Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-11
SCORING BAYARD.
SewalI Vents Some Spleen
on the Secretary.
OBJECTS STRONGLY TO BERLIN
And Thinks the Conference Should
be Resumed Where Broken
Of-at Washington.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALp.l
WASHINGTON, February 10.-Mr. Sew
all, late Consul General at Samoa, talked
freely to-day in regard to the proposed
Samoan conference at Berlin. Anon g
other things he said: Consider the
genesis of the conference it is proposed d
to renew. 1t was summoned by our Sec
retary of State, assembled at our Capitol
on the acknowledged basis of the equality
OF rights of the three treaty powers, OF
which we were the fret. Its object was
the preservation OF Samoan autonomy
upon which all our National and COM
mercial interests in Samoa depend.
While the conference was yet uncon-
cluded, with no notice to this Govern
| ment, German ships came to Samoa and
took possession of the islands in viola.
tion Of the understanding on which the
pending negotiations were proceeding.
Ii the conference is to be rene wed at all,
it should be renewed under conditions
as favorable to us rs those which
attended its initiation. The status ante
conferendum should be first restored
Malietoa, for whose deposition we are
morally responsible, should be returned
from exile and the conference should
meet here, where it was interrupted, anC
where our representatives would be free
from the peculiar influences now at worl
at Berlin. But were the suggestions o
Bayard in his letter to the German Min
lister made conditions precedent to ths
re. assembling of the conference, W.
might even then enter upon the confer
ence with something of our national dig
nifty saved. Bayard suggests truce il
; Samoa. He does not insist upon it. TIL,
position maintained in the conference b,
Bayard has not, l believe, been criti
cised. The independence of the islands
should be maintained and equality OF tn,
rights of commerce secured TO
the subjects of the treaty powers as wal
agreed upon. Our rights are not enlarged
by this, but only confirmed; but having
secured this recognition of our rights
Bayard rested, and it is because that, OF
account of this pending conference, h
!, has submitted to a violation of thes
rights, that he has been criticised even b.
Bates, upon whose recommendation
Bayard's entire contention in the confer
CACO w co UciDCus Day Nio uld uOU ISSCu
, the action of Germany at that time, &C
companied, as it was, by the ruin of ou
trade and by outrages upon our citizen
and flag, as bad as those which hav
, recently stirred the country. 1t is becaus
he has suffered the violation of thos
rights, which he was the first clearly t
| assert, and because thus our pres,ig
has been irretrievably weakened in tn
Pacific, that Bayard is criticised. Ha
: Bayard, through the President, calle
the attention OF Congress and the coun
try to this German action, the same sen
, timent which is now aroused would lon
since have averted the distressing cond
? ton OF affairs that now confronts us il
Samoa, and renders difficult, but, at tn
same time, necessary, further negotis
tions. Nobody desires a war which
not necessary. Nobody proposes annex
, alton"
Sewall was asked if he knew anythin
of Mr.. Coleman, our Charge d'Ataires a
Berlin, who, it is stated, conducts ou
negotiations. He replied; II do not
only that Prince Bismarck speaks highl
of him.