The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-02-07
An Interview On The Samoan squabbIs.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.-George H.
Bates, of Delaware. late United States
commissioner at Samoa, was today
asked by an Associated Press reporter
what in his opinion would be the prob
able effect upon the policy of our gov
eminent of Prince Bismarck's recent
orders to the German consul at Samoa,
and the commander of the German
fleet. He said, II do not see why the
more recent dispatches from Germany
should affect the attitude of
the United States. The proclamation
of martial law and the assumption
of the direct administration of affairs
in Samoa by the German consul which
are now reported to have been dis
counJenanced by Prince Bismarck
were not the gravest of the troubles
there, which excited the attention of
the president and congress. Those
harsh measures were determined 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 inter
position of congress was invoked by
previous aggressions of the
local German officials and resi-
dents there, the disregard of
the understanding expressed and i'm
piled, upon which all our negotiations
with Germany have proceeded and the
evident disposition of that power to
absorb the group without further con-
sultatiOn with US. With respect to
these matters there is az yet no sign of
any concession, unless it be the propo-
sition published this morning for
conference at Berlin. In my Judgment
the restoration of the status quo ouget
to be condition predominant to- any
further negotiations and involves
among other things, the re assembling
of the conference at Washington.
It seems to me that Prince
Bismarck's proposal TO remove the ne
gntiatiOns to Berlin involves both a
slight and compliment to our secTe-
tary Of state-a slight because he was
our representative here and could be
present as such nowhere else; c0mpli-
ment because it would indicate that in
the conference, the proceedings of
which are as yet unpublished, he ex-
celled in diplomacy the German and
English representatives combined.
But even if Germany's disclaimer
were broad enough to cover the
| whole subject matter involv-
ed in the presidents communi-
cation to congress, Past experience
warns US not to be too quick in relying
upon assurances from Berlin as indi-
eating the course of events in Samoa.
When the German flag was raised
there contemperaneously with Tama-
sese rebellion, the act was solemDly
| disavoWed by Bismarck as soon as re-
ported and yet the flag continued to
stay until our flag was raised by Con-
sui Greenbaum months after
wards. The successive violation
by the German local officials
| government indicate either gross in
subordination which is contrary to our
notion of German discipline or else IN
Outstanding exists by which the consul
there is authorized to act on his own
responsibility, according to his views
| OF the necessities of the case and to
exceed his instructions as reported
here"
"What do you think of the declara-
ton of war by Germany against
Samoan
Its prosecution seems to me utterly
inconsistent with the declaration of The
former status. If Germany goes or
with war in Samoa, it will be useless
TO have conference at all. OF course
Germany can ultimately drive tbt
Samoans into the sea and take thu
i AS1duub " COH4uCSbs 4ulS WOuAQ ID
no less the destruction of Samoan col
ony than if it were done by gradua
entertainments. If we confer. W,
should insist on an absolute halt; if W,
consent to less than this we may as vel
wash our hands of the whole bushes
and abandon all idea of preserving tn
neutrality of those islands,
Your report on Samoa has frequent
] | ly been alluded to of late. Is it tru
that portion of it was suppressed il
, the copy furnished congress. It ha
: been stated that this was because 20
were instructed TO report facts NO
, opinions"
1.-THE newspaper suggestion that
| was suppressed because it stated Opin
: ions, not facts, will be better answere
when it is published if that is don
t hereafter. have not stated. nor ca
! | / do SO, what it contains. and n
g one in the state department
0 would be likely to authorize an
g such statement in view of my iHstruc
3 tions and the facts of the case, i wa
q directed to report upon the politics
: condition Of the islands and the rems
dies which and the ether eommh