The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-02-02
Signed) GhOVER CLEVELAND"
BAYARD TO THE PRESIDENT.

Secretary of State relating to affairs in
,signed) GROVER CLEVELAND"
BAYARD TO THE PRESIDENT.
As the question of Germsn action and
American rights in Somoa is under consid-
GRAFTON by Congress, 1 beg leave to transmit
herewith, with a view to their being laid
before Congress, copies of the correspon-
dence touching affairs in Somoa, which
have taken place since January seth, the
date of your last message to Congress on the
subject. This consists of q telegra a to this
department from Blackjack, vice-consul of
the Uuited States at Apia, dated January
S1st, and paraphrase of my telegraphic in
struction of the same copy to our minister
at erliE, OF which copy was also sent TO
the charge affairs at London, and my note
of the same date to Count Arco Valley. To-
day was waited upon by the German min
lister at this capital, who read me a note
from his government, which l transcribed
from his dictation and now enclose copy
of Its text. The enclosed telegram from
Blackjack reads:
Auckland, January S1.-The German
consul declares Germany Is at war with
Matafaa, and Samoa under martial law"
The paraPhrase of the note to Minister
Pendleton is as fellows:
"BRyard instructg the minister of the
United States at Berlin to inform the Ger
nan government that adVices from Apia
state that the German consul had declared
Germany to be at war with Mataafa and
Samoa to be under martial law. Bayard in
forms Minister PeRdleton that the German
minister at this capital, under instructions
from Prince Bismarck, had already
acquainted this government of the deslara-
ton of war by Germany agains! Mataafa
and accompanied his notification with q
statement that Germany would Of course
abide by It's agreements with the United
States and England touching Semos and
preserve under all circumstances the rights
- ~ - s-t.z
But, in view of sdVices from Apia, Bayard
instructs Pendleton to say that this govern
ment assumed that German officials in
Samoa would be instructed carefully to re-
frain from interference with American
citizens and property there. hence no de-
claration of martial law could extend Ger
man jurisdiction so as to include control of
Americans in Samoa Such pretension
could not be recognized or conceded by
this government"
The remainder of the correspondence
as transmitted by the President reads
as follows:
Department of State, January S1st-
Bayard to Count Arco Valley, informs him
of the receipt of teleg ram from Black
lock and says:
"Not knowing what construction might
be given to his authority by the German
consul at Samoa in said proclamation Of
martial law, l deemed it expedient at once
informing him of the precise language of
the telegram from Blackjack and stating
that the declaration of a state of war by
the Germans against Mataafa and his party
In Samoa, had been previously communi-
Gated through you, and that Prince Bis
marck, in his instructions TO you, also states
that the German government would, of
course. abide by the agreement with Amer
lea and England with respect to Samoa, and
pay due regard to all instructions as to the
rights of those powers established by treaty.
Cur minister at Berlin was therefore in
!structed to make it known at the German
foreign Office that the ULited States asserts
that the German officials in Samoa should
be instructed TO scrupulously abstain from
all interference with American citizens and
their properly in Samoa. and that no in
crease or expansion of German Jurisdiction
over American citizens or their properly
would be caused by the German declaration
of martial law; nor would such jurisdiction
be recognized or conceded by the United
States.R
Count Arco Valley to Bayard, under in
struction from the Prince Chancellor. Feb
ruary 1st: AS q state of our war declara-
ton against Mataafa. the commander of the
German squadron has issued proclamation
by which foreigners established in Samoa
were subjected to martial law. Interna-
tional law would be pOwerless to q certain
extent 10 prevent such measure, but as
Prince Bismarck is of the opinion that our
military authority has gone too far in this
instance, the commander has received bcle-
graphic orders TO withdraw that part of the
proclamation concerning foreigners. / ana
negotiating with Mataata. Our codsul at
Samoa has asked that the administration of
the islands of Samoa might be tenn porarily
handed over to him, which demand not be-
ing in conformity to our previous promise
regarding the neutrality and independence
Of Samoa, Knsppe has been ordered by
telegram to Withdra Immediately his com
mand.