Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-30
BISMARCK AND BAYARD.
Between the Two Pre-.
miers in Regard to Samoa.

miers In Regard to Samoa.
| THE GERMAN CHANCELLOR SAYS THAT oEnMASYs
COMMERCIAL INTERESTS IN THE ISLANDS ARE
GREATER TEAM THOSE OF AMERIcA-MB. BAY
ARD DENIES AMERICAN AGGRESSION.
The correspondence between Secretary Bay
ard and Prince Bismarck on the s mo ques-
ton was furnished the Baltimore Suri'last eve
ming. The first letter is from Bismarck to the
German minister at Washington.
''You have already been instructed" it SAYS.
ION former occasion to draw the attention Of
the Secretary Of State, Mr.. Bayard, to the anti
German attitude observed by the American
| consul-general at Apia, Mr.. Sewell. during our
| action against the Samoan King Malietoa. We
have had a similar experience with the prede-
cessors of Mr.. Sewell on all occasions when
! ever we endeavored, in view of the unsettled
state of affairs on the Samoan islands. to OBJ
tain better guarantees for the protection of the
there living German subjects and their COM
sentatives in Apia of the fast seven years re-
peatedly contain the complaint that their
American colleagues show q tendency to in
terfere with our relations to the Samoan
government and to Undue the latter with
distrust Of Germany. The endeavors
the establishment Of lawful and orderly
condition OF affairs on those islands have
without exception. met with the opposition of
the American consular representatives. At
the outbreak of hostilities amongst the natives
In 1881, when the commander of his imperial
majesty's ship Move, on the requisition of the
German consul at Apia and in agreement with
the Samoan government. as we'll as with the
municipal administration, occupied Apia in
order to protect the foreign settlement, the
American DR. DO tod
against that measure, and caused the editor of
an Ap1a paper, with whom he was connected
by friendship, to publish a series Of articles
containing injurious statements against the
German vice-consul and the commander of
his imperial maiestys ship Move.
GERMANY INsULrED.
'The American consul, Canisius, has been
pointed out to US as the author of two letters
which Malietoa addressed to his majesty the
emperor, under the 18th and 25th of May. 1885.
These letters contained complaints with regard
TO the imperial representative in Apia, the de-
mand for his recall, and an insulting critiaue
OF German military measures. The successor
OF DIR. Canisius, MIR. Greenebaum, made oppo-
sltlon to the German representative in every
thing. encouraging at the same time Chief
Malietoa and his provoking attitude toward
Germany. He arbitrarily announced in
proclamation issued on the 14th of May, 1886,
the American protectorate over the Samoan
American flag over the Samoan flag proceed
ing which was disavowed by his government.
The encroachments of the present representa-
tive OF the United States in Apia have, as you
know, repeatedly given occasion to me to COM
plain OF his conduct to Mr. Bayard.
FRIENDLY PROFESSIONS.
'!In view of the so friendly relations which
have continued undisturbed for more than
century between Germany and the United
- Il
realm OF islands, where neither America nor
Germany has uny political interests to defend
we are exposed to the continued ill-will of
series of American representatives. There are
no local commercial rivalries which could ex-
plain such fact
Samoa have not aspired to commercial success,
and quotes statistics to show that the German
interests in the island are much greater than
those of America.
EQUALITY OF RIGHTS.
He then continues Germany has never
made use of this mercantile preponderance of
her subjects in Samoa to secure commercial
privileges. as the United States have recently
done in Hawaii by the ratification of the lately
renewed reciprocity treaty of January 80. 1875
We have always maintained the principle of
equality of rights of nations in Samoa, and
never asplred to political advantages. More
over on the occasion of the latest action
against alahetoa, the continuation of whose
government was Incompatible with our dignity
we have given. before the deposition Of said
chief to both the English and American gov
ernments the assurance. against which no
doubt has been raised, that it is not our inten-
ton to change anything with regard to the re-
lations OF the treaty powers to Samoa.
II fail. therefore, to find in the facts them
selves any reasons that could explain the con-
tinual ill-wil shown towards US in Samoa bv
the American representatives of the past and
OF the present. and l should be thankful to Mr.
Bayard il he would lend me his assistance in
the investigation of this strange fact Should
my supposition be right, that those difficulties
have their origin in the personal disposition of
the American representatives in Apia. and not
in their instructions. am convinced that the
American governmentw will cause the necessary
redress to take place.
1T cannot be conceived that consular officers
who do not respect the limits of their task, and
who cause by their conduct without reason
international iii-feeling (verstimmung) between
countries entertaining friendly relations to
each other, act in the sense of their govern
ment. with which Germany since the founda-
ton OF the American union has been connected
by traditional friendship.
I'VE come, therefore, readily to the convic-
ton that II will suffice to submit to the atten-
ton OF his excellency the Secretary of State
coherent view of the attitude observed by the
different American consuls in Samoa in order
to be enabled to hope for the redress OF mis-
UNDERSTANDING which has no foundation in the
actual reciprocal friendly relations
NE. BAYARD, IN HIS DISPATCH
to Minister Pendleton. contends against the as
sumption, in Bismarck's communication. of
aggressions on the part of Americans, and
claims that the Germans have been the agrees
ors. He says: This government has mani
rested. in the most unmistakable manner
its desire to avoid all possibilities
OF difference with the other treaty
powers in Samoa, alike By its
action in respect to its consular representation
there and by the exercise of Its moral influence
to discountenance and prevent those native
dlssensicns which, assuming the form of disaf-
lection toward existing government, have stood
as constant invitation and incentive (of which
interested foreigners in the islands have not
been slow to avail themselveA to intrigue with
native factions to obtain commercial and po-
htical supremacy. This policy it has pursued
with consistency and good faith. actuated not
so much by the idea of any present or probable
future commercial interest in that quarter of
the globe In which the islands in question lie.
as by benevolent desire to promote the de-
velopment and secure the independence of one
OF the few remaining independent territories
and autonomous native governments in the
Pacific ocean.
Had the government of the United States
entertained any designs of territorial ag-
grandizement or of political control in Samoa
they could have been accomplished it is be-
heved. with much satisfaction to the natives
and with little opposition from any of them,
long prior to the date of either the British or