon
ASSURANCES FROM BERLIN
as indicating the course of events in
Samoa. The successive viola ton, by
German local officials in Samoa of the
assurances made to this government
indicate either gross characterization,
which is entirely contrary to all our
notions of German discipline, or else
some understanding exists by which
the consul there is authorised to act
on his own responsibility, according to
his views of the necessities of the case,
and exceed his instructions, as re-
ported here"
What do you think of the declara-
ton sof war by Germany against
Samoan"
THE persecution seems to me utter
ly inconsistent with the restoration Of
the former statute. If Germanyegoes
to war in Samoa, it will be useless TO
have a conference at all. OF course,
Germany can ultimately drive thetSa-
means into the sea and take the island
by conquest. This would be no less
the destruction Of the Samoan auton-
omy than if il were done by gradual
entertainments. However, we should
insist on an absolute halt; if We con-
seut 10 less than this, we may as well
wash our hands of the whole business,
and abandon all ideas of preserving
the neutrality of those islands"
When asked If the newspaper reports
were true that part of his report on
San oa had been suppressed in the copy
furnished to Congress. Mr., Bates sad
that the query could be better answered
y EN- the port was published. He did
n feel at liberty TO comment upon
the matter,