The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-01-28
POLICY SADLY NEEDED.
Secretary Whitney Says He Is
Not Advised that we Have One
REGARDING THAT SAMOAN
AFFAIR Instructions Needed = Ger.
many Intends Conquest-ImpOrt-
anee of HaFboFiug Samoa
by the United States,

| NHN SNHNNN@ NNNNNHt a
WARRINGTON, Jan, 27,-The follow
Ing letter from Secretary Whitney
Congressman Herbert was made publ
yesterday afternoon;
| NAVY DRPARTMRNT, |
| WASHINGTON, Jan, 25, 1880,
SIR-I have the honor to acknowledg
receipt OF your letter Of January "a, Il
which you request that there may b
transmitted TO the Naval Committee e
the House any recent reports from off
cers Of the vessels stationed at Samoa
Islands, showing the condition ofthingl
and the request Of the department 70
tho announcement OF q definite polio,
referred to by me In my letter OF the 2St
inst, II part OF the records OF the depart
ment,
| There are no later reports than thos
lcoples OF which were transmitted Con
gress in a message OF the President o
January 10, 1880. The communication
OF The department to the Secretary o
State, in reference to the announcement
OF q definite policy, Is contained in
letter, a copy Of which Is enclosed. You
letter also contains the following re
quest;
~ should be glad 10 know II any fur
ther enlargement OF the appropriation
Of your department should be made II
view Of existing conditlons?"
This inquiry, upon its face, seems Il
put upon this department the RESPONSE
bility OF estimating for possible expendi
lures, arising out Of conditions which i
cannot anticipate.
HAVE WE A PoLIcY.
Until decision Is reached as To thu
policy Of this Government regarding
the independence OF the Samoan grouT
Of Islands, no judgment can be formed
upon the subject OF possible expendi
tureS. Up to the present time the de
partnent is not aware that we have haf
any national policy upon the subject
Neither the Monroe doctrine nor any
other expression OF national policy 4
understood to apply 10 the islands OF The
Pacific, One by one they have been
taken without interference from US
Ifthere Is to be no new departure affect
ing this group Of islands, l conceive that
the Department is quite able now Ia
perform every duty arising out OF exist.
ing conditions. Unless this Is n conflict
between the policy Of this Government
and some other power, the differences
will doubtless he harmonized and nc
extraordinary expenditures will be
called for. Having brought TO attention
Of tile appropriate department the. cir
cumstanCes specially within the obser.
vation OF this Department seeming Ia
call for definite instructions TO It's officers
and the whole matter having subse.
quently been laid before Congress by
the President 1t would be preferable
that Ibis department should not antiCi.
pate conditions beyond It's authority OF
control. Very respectfully,
VIC. WHITNEY,
Secretary OF the Navy.
INSTRUCTIONS NEEDED.
The iollowingis the inClosure referred to
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
B. WASHINGTON, January 5, 1880.
srR-Inclosed herewith Isend a copy
Of dispatch Just received by way Of New
Zealand, from the Captain Of the Nipsic
now at Samoa. The Department is able
to send Immediately two additional yes
sells to Samoa in response TO this request
and has given directions that they make
ready to receive sailing orders and
would be pleased to strengthen the forcei
at the Samoan Islands by these and
other vessels Of the Pacific squadron 4
II any useful purpose is to be served
thereby. II, however, tho purpose o.
the German Government now made en-
tirely clear imposes no duty upon the
officers Of the squadron, to strengthen
the naval force at those islands would
only place the officers under irritating
conditions with no duty TO perform, and
would in all probability give rise t
trouble. The NipsiC Is entirely adequate
for protection Of our Government,
Iii view OF the critical situation al
the Samoan Islands, It seems to the de-
partment that the officers Of the squad
ron, II further vessels are 10 be dispatch
cd, should receive instructions OF q def
nitc character as to their duty in the
premises.
GERMANY INTENDS CONQUEST.
From the correspondence heretofore
held between the Department Of STATE
and tie German Government, and from
reports received from our naval oilicerl
and the consular agency at the island
1t appears clear that conquest oil those
islands Is intended by the German Gov
ernmeht In the interests OF a commercial
company, and Is being consummated By
overt acts which are multiplying day By
day. There Is no longer any other pre-
text upon which can be explained thu
interference OF the German nan.of.wa
In tho contest In progress upon thu
Island OF Apla. l apprehend that tht
officers OF the navy will not understand
without definite advices 10 that efec
what their duty may DO under the cir
cumstances as they are developing. Gu
antecelent relations TO this group Q
islands and 10 the Sandwich Island
have been Of All exceptional charaCte
and will be likely 10 give rise 10 doubt
| in the minds OF the officers as 10 thei
duty under the existing conditions. Il
these Two groups Of Islands, by treaty
harboB have been reserved Tor the us
Of the navy Of the United States, and a
to tho Samoan group, the three Govern
ments-Germany, Great Britain and th
United States have UP To- recent dat
acted together upon tho theory Of mt
tual cooperation In preserving tn
autonomy Of the people Of the Samoa
Islands,
or NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
A hatbor Of Samoa will become Of nj
tlonal consequence 10 us in the future q
a naval power, but II the islands are
40 Under the dominion Of Germany
would cease 10 10 Of use. Tho Depaf
mcnt has heretofore directed the Officer
OF tho squadron 10 act In accordanC
with The Instructions which the consulS
agent AZ Samoa shall receive IRON th
Department OF State, but In view ot III
late adyiCes and this request for an AZ
lllional force, the Department desires
be advised whether II 10 the purpose
tlIo Government 10 announce any polio
regarding tho Samoan group OF yhic
tho officers should DO Adf flBed.A
Very respectfully
w. o, WHITNEY,
Secretary Of the Navy,
NJ "A. lion. Thoma1 y. Bayufd, Secretary " Sid