The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1889-02-22
GERMAN WHITE BOOK.
The Samoan Situation From the German
Point Of View.

Point Of View.
BERLIN, Feb. 16.-In the Reichstag yes
terday a white book in references to the
Samoan matter was introduced. 1t COM
prises forty-four documents. extending
from December 8, 1888, to February 5, 1889.
Among the documents relating to recent
events is the report of the German Consul
at Apia, dated February "a, 1883, which
describes the endeavoFs of Americans and
Englishmen to provoke conflict
dispatch dated September 8, 1888,
deals with the revolt of Mataafa and the
spport given him by Captain Leary,
u. s. N.
After an account of the attack upon the
Germans on December Is comes a letter
from Count Herbert Bismarck. dated JAM
uary /, to the German Minister at WASH
ington and London, directing them to in
form Secretary Bayard and Lord Sails
bury respecting the attack and ordering
the Minister at Washington to complain to
the United States Government that the
American, Klein, was prominent in the
fighting. The Minister is further instruct
ed to declare that Germany adhered to
her treaties and would respect the rights
founded thereon and would appeal to both
Governments to cooperate actively with
Germany and re-establish tranquility.
January 8, Count Herbert Bismarck tele-
-
| that, on account of an agreement with the
United States and Great Britain, the an
nexation of Samoa by Germany was out
of the question.
A dispatch sent to the German embassies
at London and Washington January 16
stated that the object of the military
| measures against Mataafa and his par
tisans was to punish the murderers of Ger
man soldiers and to secure to German sub
-
A document dated February 2, which
was sent by Count Herbert Bismarck tC
Admiral Won der Voltz, chief of the Ger
man Admiralty, says: Germany is not al
war with Samoa, as the term is under
stood by international law, but she regards
| Tamasese as the rightful ruler and Mataafs
as rebel, against whom and his followers
retaliation must be enforced. Anyone
standing by them is a promoter of the con-
fict between them and the Germans and
must take the consequences" He con-
cludes by declaring that nothing Ii
| changed in the legal position of foreign
subjects in Samoa.
/ The white book ends with long report
| from the German Consul at Apia- 1t is
/ dated January 4 and has thirteen append
1 ices, dealing with events from December
IA, 1888. These record that, December 10
| Mataafa in a humble letter sought to opeT
| negotiations with the consul, DuG WOulC
not surrender himself, although pledge!
were given that his life would be spared
In a subsequent letter Mataafa promised
to surrender in the presence of the British
and American Consuls, but the German
| Consul declined to entertain the offer.
November "A Prince Bismarck sent
telegram saying that if the vindication o
| Tamasese was impossible the utmost ad
vances should be made to reconcile hin
| with Mataafa.
December 3 DR.. Knapp reported tina
| the American commander at Apia wa
stirring the natives against the Germans
December II Mr.. BIalock complainet
that drunken sailors from the German
man-of-war Olga had committed outrage
| in Apia, entering houses and wOundinl
men and women. DIR. Knapp reported
later that foreigners had spread a rumo
that the Germans had been forbidden t,
interfere. This rumor had the effect o
encouraging the natives, who stoned Ger
man sailors and destroyed German prop
| critics.
In January, 1889, Prince Bismarck noti
fed DR.. Knapp that reprisals were neces
sary, but only such as were cOnsonant witt
the treaties of England and America Tn
| Chancellor said: Because Mahaafa as
saulted Tamasese we shall interfere only
by succoring Tamasese." Prince Bismarcl
charged DR.. Knapp to entreat the Othe
foreign consuls to combine in order to res
tore peace.