The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1889-02-26
THE SAMOAN SITUATION
s Determined Attitude Taken in
the United States.
BISMARCK BACKS down.

The news Of continuance OF the
German ouuages in Samoa has
created a general cutlery from one
end Of the United States to the
other.
Prince Bismarck, in an official dis
patch to Secretary Bayard, stated
that the Samoans had made ian un.
provoked attack under the leader
ship Of an American named Klein
upon the Samoans. Bismarck then
stated that we shall carry on the
contest which has been forced
upon Us"
On February LIST, the day that
news Of martial law at Samoa came
from Auckland, the following tele-
gram was received, at the State De
partment. from Berlin: Prince
Bismarck Is Of the opinion that our
military authority has gone too far
in this instance, the military com
mander has received telegraphic
orders to withdraw this part Of his
proclamation concerning foreigners.
In negotiating with Mataafa our
Consul at Samoa has asked that the
administration Of the islands of Sa-
moa might be temporarily handed
over to him, which demand not
being in conformity to our previous
promises regarding neutrality and
Independence Of Samoa, Mr.
Knappe, the German Consul at SR-
moa. has been ordered by telegraph
to withdraw Immediately his de
mand."
On February 4th the Department
OF State received from Bismarck a
proposition for a continuance Of the
conference held in Washington IN
1857. the sessions to be held in Der
lin. This proposition was agreed to.
In the House the sum OF 100000
was appropriated for the establish.
ment Of a coalng station at Pango
Pango.
The [. 5. 5. 1Iohican sailed for
Samoa. via Panama, on February
9TH. The Navy Department Is nego
tiating for the immediate shipment
Of 5000 tons Of coal to Pango Pango
harbor, the exclusive use of which
belongs TO the United States,
On February ID Consul-General
Sewall had made preparations to
leave for Samoa by the Alameda,
when be was notified by the State
Department TO delay his departure.
on Eejruary--1tll- hG,.zsF nc, s42etJjsst1G-
able on the ground that his views
were not IN harmony with those Of
the Administration. Mr.. Sewall
stated that he regretted this because
the Germans IN Samoa had stated
that they had power enough to
effect his removal. and he was now
afraid that the Samoans would be-
lieye that Germany could control
America. The reason for this action
was on account Of the testimony Mr..
Sewall gave before the Senate Com
mittee on Foreign Relations. He
was under oath to tell all he knew,
and did SO. AIr. SeYall. IN an inter /
view, said. I believe that the de 1
position Of AaGetoa was determined I.
upon before the conference of the .
Powers began and that it was the .
German intention to carry out the
policy it had decided upon regard /
less of that conference. The pur-
pose Of Germany Is to secure con
troll Of Samoa IN defiance Of the sol
emn and repeated assurances It had
given our Government.
Furthermore, 1 believe that Lord
Salisbury is q party to this scheme
and that the movement against Sa
nOa Is only the precursor of an
attempt TO secure
in the Hawaiian Islands"
This last opinion Of Mr.. Sewall's
S shared by great many leading
tstesmen in the United States.
onsul-General Sewall retires with
he sympathy and good will Of nine
enths Of the American people. Sen
ltor Frye in the Senate said: "Let
ne tell the Senators that they have
n the committee the testimony Of
Consul-General Sewall. and while he
: 2 Democrat and without political
.ympathy with me, or | with him. 1
vii say he has acted his part in Sa-
noa with an intelligence that is
eldom exhibited by American Con
uls abroad, and with fidelity to his
'eople, and to the obligations Of his
ountry to these confding native
,smoans, worthy of very high praise.
know of no man in the United |
,tates to-day to whom would in
rust the interest of the United ]
'tstes in Samoa with more conf
ence than L would to Consul-Gen- l
raj Sewall, and l hope when the
changes, If he Is still :
D Office, the administration Will per-
nit him to remain there"
On February Sth. the President
transmitted to Congress the pro-
osal of Bismarck for a resumption s
the conference on the basis Of {
alive independence, and equality of ]
ights among the treaty powers, and
1e Presidents response. Secretary 1