Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-28
A DEFINITE POLICY WANTED.
Secretary Whitney's Remarkable Letter
to Secretary Bayard on Samoan Aaffairs.

Secretary Whitney's Remarkable Letter
to Secretary Bayard on Samoan Aaffairs.
Secretary Whitney sent to Secretary Bayard
on Saturday the following dispatch, dated
Auckland, New Zealand, Jan. s, from the COM
mander of the man-of-war Nipsic: Three Ger
man war ships at Apia threaten to disarm
Mataafa; landed at Lalengo to prevent
Mataafa's retreat. Engagement followed.
Germans lost twenty killed, thirty wounded.
Germans swear vengeance; Smelling and burn
ing native villages. Neutral property not re-
spected- Protests dsregarded American
property in danger. Consul reports American
in boat flying American flag seized in Apia har-
Dor by armed German boat, but released after
investigation. German captain says no flag
was shown. State affairs so serious request
additional force. Remain at Auckland three
| weeks"
In transmitting the dispatch Secretary Whit
| ney stated that the Navy department able
| to send Immediately two additional vessels to
Samoa in response to the request expressed in
| the dispatch of the commander of the Nipsic,
and had given directions that they be made
| ready to receive sailing orders. Secretary
stated that he would be pleased to strengthen
the force at the Samoan islands by these and
other vessels OF the Pacific squadron if any use
| full purpose is served thereby. Continuing,
Secretary Whitney wrote: IF, however, the
purpose OF the German government. now made
entirely clear imposes no duty upon the Off
| GERS OF the squadron, to strengthen the naval
| force at those islands would only place the Of
ficers under irritating conditions, with no duty
to perform, and would in all probability give
rise to trouble. The Nipsic is entirely adequate
| for the protection of our consulate. and as an
asylum for non-combatants entitled to the pro-
| lection OF our government. In view of the
critical situation at the Samoan islands it seems
to the department that the officers of the squad
ron, If further vessels are to be dispatched,
! should receive instructions of a definite char
acter as to their duty in the premises.
From the correspondence heretofore held
| between the Department of State and the
German government, and from the reports
| received from our naval officers and the con-
sular agency at the island, it appears clear that
the conquest of these islands is intended by the
German government. in the interests of a COM
! mercial company, and is being consummated
by overt acts, which are multiplying day by
day. There Is no longer any other pretext
upon which can be explained the interference
of the German men-of-war in the contest in
| progress upon the island.
Il apprehend the officers of the navy will not
understand. without definite advices to that
effect, what their duty may be under the cir
| cumstances as they are developing Our ante
| cedent relations to this group of islands and to
| the Sandwich islands have been of an excep-
tional character and will be likely to give rise
to doubts in the minds of the officers as to their
! uutv eAlstlflS cOnultlOnS. On those two
/ groups OF islands, by treaty, harbors have been
reserved for the use of the navy of the United
| States; and as to the Samoan group, the three
! governments. Germany, Great Britain, and the
| United States, have, up to recent date, acted
together upon the theory ofmutual cooperation
| IN preserving the autonomy of the people of
| the Samoan Islands.
| "a harbor at Samoa will become of national
! consequence to US in the future as a naval
power. but if the islands are to go under the
dominion OF Germany it would cease to be of
use. The department has hitherto directed
| the officers of the squadron to act in accord
ance with the instructions which the consular
1 agent at Samoa shall receive from the Depart
ment of State, but in view of the late advices
and this request for an additional force the
| department desires to be advised whether it is
the purpose OF the government to announce
any policy regarding the Samoan group, of
which the officers should be advised"
| SECRETARY wHITNEY's LETTER TO CHAIRMAN
| HERBERT.
In his letter to Chairman Herbert. of the
House naval committee, which was made pub
lie late Saturday, Secretary Whitney inclosed
copy Of his letter to Secretary Bayard request
ing the announcement of definite policy on the
Samoan question. Continuing, Mr. Whitney
refers to an inquiry in letter from Mr.. Her
| bert as to the necessity for increased appro-
priations for the Navy department in view of
the Samoan situation, and says: This inquiry,
| upon its face, seems to put upon this depart
ment the responsibility of estimating for DOS
slble expenditures arising out of conditions
which 1t cannot anticipate. Until decision is
reached as to the policy of this government
regarding the independence of the Samoan
group OF islands, no judgment can be formed
! upon the subject Of possible expenditures. Up
to the present time the department is not aware
| that we have had any national policy upon the
subject. Neither the Monroe doctrine nor any
other expression OF national policy is under
stood to apply to the islands of the Pacific
| One by one they have been taken without in
reference from us. If there is to be no new
departure affecting this group of islands, con-
ceive that the department is quite able now to
perform every duty arising out of the existing
| conditions. Unless there is a conflict between
| the policy of this government and that of some
other powor differences will doubtless be har-
monized and no extraordinary expenditures
| will be called for. Having brought to the at
| tention OF the appropriate department the cir
cumstances specially within the observation of
| this department seeming to call for definite in
structions to its affairs, and the whole matter
having subsequently been laid before Congress
| by the President it would be preferable that
this department should not anticipate condi-
| tions beyond its authority and control"
| Secretary Bayard has made no direct response
| to Secretary Whitneys letter regarding
! definite policy on the Samoan question. 1t is
understood, however, that the Presidents ac-
| ton in referring the matter to Congress was
1 Ddseu W d ueSree upon the points
made in Secretary Whitney's letter. In answer
| to an inquiry on the subject Secretary Whitney
said: There is no antagonism between the
| State department and the Navy department in
| this matter. For the protection of the naval
| officers who are at Samoa, or who may be sent
| there, asked for definite statement of policy
| for their guidance. and on the 18th instant the
| President referred the whole matter to Con-
| gress, and there it rests.
BISMARCK SAYS GERMANY AND ENGLAND AGREE.
| In the debate on the East African bill. in the
reichstag on Saturday, Prince Bismarck said
~ deny the suggestion that we have any inten-
ton to proceed against the sultan in Zanzibar
| in opposition to the wishes of England Also
| in Samoa in the fullest accord with
| England, and advance hand i'll hand with her.
| We are absolutely resolved to be one with the
English government and to uphold the unity
we have shared with the English in Africa
The North German Gazette says advices from
| San Francisco show that the chamber of COM
merce there is the active element in the oppo-
sition to Germany's policy in Samoa The anti
German feeling is heightened by the action of
| Mr.. Sewell, the American consul at Samoa
There is no conflict between Germany and
America. 1T only with Sewell and the Ameri-
| can officials in Samoa who are anxious to cause
complications.
The Pestter Lloyd and other Hungarian
papers, in discussing the Samoan question,
favor American opposition to Germany's en-
| croachments.
A CIRCULAR FROM THE GERMAN CONSUL AT SAMOA.