New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-23

king. and to exercise supreme control over the
islands
Now there are indications in the diplomatic
correSpondence that point unerringly to this
corclus;on Prince Bismarcks memorandum
If september. 1887 practically excludes au-
tonomy, and urges the necessity Tor foreign in
teryention and permanent administration. He
dismisses Secretary Bayard's plan for the gov
ornment Of the islands as impracticable, and
refers to his own alternative as the herman
English proposition" England ana Germany
then, were in accord at the conference at which
some tentative agreement was reached ana
Secretary Bayard was in minority That
agreement must have been one which orig
mated with Germany and, consequently, was
a comnromise in her favor 1t is Germany,
n,oreover which has invited the United States
AZ this iunoture to unite with her in establish
inc order in Samoa. Admiral Kimberly was
not dispatched to the islands uaul Prince Bis
marcIs had solicited the joint action oil the
Powers, He was then instructed to cooperate
with the German and English admirals in Sc
curing recognition of Samoan independence
To what conclusion can this point save par
ticipation in some farce by which KING snail
he nominally elected and then left absolutely
dependent upon German support we sus-
nect that provision for some such burlesque
performance was made in the secret arrange
ment to which Secretary Bayard assented
Tbere is room for division OF opinion re-
Snectine the commercial importance OF the
islands. the bearings of the Monroe Doctrine
and the wisdom of American intervention in
the first instance, in what was apparently a
Fnropean ENHANCEMENT. But 1T cannot be
doubted that National honor is now involved
in these complications. II was In open deh'
ance of treaty engagements that Germany took
possession of the islands, deposed one KING and
set up another as puppet; and the TACT thae
these outrages were committed at the moment
when a conference had been called ON the basis
Of the naturalization of Samoa and it's absolute
exemption from foreign Intervention convert
cd that usurpation of power into deliberate
affront to the United States. There ought to
have been n naval demonstration in 1887 when
Malietoa was dethroned, but the state Depart
ment preferred to stand idle, listening TO the
cuckoo song from Berlin that American rights
would be respected and that the neutrality Of
the islands would not DO dsregarded. Adj
miral Kimberly ought to have received secret
instructions to proceed to Samoa and make
decisive demand for the restoration OF the
former status and the fuldlment of Germany's
solemn obligations TO the United States. The
State Department neglected to arm him with
instructions of this nature. ID simply ordered
him to renew unavailing protests which have
been made at Washington and Samoa during
the last two years, and to consult with the high
handed German officials who are bent upon
having their own way and annexing the islands
with England's consent.
The understanding when the conference was
held was that the three Powers had equal
rights, that Samoa was to remain neutral terri
tory, and that the existing status should not DO
disturbed. Germany violated that understand
ing, and thereby affronted the dignity Of the
United States The State Department is bound
by It's own protocols, by the action Of Mr..
SewalI in Samoa, and by every consideration
Of National honor to arm Admiral Kimberly
with instructions that will mean something