Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-01-17

the whole blame on an American named
Klein. Bayard recommends that the Ss'
moans be allowed to settle the matter by
electlng King by popular vote.
WASHINGTON, January 16.-The Presi.
dents two messages in regard to affairs in
Samoa and Hayti were laid before the Sen
ate and referred with the accompanying
documents to the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations.
The correspondence opens with letter
from Mr.. W. Blackjack, Vice-Consul of the
United States at Apis, giving record OF
current events in Samoa from November
to q. They gave an account of the fights
between the rival factions and the vice.
consul's views on things as they transpired
from day to day.
Then follows the instructions to Admiral
Kimberly from Secretary Whitney con-
tanned in the subiolned cablegram, January
IL, 1889:
Commander Mullsn, of the NipsIc, tele-
graphs by way of Auckland, New Zealand,
that a force was landed at Samoa from the
German feet, which resulted in an engagement
between the troops of Mataafa and the Ger
man forces and the defeat of the latter. He
reports that the Germans, in retaliation, bom-
ba-ded towns, ,disregardlng protests and neutral
rights, and that the property and lives of
American citizens are in danger. He strongly
urges the sending of reiuforcementS. The
German Government claims that the German
forces were first attacked, and that war now
exists between Germany and that portion of
the natives of Samoa engaged in the attack
upon the Germans.
GERMANY ASKS COOPERATION.
The German Government invites this Gov
lernment, in the common interest, to join in
establishing order in Samoa, giving assurance
of careful respect for our treaty rights. The
United States Government is willing to CO.
operate in restoring order in Samoa on the
basis of full preservation of American treaty
rights and Samoan autonomy as recognized
and agreed to by Germany, Great Britain and
the United States and has so informed the
German Government. You will at once pro-
ceed to Samoa, and extend full protection and
defense to American citizens and property.
You will consult with the American Vice Con-
sui, examine his archives and otherwise inform
yourself as to the situation and all recent oc-
currences. Protest against the subjuCauion
and displacement of the native Government of
Samoa by Germany as in violation of positive
agreement and understanding between treaty
powers, but inform the representatives of the
German and British Governments of your
readiness to cooperate in causing all treaty
rights to be respected and in restoring peace
and order on the basis of a recognition of
Samoan rights TO independence, endeayor to
prevent extreme measures against the Samoans
and to bring about peaceful settlement. If
such arrangement can be made upon that basis
you will report the same for approval and YOU
will inform the Government as soon as possible
after your arrival in Samoa of the condition of
affairs and the prospect Of peaceful adjust
ment, and whether Germany was acting i'm
partially between the opposing forces when the
late conflict occurred.
AN AMERICAN NAMED KLEIN.
On January u Secretary Bayard ad-
dressed communication to Count Arco,
the German Minister to the United States,
In reply to a statement giving the German
version of the Samoan difficulty. The
statement of Count Arco is substantially as
follows:
The German forces were landed in Samoa
after the German commander had given notice
of his intention to the commanders of the
American and British men-of-war, the reason
Tor landing being that some German planta-
tions were in danger. Upon landing the Ger
mans were attacked by the Samoans under the
command of Klein, an American citizen, and
lost 30 killed and wounded. A state
of war is therefore declared by Ger
many, and as an American is alleged
TO have been in command of the
attacking Samoan force, Count Arco is in
strucbed TO make complaint to the United
States. The treaty rights of the United States
and all the rights of the treaty powers shall be
respected under all circumstances. The Ger
man Government begs the United States to
Join them in active way to restore calm and
quiet.
In response Secretary Bayard says that
he at once communicated to him (the CounD
on becoming aware of the allegations that
the Samoan forces are led by an American
named Klein, that he had no knowledge
whatever nor reason to believe that Klein
was citizen of the United States, and con-
tinues:
MUST MAINTAIN NEUTRALITY.
was certain that he was not, and never had
been, in any way connected with its public
service, nor acting under color or pretense of
its authority. The instructions given to officials
Of this Government at Samoa have never
deviated from those made public, and which
were well known to Germany and Great Britain,
to maintain neutrality in Samoan affairs and |
confne their action to good offices in the main-
tenance of peace and order in those regions |
and securing protection for American citizens |
and their interests. |
The Secretary says that before he received !
the German instructions, orders had been |
given by the President looking to the pro-
lection of citizens of the United States and |
their property, and that it was with entire |
readiness that he accepted the invitation of |
that the United States should |
'join in an active way to restore calm and |
Iuiet in those islands," The Secretary
urther says:
l received also with expressed satisfaction
-our assurance of the intentions of YOUR Gov
,rnment to maintain and carefully respect the
" ri a1ln nir
and this, as stated TO YOU neces-
arily included respect for the existence of |
samoan autonomy and independence, which is
he basis of the three treaties made with the |
United States, Germany and Great Britain,
he first named being earliest in date
The protocols of the conference on Samoan
fairs held in this city IN tbe summer of. 1887,
W the representatives of the United States
Germany and Great Britain will disclose that
Llthough the conference did not produce an
.greement as TO complete plan of government
or that community, nevertheless on certain
POINTS all three Governments conceded, and
me of these was the free election by the
;amoans according to their own will and GUS
ON of king.
AN ELECTION RECOMMENDED.
1t would seem most opportune if such an
lection could now practically be held, and 1 |
eel assured that it would do much toward
nding the turbulent and bitter discomfort
which has led to the shocking internecine war
hem in deeply regrettable conflict with Ger
nan forces, which is sincerely deplored by the
United States.
Rear Admiral Kimberly, commanding our
avail forces in the Pacific, has been ordered to
roceed in his flagship, the Trenton. to Apia
nd have great confidence in his wisdom and
discretion, as well as that of the
aval commanders of the other national YES
els, which have been sent by their respective
Governments to the Samoan waters, to promote
satisfactory arrangement. and take it for
ranted that the same spirit of comfy and per-
option Of the equal rights of all three treaty
'Awers which induce your Government to
uFite the active cooperation OF the United
Il ktes in restoring law and order in Samoa.
VII cause instructions embOdying the same
principles of friendly justice and consderate
moderation in framing plan of settlement to
e sent to the German officers in command of
be Imperial forces in that region.
There is no obscurity in the several treaties
nd none whatever in the understanding pro-
osed by the United States and first arrived at
etween the treaty powers in June, 1856, and
nce then from time to time set forth in their
On January IL last the views of this Govern
rent we're fully conveyed to the Government
{ Germany by my instruction of that date to
ur Minister at Berlin and have since that time