Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-02


February las supplementary TO my
previous messages on the subject, 1 have
now the honor to transmit a report from
the secretary of state relating TO affairs
In Samoa
rSigned7 GROVER CLEVELAND
Mr.. Bayard to the president: AS the
question of German action and American
rights in Samoa, is under consideration
by congress, I beg leave TO transmit here
with, with view TO their being laid be-
fore congress, copies of correspondence
relating 10 affairs in Samoa, which have
taken place since January 30. This con-
sists OF a telegram to this department
from Mr.. Blackjack, vice-cOnsul
OF the United States at Apia
dated January 81, and a paraphrase
Of my telegraph instruction Of the same
date 10 our minister at Berlin, of which
a copy was also sent to the charge
q affairs at London, and my note of the
same date to Count Arco Valley. To-day
I was waited upon by the German minis
ter at this capital, who received my note
from his government which 1 transcribed
from his dIctation, and now enclose
copy Of its text.
The enclosed telegram from Mr..
Blackjack reads:
AUCKLAND, Jan. 3l.-The German
consul declares Germany at war with
Mataafa and Samoa under martial law
A pharaphTase of the note TO Minister
Pendleton is as follows:
Mr.. Bayard instructs the minister OF
the United States at Berlin to inform the
German government that advice from
Apia states that the German consul had
declared Germany TO be at war with Mat
aafa and Samoa to be under martial law.
Mr.. Bayard informed Minister Pendleton
that the German minister at this capital
under Instructions from Prince Bismarck
has already Informed their government
of a declaration of war by Germany
against Mataafa, and had accompanied
the notification with statement
that Germany would of course
abide by the agreements with America
and England touching the Samoan
islands, and under all circumstances re-
gard the rights of this government es-
tablished by treaty. But in view of adj
vices from Apia Mr.. Bayard instructs
Mr.. PendletOn to say that this govern
ment assumed that German officials
il Samoa would be instructed care
fully to refrain from interference
with American citizens and property
there since no declaration of martial law
could extend German jurisdiction so as to
include control Of Americans in Samoa.
Such could not be recognized or conceded
by this government.
The remainder of the correspondence as
transmitted by the president reads as fol-
lows:
DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
January 81.
''AIr. Bayard to Count ArcogVolley:''
Uniforms him of the receipt of tele-
gram from Mr. Blackjack and says:)
- Not knowing what construction might
be given to his authority by the German
consul at Samoa, and in said proclama-
ton Of martial law, I deemed it expedient
at once to communicate to our minister
here to inform him of the precise Ian
guage of the telegram from Mr. Black
lock and stating that a declaration
Of state of war by
Germany against Mataafa and
his party in Samoa had been
previously communicated through you,
and that Prince Bismarck, in his in
structiOns TO you, also stated that the
GeI man government would of course
abide by the agreement with America
and England with respect to Samoa, and
pay due regard in all Instructions to the
rights of those powers under the
agreement. Our minister at Berlin
was instructed to make it known
at the German foreign Office that German
officials IN Samoa would be instructed
scTupulOusly to abstain from all inter-
ference with American citizens and their
property in Samoa, and that no increase
or expansion of German jurisdiction over
American citizens or their property would
be caused by German declaration of mar
tial law, nor would such jurisdiction be
recognized or conceded by the United
United States. -
Count Arco Valley to Mr.. Bayard IN
der instructions from the prince chancel-
Tor, February l "a state of war was
declared against Mataafa by the German
squadron, which issued n proclamation
by which foreigners established in Samoa
were subject to martial law. Interna-
tional law would not prevent such
measure, but as Prince Bis
marck is of the opinion that our military
authority has gone too far in this |
instance the military commander |
has received telegraph orders to with !
draw part of the proclamation concern |
ing foreigners. In the negotiation with |
Alataafa our consul at Samoa has asked |
that administration of the Islands of |
Samoa might be temporarily handed over |
TO him, which demand not being in con- |
sonance with our previous promise re- |
garding the neutrality and independence |
Of Samoa. DR.. Knapp has been ordered |
by telegram to withdraw Immediately
this command -
WAR IMPROBABLE.
BERLIN, Feb. The North German |
Gazette referring TO the reports from
Samoa says the declaration of war in an
sense on the part of Ger
man consul or commanding officer in
Samoa is improbable; first, because no
to that effect have been given
by the government, and second, because
there is no opponent in the islands
against whom war could be de-
,laTed. Tamasese is q friend of Ger
many. Mataafa is not recognized by
Germany. To declare war against him
would be tantamOunt to recognizing his
sovereignty. The German forces may,
IN a basis of self-defense and reprisals, |
be engaged in actual warfare, which,
however would not involve the conse-
luences of an international war When
some years ago the German officer |
Schmidt was put to death by the Carlists,
nobody dreamed of declaring war against
he friendly government of Spain