Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-06
SAMOAN MATTERS.
Commissioner Bates Talks Freely Of His
Report and Ideas

of Delaware, late United States commits.
sionef at Samoa, was today asked by ar
| Associated Press reporter what in his
| opinion would be the probable effect upon
the policy OF our government of Prince
Bismarck's recent orders to the German
consul at Samoa and the commander OF
the German feet. He said:
81 do not see why the more recent dis
patches from Germany should affect the
attitude of the United States. The proc
Iamation of martial law and the assump-
| ton of the direct administration of affairs
IN Samoa by the German consul which are
| reported to have been discountenanced by
| Prince Bismarck were not the grayamen of
the troubles there, which excited the at
tention of the president and congress.
Those harsh measures were deter
mined upon and reported long after
the subject had been referred to congress
with the recommendation of action by
that body. These measures did not
arouse public indignation in this country,
they only aggravated it. The interposi-
ton of congress was invoked by pre-
vious aggression of the local
German officials and residents there.
the disregard of the understanding
expressed and implied upon which all our
negotiations with Germany have proceed
ed and the evident disposition of that
power to absorb the group without further
consultation with us. With respect to
these matters there is as yet no sign of any
concession unless it be the proposition
published this morning for con-
ference at Berlin. In my judgment
the restoration of the statue quo ought
to be a condition predominant to any fur
Their negotiations. and involves among
other things the reaSsembling of the con-
ference at Washington 1t seems to me
that prinna Risrnaralx's Trnnngql p
move the negotiations to Berlin involves
both slight and a compliment to our sec
rotary of state-a slight because heiwaS our
representative here and could be present
as such no where else. compliment
because it would indicate that in the con-
ference, the proceedings Of which are as
yet unpublished, he excelled in diplomacy
the German and English representatives
combined
but even if Germany's disclaimer were
broad enough to cover the whole subject
matter involved in the presidents COM
munication to congress past experience
warns us not to be too quick in relying
upon assurances from Berlin as indicating
the course of events In Samoa.
When the German flag was raised there
contemporaneously with Taimasesse's re-
bellion, Che act was solemnly disavowed
by Bismarck as soon as reported and yet
the flag continued to stay until our flag
was raised by Consul Greenbaum months
afterwards The successive violation by
the German local officials in Samoa of
assurances made to this government in
dictate either INSTRUMENTATION, which is
entirely to all our nations of
German discipline, or else some under
standing exists by which the consul there
is authorized to act on his own RESPONSE
biIity according to his views of the neces-
sites of the case and to exceed his instruc-
lions as reported here"
What do you think of the declaration
of war by Germany against Samoa"
Its prosecution seems to me utterly in
consistent with the declaration of the
former status. If Germany goes on with
war in Samoa it will be useless to have a
at all. Of course Germany can
ultimately drive the Samoans into the sea
and take the Islands by conquest. This
would be no less the destruction of the
Samoan colony than if it were done by
gradual encroachments. If we confer we
should insist on absolute halt; if
we consent to less than this we may as
we'll wash our hands of the whole business
and abandon all idea of preserving the
neutrality of these islands"
Your report on Samoa has frequently
been alluded to of late. Is it true that a
furnished congress? 1t has been stated
that this was because you were instructed
to report facts, not opinions"
''The newspaper suggestion that it was
suppressed because it stated opinions, not
facts, will be better answered when it is
published, If that is done hereafter. |
have not stated nor can | do So what it
contains, and no one in the state depart
ment would be likely to authorize any such
statement in view of my instructions
and the facts of the case. | was
directed to report upon the political con-
dition of the islands and the remedies
which l and the other commissioners pro-
posed. This l did, supporting my con-
clusion with the reasons which seemed to
me pertinent. The suggestion that l
furnished to any one statement
of opinions embodied in the
unpublished portion of my re
port is without any foundation. | do
not know Senator Frye, do not think /
have ever seen him. The senator obtained
what is termed the confidential copy from
the secretary of state himself, as he dis
tinctly states in his speech upon the sub
ject."