St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-08
SEWALL IN The SOUP
Secretary Bayapd Requests
the Consul-General at Sa-
moa to Resign.
The Reason Given Is His Lack
of Harmony With the De-
Sartment.
SeWalI Points Out How Bay
ard Is Toadying to Prince
Bismarck.
Germany Means to Annex Sa-
moa and the Hawaiian
Islands as Well.

EWAsHINGToN. Feb. "A reporter
called this afternoon upon Mr.. SeWall
and asked for statement of the
reasons given by the state department
in its request that he should tender his
resignation as consul general at Samoa.
Mr.. Sewall in reply said: 1.-The reason
given in the letter asking my resig-
nation, is the disagreement of my eX
press views with the views entertained
by the state department, in regard to
Samoan affairs. This refers, | sup
pose. to the testimony have given be-
fore the senate committee OH foreign re-
lations, and which has not yet been
published. No disapproval of my con-
duct in Samoa as consul general has
ever been expressed by The state de-
partment, so far as know, and, indeed,
it will appear from the communication
sent to congress in regard to the stu
alton of affairs at Samoa, that the de-
partment wrote me commencing my
course in the trying and delicate po-
sition, as it was styled, in which [ was
placed during the deposition of Malle-
toa, at the time of the conference of the
powers. Only two months ago, when |
requested that my leave OF absence be
extended, the request was denied, for
the reason, as stated. that the situation
of affairs in Samoa rendered my pres
ence there advisable. suggesting no
doubt even then of my
FITNESS FOR TIE PLACE.
AS is well known | was on my way to
my post when summoned to Washing
t0n to testify before the foreign rela-
tionS committee. Last Thursday | was
discharged by the committee. and af-
fairs in Samoa being in most critical
condition, Immediately made arrange
ments to return TO Samoa. No intima-
ton was given me that l should not be
allowed to do SO until within few
hours of my intended departure, when
l was notified to remain here. The
purpose was obvious. My services
were needed Immediately, if at all.
Another steamer would not sail until
March, and it was the evident inten-
ton to detain me until after the incom-
ing of the next administration, upon
which, as is known, L have not the
slightest claim to political recognition.
No. continued Mr.. SewaIl 81 did not
thereupOn tender my resignation. l
had done nothing wrong. l had too
much respect for Mr.. Bayard to assume
that had offended him by my testi-
mony before the committee. Besides,
/ was under oath to tell all | knew of
Samoan affairs and to withhold nothing.
The views | expressed on the situation
and the remedy necessary were given
at the request of the committee. 1t was
not for me to consider whether those
views agreed with Mr.. Bayards or not.
do know, however, that my views
coincide with those of all Americans
who have given the matter any thought,
the state department excepted, for
which | can not speak" what are
those views, Mr.. SeWall?" 81 believe"
said Mr.. Sewall with deliberation, that
the disposition of Malietoa was deter
mined upon before the conference of
the three powers began. and that it was
the German intention to carry out the
policy it had decided upon regardless of
that conference. The purpose of Ger
many is to
SECURE CONTROL OF SAMOA
In defiance of the solemn and repeated
assurances it has given to our govern
ment. Furthermore, | believe that
Lord Salisbury is party to this scheme
and that the movement against Samoa
is only the precursor of an AnglOGer-
man attempt to secure supremacy in
the Hawaiian islands," "What, in
your opinion, Mr. Sewall, will be the
dispatch of American ships of war to
protect our interests in Samoa| Il
concur with Mr.. Bates, our late commits
sioner to Samoa, in his published opin-
ion that Admiral Kimberly can accom-
plish nothing undtr his instructions
from the state department. Mr.. Bay
ard expects Admiral Kimberly to sue
ceed in doing by protest what he has
been trying without success to do for
year"
docs Mr.. Bayard suppose protest
will turn Germany from the course she
has been steadily pursuing? Com
manders Leary and Mullen have pro-
tested, and their protests have been re-
ceived with contempt, and does any
one expect Admiral Kimberly will be
treated better?" ''What do you believe
should be done?" Il believe, with
Secretary Whitney, that a definite pol
send our ships there with only their
present Instructions is simply to sub
Ject their officers and men to humilia-
ton, or as Secretary Whitney (using a
polite term out of respect. | suppose, to
Mr.. Bayard) terms irritating condi-
tionS' from which their Self-respect
makes them revolt. But Secretary
Bayard cannot punish Secretary Whit
ney OF Mr. Bates. [ am the weakest,
dHO dilI,
SINGLED OUT FOR SACRIFICE"
Mr.. Sewall said that whatever per-
Honal opinion of the attitude of Mr..
Bayard in Samoan affairs might be, he
had, during his entire term of service,
Loyalty and implicitly followed the sec
retary'S instructions, Notwithstanding
they placed him in a false and humilia-
ting position. Said he: ''As the rep
tentative of the government to which
our citizens looked for protection, was
forced to see indignities inflicted upon
them, their property seizea and their
trade destroyed. had no power what
ever to give them redress" In reply
t. an inquiry as to what German ag-
trression had been going on for so long
time, Mr.. Sewall said that the recent
news from Samoa, which had so aroused
the country, was only repetition OF
what had happened before. "Why."
said he, "a great stir has been made by
the announcement that martial law had
been declared by Germany in Apia, but
this is not the first time the German
consul has declared martial law in force.
German SentrieS, even before the Amer
cans had been deprived of their right
to a joint vote in the government of the
town, had been commanded to shoot
until dead men not answering the
challenge, and the notice giving warn
ing of this was posted in German script
only. An American banner had been
torn down by Germans and trampled
on. When war was declared against
81 49,.