Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-29
Bayard Talks Samoa.
The Quarrel Over There Not
Uncle Sans Affair.
WHY GERMANY WENT TT ALONE.

A Similar Case to Our Hayti Affair-ThOse
Conferences and Their Abrupt Termina-
ton by Bismarck-The Immortal Klein
Tells wofui Tale--Consui Knappe's
Bumptious observation-disclosures Ne
gotiations Between the Consuis
BALTIMORE, Jan. 29-The Suns Washing
ton correspondent had an interview yester
day with Secretary Bayard on the Samoan
question. Mr.. Bayard says the question for
Americans to consider is whether we shall
continue to maintain neutrality as between
Matsafa and the Germans or assume the
role of belligerents towards Germany in be
half of one of the two claimants to the
throne. Thus far Germany has given us alb
solutely no cause for war The flag which
was burned in Samoa was not hoisted in as
sertion of American rights There is no
analogy between the cases of Samoa and
Hayti. Hayti had distinctly violated
Its treaty obligations to this country
and had seized an American YES
sell The United States in this instance
had the right to act alone, for it alone was
concerned in the proceedings complained of
In the Samoan islands, on the other hand,
American interests are only Indirectly
threatened. The coalng station of Pago-
is not involved Page Page is ON another
island, and Germany does not seek 10 inter
fere with our authority there The Germans
are confronted with pretty much the same
situation in Samoa as that in which the
United States were involved with Hayti.
They claim that the Sarnoans as did the
Haytians, broke their treaty engagements
and that they had the right to punish them.
1t is not true that American property
has been wantonly destroyed by the
Germans. or the American flag fired
upon. He said that the tattered
remnants of the flag said to have been fred
upon by the Germans was received at the
State department yesterday. It was
not the flag AT the American con
sulate, but was in little village which was
being shelled 10y the Germans The village
took fire and the flag was partially burned
1t was not hoisted in assertion of any Amer;-
can rights and was not fired upon or insulted
Besides the German government has ex-
pressly dsclaimed ady intention of giving
this country cause of offcnSe
With regard 10 the failure of this govern
ment To protest vigorously against Germany's
treatment of the Samoan king, Mr. Bavard
states that he has no authority for such
course. Malietoa was not n citizen of the
United States and American rights had i'm
no way been invaded. Germany claimed that
he had violated his treaty obligations and
that he was an enemy whom she had the
right to seize. Mr.. Bayard said he did what
the treaty with Samoa obliged this country
to do He used the good offices of this
country again and again, but without result
Mr.. Bayard states that from the very begin
ming of the Samoan troubles Germany has pro
fessed the utmost friendlineSs to the United
States and regard for American interests on
theslands Only yesterday he received a com
munication from the German minister ex-
pressing sincere desire TO reach settle
ment satisfactory to this country The whole
trouble, in Mr.. Bavard's opinion, is due TO
the course of the German trading companies
which have large interests in the islands |
They have striven to commit their govern |
ment TO Endorsement of acts intended to pro |
mote their interests and practically To secure |
them control of affairs
The secretary then reverted to the confer
ences held in this city. and said the last con-
ference was held on July %, 1887 on which |
occasion there was deadlock, the German
minister submitting one proposition and Mr. |
Bayard another as TO the manner i'll which |
Samoa should be governed. This conference |
adjourned to meet in August following Mr. |
Bayard says he was therefore, taken wholly |
by surprise when the German minister called
at the state department one morning in
August and left memorandum stating that
his government proposed to independently
protect its own interests and rights in Samoa
and obtain the satisfaction and reparation
deemed to be due to its national honor and in
case Malietoa was either not willing or not
powerful enough TO give the necessary salts
faction for the past and sufficient guarantees
for the future, to declare war against him
and refuse to recognize his government
Referring TO Senator Sherman's resolution |
providing for the appropriation of $500, 900
for maintaining United States coaling sta
ton at Samoa, Secretary Bayard said that
great deal had been said about the prompt |
and patriotic action of the senate in this par |
ticular. In the first place if the Re- |
publican senator's are sincere in the in |
tention to protect American interests at
Samoa against the alleged outrages of the |
German government $500 is a very small |
amount 10 90 to war on. 1t would not pur- |
chase the ,OOO,O 900 tons of coal which certain
Republican senators say should he landed |
there, nor would it build single gunboat