The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-01-30

King of Samoa, and made treaty between
the United States and Samoa in 1873, which
gave the United States the privilege Of enter
ing and using the harbor Of Pago Pago and
establishing there coaling and
naval supplyIstation. In case Of differences
with other nations the United States agreed
to employ its good offices In adjusting such
differences.
ted States to occupy, hold and establish in
In the harbor of Pago Pago station for coal
and other naval supplies. Somewhat SINH
lar treaties were later made with Germany
and Great Britain, granting ike privileges
to other points. Later arrangements were
made, all four nations being parties thereto,
by which the town and district OF Apia were
constituted municipality and declared neu-
tral territory. This territory was now
known as the capital OF Samoa ana was SET
aside for commercial purposes the govern.
ment of Samoa being practically excluded
from it, The municipal board consisted OF
the German, English and American consuls.
BY the treaty Of April 6, 1886, between Ger
many and GreatBritain sort Of dellmitation
was established for the jurisdiction OF each
government in the Polynesian group with a
a disclaimer that this partition should apply
TO the Samoan Islands.
That was the legal statas today No other
arrangement or agreement had ever been
made that affected the rights Of the several
parties. There was always sort of quasi
war existing In Samoa between the several
branches Of the people. The opinion Of the
American consular agent was that the people
formal government. Civil war continued
until In 1888 when. by the aid Of the consuls,
1t was settled BY agreement that Malietoa
should be king and Tamasese vice king.
Later, Malietoa appealed to Queen Victoria
asking that his government be annexed to
New Zealand. Germany protested vigorous
ly and In 1884 the German consul
made treaty with Malietoa making
Germany supreme in the Islands. England
and the United States refused aequiesenee
and Germany repudiated the treaty.
1t was evident that the present rebellion
had been organized by the German consul
and German named Weber, at the head OF
a large commercial house. The German fleet
arrived at the island In 1886, and the vice ad-
miral sent an insulting letter to Maliet0a.
After this United States Consul Greenbaum
raised the United States flag at the request
OF Malietoa over the public buildings in
Apia. For time this checked the action OF
the German local authorities. Later the
English, German and American c0nsuls
again Joined In a declaration that Tamasese
bad never been recognized by either as king,
and that Malietoa was king. Consul Green
baum.s part In this act was disav0wed by the
American government, as he mad no more
right to assert protectorate there than the
German or English consul had. While the
agents Of the English, German and Ameri-
can governments were investigating the sit
Malietoa and set up Tamasese In spite Of the
fact that negotiations were making for the
restoration Of the statu quo. There were in
dieations that the English government was
coinciding with German policy.
Mr. Sherman found In the papers no justi-
fication for Germany. Bismarck asserted
the equal rights OF each Of the other govern
ments, but insisted that 1t would be better
to place the custody Of the island under the
control of one power, and, as Germany had
the largest property interests there, it would
be best to place 1t under German control.
That was now the point In the controversy.
The action OF the German government was
In the nature Of a discourtesy, but he did not
care to discuss the conduct OF the German
government. Diplomatic forms had been
observed, but the substance had not been
there. The Uuited States was in no way
responsible for Klein. The first thing TO be
done was for the United States to assert its
power by the occupancy and possession OF
the bay Of Pag0 Pago. That ought to
be done Immediately. It did not need war TO
protect the nations rights. The mere asser-
tion OF our rights, and due regard for
them, the expenditure of money there, the
there, all were assertions Of power, far more
influential than protocols and diplomatic
correspondence. 1t Is not necessary to
menace any one. A Straightforward and
manly negotiation should be entered into be
tween these three great powers. 1t would
be shame and disgrace 10 our civilization
and ChristIanity,if we should not agree upon
some mode Of government for those Islands.
There Is nothing In the situation that would
justify, on the part Of either nation, breach
Of the peace until every effort Is exhausted
to bring about peaceful and quiet settle
ment Of the controversy.
First, we want to assert and maintain our
right to the station at Pago Pago. Nobody
will call that right In question. Next, we
ought to keep our promise to employ our
good offices to settle the difficulties Of the
people. Mr. Sherman was willing to vote
any sum Of money to enable the President to
conduct negotiations, make surveys of the
harbors and get better information In rela-
to those Islands. He was willing to vote
$780, 900 and .place 1t at the discretion Of
President Cleveland or President Harrison.
de had no doubt the power thus given would
bring about prompt solution Of so small a
controversy.
The secret legislative session of the Senate
was wholly occupied In discussing and v0t-
ing upon the motion of Mr.. Sherman to con-
sider the Samoan amendments with open
doors. Messrs. Sherman, Evarts and Voor-
hees favored 1t, and Messrs. Edmunds and
Morgan opposed. The motion was agreed to
26 to "a. The merits of the amendments
were not discussed.