The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-02-07
The Presidents Message.


dent today sent to congress additional
correspondence relative to Samoan
affairs, accompanied by the following
message:
To THE CoNGRsEs.-I had the honor
on the 18th inst to communicate to
your honorable body certain correspon-
dence and documents in relation TO
affairs in Samoan Islands and having
since received further dispatches from
the vice consul at Apia and the COM
mander of the United States naval
vessel Niysic in those waters
l lose no time in laying
nit herewith the full text of instruc
tions from Prince Won Bismarck to the
German minister at this capital, which
was communicated on the afternoon of
the 18th inst. This appears to be an
eKemplitication of prior teleGraphic in
structiOns on the same subject COM
municated through the same channel,
and which was set forth in the note
OF the secretary OF state to Count Won
Arcovalla, the German minister, on
the 18th inst, duly laid before con-
gress with my last message in
relation to Samoan affairs. 1t is also
proper to inform you that on Monday,
the 18th inst, the occasion of the
communication of the note of the prince
chancellor, the secretary of state was
given to understand by the German
minister that a proposition from his
government to that of the United
States for a conference on the Samoan
subject was on its way by mail, having
left Berlin on the Goth inst, so that its
arrival here in due course of mail can
be looked for In very short time. In
reply to an inquiry from the secretary of
state whether the proposition referred
to was for renewal of the joint con-
ference between the United States,
Germany and Great Britain which was
suspended in July 1897 or for the con-
alteration of Samoan affairs, the Ger
man minister states his inability to
answer until the proposition which
lett Berlin on the 10th, inst. should
have been received. l shall hereafter
communicate to the congress all intor-
nation before me in relation to the
Samoan status.
(signed.) GROVER CLEVELAND.
The correspondence accompanying
the message an amplified account OF
the recent events in Samoa. 1t opens
with a record of current events by Vice
Consul Blaclock. including an account
of the fight between the natives and
the Germans as heretofore printed.
The letter from Prince Bismarck to
Count Won Arcovilla is as follows,
translated.)
MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
BERLIN, Jan. %, 1851 have al
ready notified your eXcellency that ac-
cording to Geographic communications
from Apia, on the 18th of December,
OF last year, a detachment of German
naval forces which had landed at the
reQulsition of the imperial consul for
the protection of German settle;
ments which we're endangered
by the conflicts between the ma
tive parties there, was at
tackled by armed Samoans belonging
TO the party of Chief Matafa, and this
unprovoked attack is said to have taken
place under the leadership of an Amer
lean named Klein. On this occasion
more than fifty German soldiers and
officers were killed and wounded. In
consequence OF this we have been
transplanted from the territory of me-
diatory negotiation by which the inn
perial consul in Apia was trying to rec
oncile the contending parties
and for which he had
sought the cooperation of his
English and American colleagues into
state OF war with the assailantS, to
our regret. We shall carry on the con-
test which has been forced ON us by
Matata and his followers with the ut
most consideration for English and
American interests. Our military
measures have in view only the pun
ishment of the murderers of German
soldiers and the protection of our coun-
trymen and their property. AS they
on their part are at war with Tamase
our interference will necessarily as
sumo the character of assistance to
Tamase. In the endeavor for the Just
punishment of a murderOus crime we
hope for the cooperation of the treaty
powers in Samoa in friendship with us
e and we ask the government of the
United States to be good enough tC
furnish the consuls and the command
ers of its ships of war in Samos
with suitable instructions. Oul
armed forces there are instructed Il
avoid and to prevent all injury to neu
trail commerce and property and Il
adopt measures of reprisal and de
struction only against the followers O
the party which initiated the contes
against our troups by murderous at
tack. We shall. of course, abidt
by the agreement with AmeTic;
and England with respect to Samoi
and pay due regard under all circum
stances to the rights of those powers a
established by law. Your excellency i
to bring this communication to Mr.
Ba yards knowledge by reading it +
him, and to leave copy of it with hin
il he requests 1t.
ISiopad1 RTSNA Prr