Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-20
SAMOAN ISLANDS.
TEE UNITED STATES POSITION COW
cERNIHs THE GROUP.
Unols Sam Had Many Opportunities 10
Take Them Under His Wipg, but
Always Declined.
nr talagrspn . the pIspalch.l


WASHINGTON. February 1o.-Tbe follow
ing statement 10 regard TO the Samoan ques.
ton was prepared AZ the state Department
and furnished for publication to-day:
The interest lately manifested IN The Sa-
moan islands renders pertinent reference 10
several incidents which disclose the position
heretofore maintained by The United states
concerning that group. The advocates OF
the assumption OF virtual protectoratc over
those islands by the United states appear TO
have lost sight Of the fact that this Govern
ment In pursuance Of its traditional and re-
tablisbed policy regarding The remote for
eign possessions has at least i've times re-
fused 10 assume such relation. The disa-
yowal by Mr.. Bsyard Of Consul Green
baum's act three wears ago In raising the
American flag and declaring a protectorate
IN the name OF the United States IL fresh in
the public mind, and need not be further
discussed. But similar refusal to assume
such protectorate wss thrice. indeed Tour
times. previously made by this Government.
II will be remembered that IN 1913 one
Steinberger was sent out by President Grant
as a special agent TO report on the condition
OF the islands. Having made his report be
returned IN the following year az the bearer
OF some presents and messages from Presi-
queDtly been TumoTed, however, that Stein
berger had promised the natives the protec-
ton OF the United States, the House oil
Representatives on March %, 1876, adopted
a resolution instructing the Committee on
Foreign Affairs "tO inquire into the extent
and character OF the power conferred by the
United states upon A. b. SteiDberger as
special agent or commissioner 70 the samoan
or Navigator islands" and to call upon the Sec
rotary Of state for sill correspondence between
said Steinberger and the Department OF
State touching the object, operation, and
result OF such mission or agency.
This resolution was answered by the Presl-
dent on Nav /. 1876, by transmitting 10 the
House the report OF Mr. Fish, then Secretary
Of State, in which Il was stated that Stein
berger appeared TO baye exceeded his In
siructions. Accompanying this report was
a dispatch from MIR Fish 10 Stenberger,
dated May G, 1915, ~ which the former, re,
ferrIng 10 the allegation that Steinberger had
promised the Samosns the protection OF the
United States, said:
elf this be as represented, II IL much TO
be regretted, as 20 such promise was made
nor any hope OF such protection is held out
by the warrant Of this Government and
such promise, II made. was one which this
department, IN the absence ot formal
treaty or OF 5 sanction OF congress, had no
right % authorize Won 10 make"
In 1877 Mr. COlmesnii, theO the United
states commercial agent at Apia raised the
United states flag over the samoan Dag, but
his act was not sustained by the Govern
ment. But more notable still wac SINH
lar rai,ing Of the American fag for
The purpose OF deelariog proleclorate
in February, 1873, when GIBln was
United states Consul a: Apia. Al that
time Mamea. the samoan who signed With
Mr.. Eyarts the treaty now existing between
the United states and Samoa, was in this
country, and while here he bad come, as bis
people well understood, for the negO-
iialiOn Of a treaty Of protection. Al the
same tine the British HIgh Commissioner
YVES NJ Apil IN man'Oi-War en-.
deayOring 20 induce the Samoans TO conclude
the treaty subsequently ratified with Great
Britain. But The natives refused % enter
into any agreement whichever until they bad
learned the result Of their application 20 this
Government for a treaty Of protection.
Germany also had then no treaty with he
isl9nds. The way was clelr 70 the United
states 10 assume possession II it had Thought
proper 10 do 20. On February -, 1873. The
samoan Government, in agreement with
United states Consul Griffin and In further
ance % the purpose with which Mamcl
was charged, and fearing also ltstihe BRUSH
Commissioner might resort to force to COM
pe the conclusion OF treaty with Great
Britain, bad the United States Gag raised
over that OF the samoan on Government
flgs,aff. The United States again refused
the protectorate. and The treaty concluded
by MIR. Evsrts and Maues provided only for
the exercisement by this Government OF its
good officers. Thus at time when
the islands had no treaty relations
with any foreign power the United
States under the former administration
three times refused 90 sustain the protecto-
rate actually promised or declared In samoa.
and rejected Mamea's overiureS for treaty
Of protection. These are important iacts to
be considered I'm relation 10 adverse claims
bv some persons Of the assumption now by
the United STATES OF virtual through nominal
protectofate over the Samoan group. This
is the most erroneous form which the obliga-
ton Of protection could assume, since II
would render the United states practically
responsible for the consequences OF ia" acts
Of these seml-ciyilizod aud unorganlzed
tribes without the right 20 control Them.