The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-02-07
OUR SAN FRANCISCO LETTER.
san Francisco, January 20, per 5. ;.
Australia.
lFrom our speciaI oorraspondopt1


tic to the Pacific the demand is gen
eral THAI the nation insist On tie
Withdrawal Of German support from
any faction on the islands. The
demand Is made without regard to
party and it has about driven poor,
homeless, covering Baynrd crazy
To add 30 his troubles, Secretary
Whitney has openly sroered at the
State Departments lack of sand, and
q Cabinet crisis is considered inevi-
table. The recent meetings Of the
Cabinet have been stormy IN the ex-
treme. President Cleveland is be-
ljeved to back up Whitney in want
ing an aggressive policy. The week
viii hardly pass without an open
split in the Cabinet.
The situation is made more inter
esting by the announcement that to-
wards the end of the week President
elect Harrison viii communicate his
ideas on the question to the press.
Harrison is known to be an aggres-
si9e man and recent callers have
credited him with the remark that
= he did not believe in letting the
Germans or anyone walk over u.s."
Tie feeling against Germany IS
intense in every section of the cOun-
try, and the belief is general that the
administration that Is going out and
the one that is soon to come in can
not afford to adopt any half-hearted
measures.
1t may be said that public interest
throughout America was drawn to
the dispute on the 18th inst. On
that day President Cleveland trans
mitted a message to Congress nrging
a firm stand. On the following day
the instructions sent by Secretary
Whitney to Rear Admiral Kimberly
were made public. The instructions.
after referring to the battles thus far
fought, are as follows:
"You will at once proceed to
Samoa and extend full protection
and defense to American citizens
and property. You will consult with
the American Vice Consul, examine
his archives, and otherwise inform
yourself as to the situation and all
recent occurrences; protest against
the subjugatIon and displacement Of
the native government of Samoa by
Germany as in violation of the posi-
tive agreement and understanding
between the treaty powers, but in
form the representative of the Ger
man and British Governments Of your
readiness to co operate in causing
all treaty rights to be respected, and
in restoring peace and order on the
basis of the recognition of Samoan
rights to Independence; endeavor to
prevent extreme measures against
the SamOans and bring about q
peaceful settlement. If such ar
rangement can be made upon that
basis you will report the same for
approval and you Will inform your
government as soon as possible after
your arrival in Samoa Of the condi-
ton Of affairs, and the prospect OF a
peaceful adjustment, and whether
Germany was acting ilnpartialiy be-
| tween the opposing forces When the
! late conflict occurred"
Whitney also instructed him % in
sist firmly on the rights of every citi-
zen being respected.
On the Dist OF January, United
| States Minister Phelps and Lord
Salisbury held q conference on Sa-
moan affairs. 1t was then given oct
on trustworthy authority that the
| British Government has decided to
uphold the treaty by the terms OF
| which European powers are pre-
/ cluded from attempting to obtain
! dominance in Samoa. The govern
ment has been fully informed of and
/ shares In the United States Govern
/ ment's views on the subject. 1t is
| agreed that the action of German
| agents in Samoa IS opposed to the
letter and spirit of the treaty; that
| it violates diplomatic etiquette and
| endapgers the good relations so ne
! cessary for Europeans to preserve
/ when dealing with semi-barbaric ma
tions.
This news created burst of anger
/ in Germany. The semi official journ-
| ais quickly denied it and Joined in
| abusing the United States for think
1 my Oh interfering III ali. ne " OICO
/ German Gazette, Bismarck's organ.
| denied the existence of any treaty
| precluding any European power
from acquiring ascendency in Samoa.
1t also denied that England and the
United States are agreed that the
proceedings OF the German agent IN
Samoa are contrary to the stipulation
of treaties or opposed to diplomatic
etiquette, and that these powers
have officially notified the German
government accordingly. The trea-
ties, the Gazette further said. pro-
vide that Samoa shall concede to
each treaty power equal rights with
either Of the others, but no treaty
regarding the neutrality or indepen-
/ dence of Samoa exists between Ger
many and the United States.
The New York Star on the 23d
inst. published what purports to be
a part Of Consul Sewall's testimony
before the Senate Foreign Relations
/ Committee. The testimony is still
withhold by the committee. The
Star says that Sewall quoted extern
sively from the correspondence be-
/ tween himself and the State Depart
ment from the time Of his arrival,