The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-02-19

A Determined Attitude Taken in
the United States.
BISMARCK BACKS DOWN.

created a general cutlery from one
end Of the United States to the
other.
Prince Bismarck, in an official dis
patch to Secretary Bayard, stated
that the Samoans had made IAN IN
provoked attack under the leader
ship of an American named Klein"
upon the Samoans. Bismarck then
stated that I've shall carry on the
contest which has been forced
upon US"
On February LIST, the day that
news Of martial law at Samoa came
from Auckland, the following tele-
gram was received, at the State De
partmeut, from Berlin: Prince
Bismarck is of the opinion that our
military authority has gone too far
in this instance, the military com
mauder has received Geographic
orders to withdraw this part of his
proclamation concerning foreigners.
In negotiating with Mataafa our
Con "a ST. CallJa mas asked Jhat the
administration Of the islands of Sa
moa might be temporarily handed
over TO him, which demand not
being in conformity to our previous
promises regarding neutrality and
Independence of Samoa, Mr.
Knappe, the German Consul at Sa-
moa, has been ordered by telegraph
TO Withdraw Immediately his de-
mand."
On February 4th the Department
Of State received from Bismarck q
proposition for a contin lance Of the
conference held in " ashington IL
1887, the sessions to )e held IN Der
lin. This proposition vas e@read IN
In the House the sum Of 100000
was appropriated for the establish
ment OF a coahng station at Pango
PangO.
The q. S. S. BIohican sailed for
Samoa, via Panama, on February
9TH The Navy Department Is nego
tiating for the Immediate shipment
Of 5000 tons of coal to Pango Pango
harbor. the exclusive use of which
htlOLAS 10 tE2t NlAlbC0 oUdI6S.
On February ID Consul-General
Sewall had made preparations to
leave for Samoa by the Alameda,
when he was cotifed by the State
Department to delay his departure.
On February 9TH he was notified
that his resignation would be accept
able on the ground that his views
were not IN harmony with those OF
the Administration. Mr.. SeWall
stated that he regretted this because
the Germans In Samoa had stated
that they had power enough TO
effect his removal, and he was now
afraid that the Samoans would be-
ieve that Germany could control
America. The reason for this action
was on account Of the testimony Mr..
Sewall gave before the Senate Com
mittee on Foreign Relations. He
was under oath to tell all he knew,
and did so. Mir. Sewall, in an inter
view, said: Il believe that the de-
position Of Mahetoa was determined
upOn before the conference of the
Powers began and that ii was the
German intention to carry out the
policy it had decided upon regard
less OF that conference. The pur-
pose of Germany Is to secure con
troll Of Samoa in defiance of the sol
emn and repeated assurances 1t had
given our Government.
Furthermore. / believe that Lord
Salisbury is a party to this scheme
and that the movement against Sa
moa Is only the precursor of an
Anglo-German attempt TO secure
supremacy In the Hawaiian Islands"
This last opinion Of Mr. Sewall's
Is shared by great many leading
statesmen In the United States.
Consul General Sewall retires with
the sympathy and good viii of nine
tenths Of she American people. Sen
atoT FRYE in the Senate said: Let
me tell the Senators that they have
in the committee the testimony of
Consul-Geueral Sewau, and while he
is a Democrat and without political
sympathy with me. or / with him. /
viii say ne has acted his part in Sa-
moa with an intelligence that Is
seldom exhibited by American Con
suls abroad, and with fidelity to his
people, and TO the obligations of his
country 20 these cOnhding native
Samoans. worthy OF very high praise
7 know of no man ID the United
States to-day TO whom / would in
trust the interest Of the United
States in Samoa with more conf
deuce than I would TO COnsul-Gen-
eraI SewaM and l hope when the
administration changes, II he Is still
IN Office, the administration viii per
NIT him 10 remain there
On February Sth. the President
transmitted 10 Congress the pro
poSal Of Bismarck for a resumption
Of the conference on the basis OF
native independence. and equality Of
rights among the treaty powers, and
the Presidents response. Secretary
Bayard says the governments Of
Germany and Great Britain have
consented 10 she publication of the
protocols Of the last convention. In
his acceptance of Bismarck's pro
pOsal Bayard requests q truce, and
that German officers at Samoa be dI-
rected to cease beliCereut opera
tious. pending q decision Of the con
ference.
The Uows Of SewaLt's recall was
received with intense satisfaction in
Berlin. where the press urged also
the recall OF the English Consul at