The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-02-08
The Consul-General TO Samoa Differs
With Bsyard and is Retired
to Private Life.
PLEDGES UNFULFILLED,
The Deposed Official Shows How His
Recent Testimony Before a SEN
ate Committed Displeased
the Secretory Of State.

views were not In harmony with those OF
the administration.
An Associated Press reporter called this
afternoon upon Sewall and asked for a
statement OF the reasons given by the state
department In ltsr request that lie should
tender his resignation as consul general at
Samoa. Mr.. Sewall In reply said: "rhe
reason given In the letter asking my res.
ignation Is the disagreement OF my ex-
pressed views with the views entertained
by the state department In regard 10 Sa-
moan affairs. This refers, | suppose, 10
the testimony have given before the sen.
ate committee ON foreign relations, and
which has not yet been published. No
disapproval OF my conduct In Samoa as
consul general has even been expressed by
the state department, so far as | know.
by the committee, and affairs In Samoa be-
ing In most critical condition, | immedi-
ately made arrangements 10 return there.
No intimation was given that | should not
be allowed 10 do so until within few
hours before my intended departure, when
was notified 10 remain here. The pur-
pose was obvious. My services were need
ed Immediately II at all. Another steamer
would not sail until March, and IL was the
evident Intention TO detain me until after
the incoming of the next administration,
upon which, rs is known, | have not the
slightest claim TO political recognition.
No." continued Seweli, al did not there
upon tender my resignation. had done
nothing wrong; had too much respect for
Bayard 10 assume that had offended him
by my testimony before the committee
Besides, was under oath 10 tell all I
knew OF Samoan affairs and 10 withhold
nothing. The views l expressed on the
situation and the remedy necessary were
given at the request OF the c0mmitte. Ii
was not for me TO consider whether those
views agreed with Bayard's or not. 1 do
not know, however, that my views coincid-
ed with all Americans who have given the
matter any thought, the state department
excepted, FOR which can not speak"
"What are those views, Mr.. Sewall?'
81 believe" said Sewall with delibera-
ton, "thAt the deposition OF Malietoa was
determined upon before the conference Of
the three powers began, and that IL was the
German intentian 10 carry out the policy IL
had decided upon regardless OF that con-
ference. The purpose OF Germany Is TO se-
cure control OF Samoa In defiance OF the
solemn and repeated assurances IL has
given our government Furthermore, be-
lleve that Lord Salisbury Is party 10 this
scheme, and that the movement against Sa-
m0a is only the precursor OF an Anglo
German attempt 70 secure supremacy In
Hawaiian islands"
"What, In your opinion, will be the
effect OF the dispatch OF American ships OF
war 10 protect our interests In Samoa ?"
Il concur with Mr.. Bates, our late CON-
missioner 10 Samoa, In his published opin-
ion, that Admiral Kimberly can Ac-
complsh nothing under his In
structioDs from the state department
BayArd expects Admiral Kimberly 10 sue
coed In doing by protest what he has been
trying without success TO do, for year
Il ia. "a trnfaaf mi snr
Germany ftOm the course she has been
steadily pursuing? l believe. with Secre
tary Whitney, that definite policy should
be adopted In Samoa. To send our ships
there with only their present Instructions
Ia simply ~ subject their officers To humll
intion; or, as Secretary Whitney lusing I
polite term out OF respect, ! suppose, 70
Bayard) terms it, Irritating conditions,
| from which their selfrespect makes then
revolt But Secretary Bayard cannot pun
ish Secretary Whitney or MI. Bates; l an
the weakest and am therefore singled ou
for the sacrifice"
Sewall said that whatever bis persona
opinion OF the attitude OF Bayard OF
Samoan affairs might be-. he had during hi,
entire term Of service loyalty and implicit
/ ly followed the secretary's Instructions
Notwithstanding false and humillating
position. In reply ~ an inquiry as d
whether German aggression had beer
going on for so long time
Sewall said the recent news from
Samoa, which had so aroused the country
was only repetition OF what had happened
before. "Why," said he, IA great stir hal
been made by the annOunceme mt that mar
tial law had been declared by Germany II
Apia; but this Is not the first time the Ger
man consul has declared martial law II
force. German sentres, even before th,
| Americans had been deprived OF their righ
10 Joint vote In the government OF th
town, had been commanded To shoot until
dead a man not answering challenge, an,
notice giving warning Of this was poste,
banner was torn down by the Germans an,
trampled on. When war was declared
against Malietoa Apia was occupied
without notice TO the Americans.
leading American merchant standing
on his own land, was knocke'
down by German sailors who, on his return
TO the ship, was imprisoned for not havinl
bayoneted the man. | myself was stoppe,
on the highway OF Aplh, even before wa
bad been declared, and an officer who's
command had taken possession OF that par
of town threatened | would be shot II
proceeded. German sentries were p0ste'
around my consulate at night. IL is 10
tsstfylng 70 these facts. presume, tina
my resignation was asked. Is II not natu
| TAI lilht u huUulu ulutl VIII DhluIu
a policy. II such II can be called, whic
permits these things 10 be done
"Were my only regret" said Sewall
"the loss Of prestige In the Pacific by ou
submission 10 German aggression the meas
ure Of my humillatlng exprlence, wouli
patiently await the publication OF my ",
timlny, certain OF the results Of an arouse
and Intelligent public opinion. but 10 m
lasting chAgrin and sorrow, misled by Bay
ard and acting ucder his Instructions,
misled the weak and suffering Samoan
into fresh mlsfOrtunes. Upon Mr. BayarC
and myself, as an innocent instrumeI
obeying his instructions, must rest In
large measure the griev0us resp0ns
billty for the dlstresses which not
! Samoan people. When | arrived in Samo
: the insurrection Of Tamasese, fostered
, German officials for purposes now mad
: plain, was ON the point OF disintegratioI
Malietoa, who had been repeatedly heI
back by our representatives from assertln
his authority, had determined To tolerat
this no longer. The day after | arrived
; received instructions, the purp0rt Of whic
: was to restrain him. | did so, giving hii
, To understand, as Bayard gave me TO NJ
, derstand, that neither he nor his pe0p
would be allowed e. suffer. Maliet0
I yielded at my solicitation, and our natiOnl
honor was pledged that we would insi
upon our treaty right 70 the independef
existence OF Samoa. Icould not better ha,
served German purposes than by.thls mi
4 sion OF mine Asa matter Of fact, publ
: documents now before congress Shove
|. that the instructions In obedience 10 whc
acted on this occasion, were sent me
3 the sinstance Of the German an
4 British ministers. In less tha
y month German ships arrived. Mallet,
!, and his chiefs were dep0rted and the ma
III 4 k.A Inf a..
. was Installed In Malietoa's place. A pli
less persecution was begun against q
Ssmoans suspected Of friendship for OF
flag, aud German control was
8 ensctually established as under open q
!. nexation. Having retained the Samoan
:, when they could have destroyed Tamase
y and with his destruction the basis for Gt
d mAny's interference, | urged their su
. mission, trusting that finally when Il
truth was known our promise to the