Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-16
Samoa Looming Up.
Considered Worthy of a Pres.
identiaI Message.
BISMARCK NOT "ToTING FAIRLY

| A Situation So "DeIicate and CriticaI -
Naval Force There-Bismarck Has An
Angry Dispute with a Reichstag Mem
Der OH the subject-Eagiand looking
for American Friendship.
| WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. l6 The presi :
dent yesterday sent to congress message
accompanied with a mass of documents
giving the status of affairs now in Samoa,
and the progress of affairs there. The cor
| respondence enclosed is that since Dsc 81,
1885. The president says:
"The information thus laid before congress
| is OF much Importance, since it has relation
to the preser walton of American interests
and the protection of American citizens
and their property in distant locality, and
under unsuitable and unsatisfactory gov
eminent. In the midst of tile disturb Dances
which have arisen at Samoa, such powers
have been exercised as seem to be within
executive control under the constitution and
laws, which appear to accord with our ma
| tionai policy and condition, to restore tran
guilty and secure the safety of our citizens
through negotiation and agreement with
Great Britain and Germany, which. with
our own government, constitute the treaty
powers Interested in Samoan peace and
quiet The attempt has been made to define
more clearly the part which those powers
shall assume in the government of that
country while at the same time its authority
has been insisted upon.
"These negotiations were at one time inter
rupted by such action on the part of the
German government as appeared to bs in
consistent with their further continuance
Germany, however, still insists, as from the
first, that she has no desire or intention to
overturn the native Samoan government or
to ignore our treaty rights, and she still in
vites our government to join her proposition
| on this subject, but which seems to lead to
such a preponderance of German power in
Samoa as was never contemplated by us aud
Is inconsistent with every prior agreement
or every understanding; while her recent
conduct as between native warning factions
gives rise to the suspicion that she is not con-
tent with a neutral position.
"A citing under the restraints which our
constitution and laws have placed upon the
executive power, l have insisted that the
autonomy and independence of Samoa should
be scrupulously preserved according to the
treaty made with Samoa by the powers
named, and the other agreements and I'M
derstandings with each other | have pro
ttSIcu dSdlLsL every dcJ apparently tending
in the opposite direction. Owing to the exist
ence of internal disturbances, one or more
vessels of war have been kept in Samoa
waters 10 protect American citizens and
property. These things will abuniantiy APP
pear from the correspondence ami papers
which have been submitted to the congress
A recent collision between the forces from
German man-of- war stationed in Samoan
waters, and body of natives, rendered the
situation SO delicate and critical that tue
war ship Trenton, under the immediate COM
mani OF Admiral Kimberly, was ordered to
JOIN the NipsIc, already at Samoa for the
better protection of the persons and prop
erty of our citizens, and in furtherance of
efforts to restore order and safety the at
tention of congress is especially called to the
instructions given to Admiral Kimberly.
dated on tue 18th inst, and the letter OF
the secretary of state to the German min
lister, dated the l2th inst, which will ne
found among the papers herewith sub
mitted
by means of the papers and documents
heretofore submitted, AMI those accompany
ing this communication, the precise situation
of affairs in Samoa is laid before congress,
and such executive action as has been taken
is fully exhibited. The views of the execu-
tive in respect TO the just policy to b, pur
sued with regard To this group of islands.
which lie in the direct highway of the grow
| lag and important commerce between Au-
stralia and the United States, have fouad
expression in the correspondence and docu-
| ments which have thus been fully commuui-
| Gated to congress, and the subject in Its
present state is submitted to the wiser iiscre =
ton conferred by the constitution upon the
| Legislative branch OF the government"
The correspondence alluded to by the
president was not laid before the house or
| senate