The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1889-06-11
KING MATAAFA TO KLEIN.
A Letter From the samoan King-scenes
Behind the Curtain-The Native Po-

A Letter From the Samoan Kins-scenes
Behind the Curtain-The Native Po-
Iicy. Etc.
Thefollo ngitem are condensed from
2 letter written BY King Mataafa OF Sa-
moa TO John C. Klein, the correspondent
OF the Examiner recently returned from
Apias
NserAGI. February 6.-John G..
Klein. United States OF America:
INV Friend-Dear Sir: | write you
a TINS moment a letter OF affection, re-
rnembering the message OF encourage
-nent and counsel, and also the love you
sent me in your farewell letter when
forced TO leave Samoa on the American
1nan-oi-war 20 escape from the German
marines and sailors. 1t is always the
wish OF nv heart that we should live
together again as we did at Lauln when
ever il becomes possible TO obtain peace
IN Samoa; and in waiting Tor that time
20 arrive 1t Is always my desire TO see
YOU again when the present difficulties
have passed and when We have obtained
the object OF our desire. As to the other
things which are passing in Samoa, L
shall now tell you.
The German Consul is continu-
ally using all his efforts to the end
Of making peace with me and Samoa,
and then inducing me to drive away all
Americans and English IRON all OF Sa
moa 50 that then there would be no
white persons allowed to live in Samoa
executing Germans. easily under
stood ms designs when he wrote to me
on February >, 1889:
Samoans shall govern SamOans and
Germans shall govern Samoa and all the
Europeans in Samoa, and they (the
Germaus} shall have all power for them
selves"
did not reply to letter so full of
pride.
Nv very dear friend, l am very joyful,
and I thank Sod that the Grand Chief
Kimberley, Chief Supreme OF the Pacific
Ocean, has arrived. consider now that
NV Government will soon be established,
and that my people will again begin to
1--we. And If the President, the Senators
and Deputies OF the United States have
constantly the courage, and ii they will
strongly pursue their desires and wishes
IN the conference OF the three great
Powers. if they will not abandon Samoa
10 the Germans [for Samoa will not be
happy with them, then it will be our
desire, and be Just, that Samoa should
he placed under the protection OF the
United States, and then our Joy will be
complete.
Tie reason why the Samoans replied
10 the fire of the Germans was because
the Germans fred first and killed a
Savelii CHIEF. The soldiers OF my army
believed In the darkness that II was the
soldiers of Tamasese whom the Germans
were transporting for the purpose Of
building q fort, and so cutting off all
communication with Lauli, where | was
with mv army, and prevent my reaching
Apia. That Is the reason why you and
nv soldiers left Apia in the night, and
why thev did not send me q letter an
n0uncing that the German soldiers were
gong 10 the village, and the reason |
which caused the Germans to place |
themselves in 4 position where the Sa-
means fought with them. My soldiers |
sent me not one word to make me aware
OF their movements.
There were repeated calls in English |
by yourself and in Samoan by my sol |
diers when the boats came close to the
shore at the first river early in the night, |
asking what boats they were, and tell
ing the people in them not to come
ashore. The people never answered.
More than that, when the Germans were
on the point Of getting out Of their boats
a. Fagali. and while in the sea wading
10 shore, they began to fire at my sol
diers and continued doing so when they
reached dry ground, while the others
were throwing up a trench. 1t was then
that my men approached little and de-
manded who they were. The German
sailors answered with shots from their
guns. and It was then that they killed
the Savelii chief. 1t was not until the
Samoaus made use OF their guns that the
Germans unmasked and showed what
they were.
JOSEPH MAIIEToA MATAAFA,
King of Samoa.