The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1889-02-07
WAR DECLARED.
THE GERMAN CONSUL AT APIA
PKOCLAIMs MARTIAL LAW.
Secretary Bayard Defends the Con-
duct Of the State Department
He Says Americans in Samoa
Have Not Been Injured-Germany
with respect Our Rights.

1t is understood that Consul General Sow
all, who has been detained in Washington for
some time by the senate foreign relations
committee, expected to leave on Friday or
Saturday for Samoa. Secretary Bayard was
shown the dispatch from Auckland, stating
that Germany had given notice that all yes,
sells arriving at Samoa will be searched for
contraband goods. He said the department
had received dispatch from Consul Black
lock stating that war had been declared
against Mataafa, and that martial law had
been proclaimed by the German consul at
Apa. He did not know whether the state OF
martial law referred to included all of Sa-
moa or only Apia Reference was
made to the criticisms of the de-
partment Of state, and the secretary said; 81
would like the gen lemen who have been
citicising everything done by the state
department to show one instance in which
have broken the law or permitted 1t to be
violated. do not know of such an instance.
There has been great deal Of misrepresenta-
ton, and in time my countrymen will see
that the state department has done every
thing that could be DONE"
~ see" continued the secretary, ''that Mr..
Sherman stated in the senate that no Ameri-
can had been injured in Samoa. That is so,
and have yet to earn tnat any American has
been injured or any of theft rights as defined
by law and treaty taken away. Our policy
has been fixed and st, ady in the direction of
the preservation of American rights. The
German government has constantly given
assurances that Germany would not violate
any American rights, and Prince Bismarck
in his last letter to Count Arco Valley re-
news his assurances tn t Germany will
scrupulously respect these rights. The
department cannot stop the fighting in
Samoa; we cannot prevent val commercial
companies quarrelling and fighting. 1t is
not Tor us to try and give every country a
stable government
Secretary Bayard said that he had not yet
received the proposition which Count Arco
| Valley had informed him Primo Bismarck
had sent for a conf renee between Germany
and the Unitel States in regard to Samoa.
| He could not, therefore, say whether or not it
| was for an entirely new negotiation or for a
renewal of the conference suspended about a
year ago, at which the secretary said he had
endeavored to bring about an understanding
between Germany and the United States to
better the condition of the unhappy natives.
A gentleman who is well acquainted with
Samoan affairs said that mat ers had
reached a very serious state, and he would
| not be surprised to hear that conflict had
taken place between the Germans and the
Americans The natives had bea en- the Ger
mans repeatedly, and, according to the Auck.
land dispatch (which he regarded as entirely
| reliable), German now proposed to whl[
them by preventing arms being sent in. The
newspaper read by Americans had been sup
pressed, and the Germans had taken oper
control of the police of Apia. The American
residents contributed to the fund for the
support Of the municipal police and it wa.
bad enough to have them under the direction
of Tamasese but under German control was
infinitely worse He said it might appear
an unusual and bold thing for us to say thai
we would protect the independence of a coun
try far away but our national honor ant
our obligations required that we should CONF
to it.
Assistant Secretary Rives, who has beer
the medium of communication at the de
partment on all foreign matters, announce
that no more information in regard to at
ia rs in Samoa will be given out at the stat
department at present. Hereafter all CORES
pondence on that subject, he said will be i'm
mediately submitted to congress, and 1t
publication will then be matter for tina
body to determine In the senate the Samoan
amendments, as adopted, read:
For the execution of the obligations an,
the protection of the interests Of the Unitet
States existing under the treaty between tn
United States and the government of tn
Samoan Islands, $500, 900, or SO much thereo
as maybe necessary to be expended unde
the direction Of the president this appropri
alton to be imme lately available. For tn
survey, improvement and occupation of tn
bay and harbor of Pagopago in the island O
| Tut,, Carppc and for the construction
the necessary wharves and buildings f.
such occupation and for a coaling static
therein, under the direction of the president
100000, this appropriation to be immediate
ly available
1t is announced that the Union iron work
at San Francisco, have received dispatc
from Secretary Whitney ordering them
get the new cruiser Charleston ready for Sc
within twenty days if pyssible at no matte
what extra cost.
Advices from Samoa state that the Gel
man officials have given notice that all We
sells arriving there will be searched for art
Giles contraband of war. They have SUI
; pressed the Samoan Times. A passenger Q
| the British steamer Walnut, who vi it.
Matasfas camp, was placed under arres
but was subsequently released in compl
ance with demand Of the British consu
A proclamation has been issued, placing ii
| Apia police force under German con 70
Mataafa's followers number 5000. The
, are strongly intrenched, and other Samoan
are rapidly joining them. Upon the arriv
of the steamer Richmond she was boarde
] and searched by the Germans.
: 1t is not expected that German militar
. operations in Samoa will commence uni
J sufficient re-enf rcements are sent to Il
/. Islands. At present there are at Same
| three German war ships, with an availab
landing force of 300 men.