The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-02-08
a MODIFICATION.

The German Rroelamation Putting For.
eignsrs Undsr Martial Law In sanss
withdraw.
yesterday sent another Samoan message
to Congress.
The paraphrase Of q note to Minister
Pendleton 10 ~ follows: "Mr. Bayard
instructs the Minister VI he United States
at Berlin to inform the German Govern.
ment that advices from Apia state that
the German Consul had declared Germany
to be ct war with Nasaafa and
Samoa to b under martial law.
Mr.. Bayard informs Minister Pendleton
that the German Minister at this
capital under instructions from Prince
Bismarck had already acquainted this
Government Of the declaration Of war by
Germany against Mataafa and had &C.
companied the notificat on with the state.
ment that Germany would of course abide
by the agreements with America and En-
6 and touching Samoa and preserve under
all circumstances the rights Of this Govern
ment established by treaty. But, in view
of the advices from Apia, Mr.. Bayard in.
structs Mr.. Pendleton to say that this Gov.
eminent assumed that the German officials
in Samoa would be instructed carefully to
refrain from interference with American
citizens and property there since no dec
laration Of martial law could extend Ger
man jurisdiction so as to include control Of
Americans in Samoa. Such q pretension
could not be recognized or conceded by
this Government"
Count Arco Valley to Mr.. Bayard under
instructions from the Prince Chancellor,
February 1: las q state Of war was de.
clared against Mataafa the commander Of
the German squadron issued proclama-
ton by which the foreigners established
in Samoa were subject to martial law.
International law would to q certain ex.
tent not prevent such q measure, but as
Prince Bismarck 10 of opinion that our
military authority has gone too far in this
instance the military commander has re-
ceived telegraph orders to withdraw
the part of the proclamation con-
corning foreigners. In negotiating
with Mataafa our Consul at Samoa has
asked that the administration of the
islands Of Samoa might be temporarily
handed over to him, which demand not
being in conformity to our previous prom
Use regarding the neutrality and inde-
pendence of Samoa, Mr.. Knappe has been
ordered by telegram to withdraw immedi.
ately his command"
The papers relating to the harbor of
Pago-Pago, which Senator Sherman an
nounced in the Senate that he had
received from Secretary Bayard, are
of interest in view of the prominence
given at present to Samoan affairs.
A letter from Mr.. Coward to Assistant
Secretary Rives, dated January 81, 1889,
says that the four persons signing the in
strument giving the United States the
port Of Pago-Pago were appointed as
comm ssioners on behalf of the Samoan
authorities in view of the fact that they
were individual owners Of property along
the shore of the harbor at Pago-Pago.
Continuing. the letter says: IN my
opinion this instrument might be regarded
as transferring to the United States title
to the land. At the time was not author
ised or prepared to accept an absolute
title in fee simple, not knowing how far
the United States Government desired to
proceed in the matter. For that reason
the phraseology employed was that used
in the treaty, leaving thereby the inter-
probation Of the same to the Department.
Goat island was selected as the place for
raising the flag concentrating this event
in consideration Of the fact that it COM
view of the whole harbor with
the intention of not combining the United
States Government in its selection to anv
particular part of the shore for use a.
coaling station during the period covered
by the language Of the treaty, Viz: ten
years or more"