Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-02

at first indicated. Bismarck communicated
through Count Arco Valley merely O confess
sion that the German consul had gone too far
in attempting to assume control of Samoa and
In declaring foreigners subject to martial law,
and assurance is given that q modification of
the proclamation has been ordered to correct
this error. The autonomy of Samoa Is still
threatened. The report Of Count Arco VAL
ley's communication is as follows:
Count dArco Valley 10 Mr.. Bdydrd, under tn
strTctiOns from the Prince Chancellor: Feb l.
As a state of war was declared against Mataafa,
the commander of the German squadron issued
proclamation by which the foreigners estab-
llshed In Samoa were submitted to martial law.
International law would, to a certain extent,
not prevent such a measure, but Prince Bis
marck is of opinion that our military author
lty has gone too far in this instance, the mill
tary commander has received telegraphic
orders to withdraw the part of the prOclama-
ton concerning foreigners. In negotiating
with Mataafa our consul at Samoa has asked
that the administration of the Islands of Samoa
might be temporarily handed over to him,
which demand, not being in conformity to our
previous promise regarding the neutrality and
independence Of Samoa, Mr.. Knappe has been
ordered by telegram to withdraw Immediately
his demand
Secretary Bayard sent to Senator Sherman
yesterday a copy of the deed of Pago Page
Mr.. Coward, who represented the United States
in the matter. The deed recites:
To totona may concern:
Be it known that We, the undersigned, being
duly authorized and empowered by the Taimua
and Taipule Of the Samoan government, do
hereby on this, the 5th day of August, 1878,
| transfer to the government of the United
states the privilege of using the port of Pago
Page and the shores thereof, in accordance
with the provisions Of treaty Of friendship
o1,r1a a<
the United States of America, between the
United States and Samoa, on the 18th day of
January, 1878.
Taimua Ma Taipule, Lavea, Leiato, Tuilag
| and Lotto. Witness, Gustavus Coward.
A letter from Mr.. Coward to Assistant Secre-
tary Rives, dated January 81, 1889, says that
the four persons signing this instrument were
appointed as commissioners on behalf of the
Samoan authorities in view of the fact that
they were individual owners Of property along
the shore OF the harbor of Pago Pago. Contin-
uing, the letter says:
I'm my opinion this instrument might be re-
garded as transferring to the United States
title to the land. At the time 1 was not au-
thorized or prepared to accept an absolute
title in fee simple, not knowing how far the
United States government desired to proceed
In the mataer. For that reason the phrase
ology employed was that used in the treaty,
leaving thereby Interpretation OF the same to
the department"
Goat island was selected as the place for
raising the flag concentrating this event. in
consideration of the fact that it commanded
view OF the whole harbor with the intention
of not combining the United States government
in its selection of any particular part of the
shore for use as coaling station during the
period covered by the language of the treaty,
VIZ, ten years or more.
What the English and German Papers
Say.
London dispatches say that there has been a
lively exchange of notes on the Samoan ques-
ton between the governments of England
Germany and the United States, but that a con-
ference Of plenipotentiaries will probably be
arranged to settle the question. The London
Standard says, with reference to the Samoan
trouble: prince Bismarck is not likely to court
quarrel with the United States for the sake of
gratifying the local spite of Herr Weber or any
OF the pushing Germans who aspire to treat the
Samoan Islands as their Pacific preserve. There
is no installing the earnestness and sincerity Of
the protests made at Washington in this case
The reserve with which Mr. Bayard has
hitherto responded to appeals made to the
State department for prompt and energetic
action will not misead German diplomatists
In his correspondence with Berlin he has made
his meaning exceedingly clear. The United
States will not tolerate any attempt to subvert
the independence of the Samoan Islands. The
engagement into which the cabinet of Berlin
has entered with Great Britain precludes us on
our part from assuming that any infringement
OF the neutrality of the group is contemplated,
but it must be owned that there is enough in
recent proceedings to justify the concern with
which American statesmen faced the situation
The Standards Berlin correspondent saws:
Germany does not intend, at least. to annex
Samoa, but she is resolved that America shall
not do so. At the same time hear that Ger
many may occupy any place on the islands in
order to restore order, but only temporarily"
Why Germany Would Not Declare War.
The North German Gazette, referring to the
| reports from Samoa, says: "a declaration of
| war in an international sense ON the part of the
German consul or the commanding officer in
| Samoa is improbable, first, because no instruc-
tons to that effect have been given by the gov
| eminent, and second, because there is no OPP
| ponent in the islands against whom war could
| be declared. Tamasese is a friend of the Ger
mans. Mataafa is not recognized as ruler by
Germany. To declare war against him would
be tantamount to recognizing his sovereignty
The German forces may, on the basis of self
defense and reprisals be engaged in actual
warfare, which, however, would not involve
the consequences of an international war;"
| The Cologne Gazette says: Germany must re-
| store her authority in Samoa, which was griey-
ously shaken by the events of December, and
| must make an example of the INSIDERS This
military side Of the procedure is determined
upon and is unalterable. 1t can only occasion
complications with America if her Congress
desires to stay the hand of Germany and Off
cially supports Mataafa's band"
On the strength of the North German Gazette
| article on Samoa, it is argued in London that
the German commander is not justified in
| searching foreign vessels for contraband of
/ war.
In the German reichstag yesterday Admiral
Heusner pointed out the superiority of other
naval powers, and urged the utmost dispatch
to complete the new German men-of-war. All
| the naval estimates, including the credits of
| men-of-war, passed the second reading in the
| form in which the budget committee reported
them, and the imperial budget passed the
second reading.
Lynchers After Him.
FLORIDA REPUBLICAN WHO is IN DANGER OF
| HIS LIFE.
| Jacksonville, Fla, dispatch says that
Frank W. Pope, who was the independent re-
publican candidate for governor of Florida in