Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1889-01-22
BACKBONE WILL TELL
Ex-Comrnissioner George II. hates the
samoan Island situation-wnl Germany
rieht9

a New J 0Tk utTdlQ ItDtIttI NtSltIudN
interviewed Mr.. George H. Bates in this
city on the Samoan affair with the eollow-
ing results;
sought George H. Bates, who was
Commissioner from the United States to
Samoa. and interviewed him respecting
the samoan troubles
Have Won read the dispatches concern
ing samoan ] inquired
4 have read them with very great in
terest he replied, "and have no doubt
that they give substantially accurate
impression OF the state of affairs there at
the time the steamer left In fact, l
think that probably every one who is at
all familiar with Samoa and its people
and has followed the course Of events
there for the past two years has inter
preted. as I have done. that the strife
there would eliminate in such a conflict
between Germany and the Samoans as IS
now reported.
lido not think that either our govern
ment or our people, excepting those
living on the Pacific coast, have ever APP
preciated the interest our country has in
the preservation Of the neutrality of this
group Of islands. This interest is of
a twofold nature While the value of
American property in Somoa and the
number Of our citizens there may not be
SO large as those of Germany, both are
quite sufficient to demand ade-
quate protection. But aside from
the interest Of individual Americans re.
siding there, we have a national interest
in the neutrality of the group precisely
of the same nature as that which has
always been asserted by statesmen Of
both parties with respect to the Hawaiian
g., tr,+n t.,
has not been SO apparent, but when a
canal across the lstnmus is an actual fact
las it certainly will be In the near
future, in my opinion-Samoa will be of
more Importance than Hawaii
Has not this neutrality been secured
By treaty.
yes not only by our original treaty,
but throughout the whole diplomatic cor
respondence on this subject between
Great Britain, Germany and the United
States. The neutrality has always been
asserted by each of the three govern
ments, and IL has been admitted by the
others that the neutrality of the group
was to be respected. Even in the CON
vention between Great Britain and Ger
many providing for a virtual partition of
the Pacific Islands so far as
occupied by them already, TO which
our government was not party
Samoa was especially omitted because
that country had entered into treaty rela-
tions with the United States, and during
the last few months while Germany has
been strengthening her grip upon the
islands, her aggressive movements there
have always been accompanied by diplo-
matte assurances from Berlin to Wash
ington that the neutrality Of Samoa will
not be interfered with.
Yet from the deposition of Malietoa
until the outbreak which resulted ia the
overthrow Of Tamasese the country was
governed practically by the German Con
sui, or either by the German trading
firm and the German Consul to-
gether, backed by the whole force
Of the German fleet.
The Inconsistency Of the professions
Of the German Foreign Office with the
actions 81 the German officials in Samoa
were thoroughly exposed by Secretary
Bayard in a long despatch TO the German
Foreign Office dated just about a year
ago, n despatch which. so far as the cor.
respoudence yet published shows, has
never been answered
Then you DO not put much depend
ence on the German assurancesY
Not a particle After man or a
government mas been for three years
protesting one thing and doing another
one ought 90 be pardoned for ceasing to
place reliance on such q profession. The
whole course Of Germany seems 10 me TO
indicate a logged determination 10 have
possession 81 Samoa and implicit reliance
upon the fears of England and the in
difference Of the United States govern
ment TO secure non interference BY either
of those governments. There are so many
complications in European politics af-
fecting colonial interests in Great
Britain and Germany that 1t naturally
results that enc government should
tacitly agree TO not interfere with
another az one point in consideration OF
similar treatment elsewhere, and there
seems 70 be no doubt that the present
British policy in Samoa is a deliberate
carrying ont Of such an agreement. -
What DO you think viii be the re-
suit Of the recent conflict between the
Germans and the natives Z
There can be little doubt that unless
somebody calls halt in tone which
Germany cannot misunderstood the
Germans VIII pursue their policy of max.
ing war on the natives destroying their
villages. and under the pretense of in
0NAAAea ava IAlAcn 10 htlnlAH property
take possession Of the island
w hat viii be the effect Of the naval
force our government has ordered to
Samoa
That depends entirely upon the
amount of discretion confded to our naval
officers do not know precisely what
the present policy of our government is,
not having seen the full text of our Presi-
dents recent message to Congress on the
subject ! have, however. read carefully
the instructions to Admiral Kimberly as
published, and cannot see that he has any
greater authority than the officer who
preceded him. lie is directed to protest
against German action and to cooperate
with the German authorities there. Our
officers have been protesting for the last
two or three years and their pro
tests have had about as much effect as
the Pope's bun against comet AS "a
cooperation with the Germans in estab-
fishing peace aud maintaining the neu.
trality Of the group, in the light Of re
cent history it can manifestly amount tC
nothing. In the present temper of the
Germans IN Samoa no regard seems TO be
paid to American protests, neutral rights
or The property and lives of American
citizens | believe the administration Il
be ia favor of more active measures IA
protect the lives and propert,
of our citizens and our national
interests In Samoa, but IL is considered
that the Executive has not the power {,
do more than has been done. If this d,
so Congress should undoubtedly b
aroused 10 comprehend the situation en-,
TO authorize the President to insist uno,