The morning news., 1889-01-30
SHERMAN AND SAMOA.
IN THINKS A FRIENDLY SETTLE
MENT POSSIBLE.


o+a Considers the Question with
CLOSED Doors and sherman's Speech
Follows
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-In the Senate to-
d.v during the consideration of the diplo-
n,stic and consular appropriation bill, the
,ordments in relation to Samoa having
hoor reached, Mr.. Hale said "As these
-,,rduents involve the construction of a
trno+v and will necessarily give rise to dis
.,,s,ion Of what may be very delicate re-
lions between the United States and
foreign power, move that the galleries be
cleared and that the Senate proceed to con-
.iJoration of these amendments with closed
doors
The motion was seconded, whereupon, at
o.5o o'clock, the presiding officer directed
that the galleries be cleared and tie doors
closed.
When the doors were reopened at 4
o'clock Mr.. Sherman said he would like to
state publicly the position which he took in
regard to the Samoan question, so that it
might appear in the Record. The
question involved was exciting attention
not only in this country but in
other countries; and it was due to the SEN
ate and people of the United States that he
las he had reported the amendment from
the committee on foreign relations should
state his position in relation to the facts in
tha matter. He would do so without any
feeling whatever, because he hoped that the
4 Senate would be unanimous in the adoption
Of the amendment.
A HISTORICAL REVIEW.
His skeleton statement, however, ex-
handed into a speech of considerable length,
beginning with a historical resume of the
manner in which the United States first
took an interest in Samoa, this being the
first country to establish treaty relations
q with the is landers and the subsequent
progress of the negotiations of Samoa with
the United States, Great Britain and Ger
Ii many. down to the disturbed condition
which now prevails on those islands.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE ISLANDS.
81 The Samoan islands, formerly called the
Ii Navigators' islands, were he said, almost
n midway between San Francisco and Aus
a t'aia, and were in the direct line of com
Il mercial tercourse. hese islands, eight
81 or ten in number, comprised in extent about
1000 square eiles and contained popula-
81 ti0n Of 324, eco innocent, harmless. tractable,
gocd-huI ored people of the Polynesian
4 group and about 800 foreigners, German,
En- Ii and American, with various C >n-
mercisl Establishments. These islands had
been FIRST explored and surveyed by Ad-
mral Wilkes in his famous expedition, and
the best maps OF them were those made
by that expedition. Th3 attention of
the Uni ed States had been early called to
these Islands, and special agent was sent
there who afterwaTd became minister to
The KING Of INCA and who made treat Y
between the United States and Samoa.
That treaty was made in 1878 aud was
Ngned by Secretary Evarts and the king.
Its second article gave to the United Sta es
The privilege Of entering and using the
Larbor Of Pango Pango and establishing a
coalIng and naval supply station.
AMERICAS GOOD OFFICES.
It's fifth section provided that in case OF
differences with other ma ions the govern
ment Il the United States would employ
its good afIices in adjusting such differ.
ences IEis, Mr.. Sherman said, was the
OASIS OF the right Of he United States tC
occupy and hold and to establish in the
AarDor of PauRo Pango a station for
yoA and other naval supplies.
"hAn year or two efterward
somewhat similar treaties had boen made
WIN Germany and with Great Britain by
"hlc4 those governments obtained ike
PIYIeles N other portions of the islands
30 mat Mr. Sherman said each of these
.AFee great commercial nations secured by
Ieatl's following each other rapidly, privi
E%s,s Tx somewhat similar in character but in
u!.Ieht localities, each securing coaIinp
station d harbor
APIA NEUTRAL TERRITORY,
MT. Sherman went on to speak of fur.
uer arrangement, made shortly afterward
anu Nl.Cl was. he said varv innrOrso,t .
oaI oaI zen entered into between Great Britain
G Suu uHe government Of Samoa. but the
Una ;%,iluah and American governments were
+r;.Is ~, aueu IN II, by which the town and dis
;t ~ Vi Apla we. constituted into a munic-
panty and Were declared TO be neutra'
raiIIory' where each of the three nations
nHsuV establish their storehouses thei,
90 ~o. a slops and all other buildings neces
- ;i, 5Or c1Irylrg on their traffic in those
i'.auus ms territory of Apia was now
ana ,il ~ as the capital Of the Samoan islands
tba ,,,o' "aa seI aside for commercial purposes
eYc5,5., s,lnent OF Samoa being practically
t uUeu IRON II. The municipal board con
ose oSDel Oh the German, English and Ameri
n~t .suls; This treaty or agreement hac
Oeen submit. d to the Senate. but had
the 90 snea 10y the English consul, and b,
lgaplaln oil the American ship of wal
an mo. anna 1t had been acted upon by
arresr,e. a,oe natlons as in the nature Of al
. OCCu
''' VI u. at neutral territory.
n, AN ANGLo-GERMAN TREATY.
of SHERMAN next referred to the treat,
,Aprl t. 1856 between Germanv an
ton ,.aI n' nam by which a sort OF deimltn
each vas established for the Jurisdiction o
VIII government Of the Polyuesinn gron,
app'v Gi.Cllimer ,oi.cilmer that this portion sboulC
wa. ib W. 1Ae samoa islands, That. he sa "a
rsrger5I NO. iesal status to-day, for no other AR
MAJ peIieAt or agreement had aver hoo,
dorreo' - "a d FORMAL way that affected in an,
did ro, 'ue ,.. rights Of tho several parties. ii,
Of ,H'eAu 10 e. luto detailed histor,
saw tt' IN samoa. 10 was enough Z,
mas mere was always a sort O
teyersl VA. var existing there between th
strar1e branches Of he people. II Tos
fannie 2o'erAmeut, controlled largely b,
coute1,;Nn'' somewhat aristocratic. viii
Gus c5.o,n 5',.en' always existing between vari
pntnfII I., ~ lie would not dwell mon th,
1,e.1uIes '''uIes OF that civil war.
:. toAPABLE or FORMAL eovrpvvvyr
tbe b' 5Ssemed S'id to be the general oninion ~ a,
been esr7 'cen consular agents who ha,
q their mere 70 examine into the patnr,
totally ,,, SI9.e 9 ernment that the people ver
goyernr+,,,,,,' +,,,'.VeG 70 conduct a regular forn1o
tiauad u, but that civil War had cnS
the ~ until finally in 1854 bv tba a'ao Ia CVli u
mant u was settled bv an agra
k1g .nl oLat Malietoa should h.
Soon sftau Iamssese vice kipy