The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-01-24
OUR RIGHTS IN SAMOA.

President Cleveland Says fhey Shall Bo
Pr0tected-A Message on ths Subject
Position ~ the lscrman G.vernmemt.
WAsHIN0ToN. Jan. 16-The President
hos sent to Congress Q message accom-.
panied with mass OF documents giving
the status Of Affairs now In Samoa and the
progress Of affairs there. The correspond.
ence inclosed ID that since December q,
lSSa The President sayss
"The informal on thus laid before Congress
Is Of much importance. since II has relation
TO the preservation Of American interests and
the protection OF American citizens and
their property in distant locality and
under unsuitable and unsatisfactory gov.
ernmcnt In the m DIST OF the disturb
ances which have arisen ut Samoa such pow.
ers have been exercised - seem TO be within
executive control under the constitution and
laws, which appear TO accord with our Nation.
al policy and cond. tion to restore tranquility
and secG.. the safety o. our citizens through
Brita and Germany which, with
our own Govern menI constitute the
treaty powers interested n Samoan peace md
quiet The attempt has hecn made 70 define
moro clearly the part which those powc I
shall assume In the government Of that coun-
try VII ie at the same timo its authority has
been insisted upon. These negotiations were
part OF the German Government % appeared
10 be Inconsistent with their further continu
ancc.
Germany. however. stI tnststs. as from
the irst, that she has no des 70 or intention 70
overturn the native Samoan Government OF
to ignore our treaty rights, and she still 10.
vites our Government 70 Join her proposition
on this subject and seems to loan 10 such Q
preponderancs OF g srman power In Samoa ne
was never contemplated By us. and Is moon.
sistent with every prior agreement or every
understanding, while her recent conduct - be.
tween nat ve warning fact ons gives rise 70 the
suspicion that she is not contoat with neutral
position.
Acting under tho restraints which out CON
st'tution and laws have placed on the En-
ccutive power. have ins sted that the autono
my and Independence Of Samoa should be
sctupul0usly observed. according 70 the treaty
mado with Samoa and the powers named, and
tho other agreements aud Understandings
With each other. I have protested against
every act ap arently tending in the opposite
direction showing the existence OF internal
disturbances One or more vessels OF war have
been kept in Samoan waters 70 protect Amer
tcan citizens and property.
"A recent collision between the forces from
0erman man.oi.War stationed In Samoa
waters and body OF natives rendered the SIT
uation 50 delicate and critical that the war
ship Trenton, under the immediate command
OF Admiral Kimberly, was ordered TO join the
Nipsic, already at Samoa, for tho better pro
tect.on Of person AMI property OF our citizens
and In furtheranCe Of efforts TO restore order
and safety.
ssThe views Of the executive Ia respect to the
just policy to be pursued with regard to this
group OF islands which lie In the direct high
way OF the growing and important commerce
between Australia and the United States have
ma 0<asn Ira -
documents which have thus been fully com
municated TO Congress, and tho subject IN II.
present stage 10 submitted TO the wscr 4 Q
0uss on conferred by the constitution upon thS
leg slative branch OF tho Government"
Tho correspondence alluded to by the
President was not Laid before the House OF
Senate