Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1889-02-08
ACTION OF CONGRESS.
American Interests to be Pro-
tected in Samoa.
Defiant Utterances of Prince Bis
marok's Chief Organ.

In the United States Senate Mr.. Sherman,
from the Committee on Foreign Relations,
Diplomatic and Consular Appropriation bill,
designed to protect the interests of the United
States in Samoa:
For the execution OF the obligations and
the protection Of the interests Of the United
States existing under the treaty between the
United States and the Government Of the
as may be necessary, to be expended under
the direction of the President, this appro-
priation TO be Immediately available.
For the survey, improvement, and occu-
patton OF the bay and harbor of Pagopago,
IN the Island Of Tutuila- Samoa and for the
construction OF the necessary wharveS and
buildings for such occupation. and for a coal
ing station therein, under the direction Of
the President, 800, OOo, this appropriation TO
be Immediately available"
Senator Sherman made no statement Of
the views Of the COMMITTEES on the proposed
amendments at the time they were offerrd,
but IL is learned that the COMMITTEES were OF
opinion that under the terms Of the treaty
with Samoa it is the duty OF the United
States to intervene, by force if necessary, to
protect the autonomy Of the islands against
the aggreSsous of any power The treaty
was made by Secretary OF State Evarts and
February l3, 1873 Article y. rends:
''1f, unhappily, any differences should have
arisen, or shall hereafter arise, between the
Samoan Government and any other Goveru-
ment in amity with the United States, the
Government Of the latter will employ It's
good Offices for the purpose of ad justing
these differences upon a satisfactory and solid
foundation"
Then the amendments to the Consular
bill mean that the President is to send feet
ok,; H.
essary to protect the Samoan Government
and to relieve the people from the danger to
ware" was asked by one of the members OF
the Committee
"Thatis exactly what they mean" was the
answer.
It is understood that the ComRittee were
unanimous in support of the amendments
Calling for the Secret Protocols.
despatch from Washington says: Ex-
element over a possible rupture of the
amicable relations of this country. with
Great curiosity still exists to know
the exact wording of the protocol
o Of the United States Ger Ps'"' and
England in the summer of 1887. Secretary
Bayard still insists tina: the record Of these
proceedings must be kept secret In the
House Representative Ford, Of Michigan,
offered for reference to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs the following preamble and
resolution
Whereas, Recent dispatches from Vice.
Consul Blackjack, of Aria, Samoa, to the
Secretary of State, and accounts in the pub.
lie press, have conveyed the intelligence Oh
great indignities offered by the representas
and American interests in Samoa; and
whereas, In the correspondence trans
United by the President to Congress On
April 2, 1888, touching our rights in Samoa
there appears letter from the Secretary OF
State to the British and German MING
tiers asking permission Of their Governments
to make public the joint protocols of the
Samoa conference held between said SecreS
tary and said Ministers in the summer OK
1897, which permission was refused; and
Whereas, 1t is alleged that the publication
of these protocols would show that Germany
has violated treaty rights and obligations
solemnly entered into with the United States,
Resolved, by the House of Representa-
tlves that the Secretary Of State be re-
quested to transmit TO the House copies Of all
such protocols and memoranda Of the pro-
ceedings Of said conference. if not incom+
patible with the public interest.
Utterances of Bismarck's Organ.
The North German Gazette prince Bis
marck's organ, denies the existence of
any treaty precluding any European power
from acquiring or seeking to acquire Ascend
eucy in Samoa. The Gazette also denies
that England and the United States are
agreed that the proceedings of the German
agent in Samoa are contrary TO the stlpula I
lions of the treaties concerning Samoa end
are opposed to diplomatic etiquette, and THAI
those powers have officially notified the Ger
man &c vernment accordingly. The treaties
between Samoa Germany, England and the
United States, the Gazette further says, pro:
vide that Samoa shall concede to each treaty
power equal rights with any other power,
S;:s 10 treaty regarding the neutrality or tnh
dependence Of Samoa exists between Ger
many and the United States
The foregoing article in the North Gee.
man Gazette relative to the treaties regard=
ing Samoa has caused somewhat Of com,
motion in official circles in London. BY
some persons it is regarded as deliberate
defiance to the Washington Government