Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14
WHAT BAYARD WANTS
Bayard Suggests Constitutional Gov
eminent on the Samoan Islands.
Also Native Legislature With Nal
ietOa for King.
England Believes in Allowing Ger
many Mandatory of the Islands.

or the official minutes of the conference
on Samoan affairs held IN this city Ia
1887, together with additional correspond
ence on the subject, were laid before
congress this afternoon. In his letter of
transmittal President Cle7eland says:
The governments of Germany and Great
Britain have consented to their publica
ton. The first enclosure is a telegram
from Minister Pendleton to Secretary
Bayard, dated at Berlin, February 1st, IN
which he says the statement made to
Secretary Bayard by Count Arco Valley
announcing that the German govern
eminent had rebuked its officers for the
declaration of martial law against
foreigners) had anticipated the
estatement he (Pendletonl had been
instructed to make to the German gov
ernmeat. On February 1st Secretary
Bayard wrote to Count Arco Valley, the
German minister at Washington, &C
knowledging the receipt of this advice
and sending it in advance of the verbal
note the count had read him that morn
ing. The memorandum instruction of
Prince Bismarck to the Germah minister
at Washington, read by the latter to the
secretary OF state, February 4th, is as
follows:
"The present situation in Samoa re-
garding the interests OF the three treaty
powers, renders it necessary TO renew
attempts to bring the future of
those islands to an understand
ing. The position of the three
treaty powers in the civilized world
makes it their duty to stop the bloody
combat accompanied by the barbarous
customs of those not numerous tribes, for
whose welfare, according to the judgment
of the civilized world, 1t is the duty of the
treatypowers TO provide. Prince Bismarck
in consequence, thinks it the duty of
the participating governments to put an
end, by the agreement of the treaty pow
ers, to the troubles which have originated
in Samoa by the restitution of peace
among the Samoans themselves and SO
make an end of future bloodshed
and the horrors of civil war,
conducted with barbarOus cruelty among
the natives. The best remedy seems to
be the resum DtiOn of the consultation
which took place in 1887 at Washington.
According TO the equal rights of the
TIRE atty powers, 1t seems proper place
for the negotiations should change in
regular turn. L am directed to invite the
government of the United States to a
conference regarding Samoa, to take
place at Berlin, and similar invitation
was sent to the British government.
am directed 20 declare that al suppo-
sition that Germany would not feel
satisfied with, the neutral posi-
tiOn in the Samoan islands is
unfounded as we have already declared
in the last conference. Ii is neither our
intention 10 put in question the inde
Of he Islo -
equal rights of treaty powers. We
simply desire TO create condition which
offers permanent security for bringing an
end TO bloodshed and deca pitation, and
which grants permanent safety to com
mercial interests of three treaty powers
in Samoa" On Feb. 5 h the secretary of
state sent a communication to Count
Arco Valley, stating that the president
fully shares in she desire expressed by
the prince chancellor TO bring the bless
ipgs of peace and order TO the remote and
feeble community of semi civilized peO
pie inhabiting the islands of Samoa, and
clearly recognizes the duty OF the power
full nations of Christendom to deal with
these people in spirit of magnanim
ity and benevoIence. "On behalf of the
United States government" COZ tinues
the secretary, "the president instructs
me TO express his acceptance of the pro-
posal of the government of Germany to
resume the consultation sus pended
on the Goth of July 1887, such
consultation to be renewed as 1t was IN
dertaken for the purpose of establishing
police and orderly stables of COVER
ment in the Samoan islands on the basis
of their recognized independence and
equal rights of the three treaty powers.
The sooner this conference can be re-
sumed the better. And in view of the
late deplorable scenes of bloodshed v hich
have been exhibited upon Samoan
soil, entailing deeply regrettable
loss TO Germany, it appears
essential that truce should
be forthwith proclaimed and
further aimed action should be arrested.
The assurance of Prince Bismarck is that
the paeification of the Samoan group
and the occu patton of neutral position
are his only OBJECTS. 1t is suggested in
furtherance of the desired result of a
conference that the Instructions to sus-
pend belligerent action and await the
action of such conference, should at
once be telegraphed TO the respective
officers in Samoa by the matchmaking
powers. To continue to prosecute war or
destruction and reprisai, even upon ad-
mitted provocation, would surely not be
consistent with the objects of any of the
three powers. TITS hoped, therefore, that
orders of the nature indicated will be for
Warded 70 Samoa without delay. An an
nouncement of conference between the
treaty powers, it is confidently expected,
will at ono cause a cessation of hOstili-
ties among the natives, and their speedy
al NE II i -.
long step towards harmony. Elk,
cept as the conditions may
be changed by the election of a king by
the natives, it is deemed essential that
the affairs in Samoa should remain in
statue quo, pending the conference. If
We may indulge In the hope which the
adoption of this suggestion promises for
the successful issue of conference, the
government of the United Sta. es will at
once take steps 70 be propery represent
ed at the cunferr nee in Berlin. The
statements you read 10 me- as emanating
from the German consul at Samoa
in whish he fiuds fault with
the conduct of Captain Leary, OF
Adams, and NJ. 8laoklocs, United S ,a.es
consul, as violative of the instructions OF
this governments To maintain an impartial
attitude in the conflicts in Samoa, do not
appear 70 be substantiated b. the aver
ment of any personal knowledge of the
facts. bat must be based on infOrma
tion aud belief only, or are repeated At
second hand, and must be classed as
merely hearsay evidence. THESE con-
hictiDg statements of the German consul
will be brought TO the stteution of
Capt Leary and Mr.. Blackjack, and their
reply will be communicated. Much al