Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-19
BAYARD'S BIG BLUFF.
Our Treaty Rights and Samoan Inde-
pendence Must be Preserved.
HE HAS CLAIMED so ALL THE TIME,
And Now Believes That Germany Will Con-
cede Both Points.
SOME IMPORTANT INSIDE DOCUMENTS.
The sackye Correspondence is About to be Submitted
to Congress.

to Congress.
Bayard has issued statement though his
official organ concerning the Samoan situa-
tion. He says that be has contended from
the first that the independence of Samoa
must be maintained. He believes that Bis
marck is now ready to make an amicable
settlement. The inside diplomatic history
of the trouble is given.
BALTIMORE, February 18.-The Su,
prints the following special from Washing
ton, commenting on the report that Ger
many has decided to agree in part to the
proposals of the United States. Con-
cerning Samoa and defining Secre-
tary Bayards attitude in the mat
ter it says: Secretary Bayard, on
being shown the cable dispatch from Berlin
announcing the willingness of the German
Government to effect a settlement of the
Samoan question upon the basis Of joint
American. German and English control of
the islands, said he had received no official
information on the subject.
Great as this concession appears to be
when contrasted with the high-handed
course of Germany in usurping the Govern
ment of Samoa and practically destroy
ing the independence of the native
sovereignty, it does not comprise the
whole of Mr.. Bayard's contention in behalf
of the Samoans. Mr.. Bayard insists upon
the restoration of native independence. In
his original proposition for a conference, as
stated in his dispatch to Minister Pendleton
in June, 1886, Mr.. Bayard said:
THE ORIGINAL OFFER.
No separate protectorate by any nation de
sired. Suggest that German Minister here be
authorized to confer with British Minister and
me, and arrange that order be estab-
lished. A competent and acceptable chief
TO be chosen by natives and upheld by three
powers. Three new Consuls be appointed, and
continued presence of a war vessel for two
years, provided for by three powers Joint
declaration to be made against annexation of
protectoraue by any of the three powers.
The underlying principle of these sug-
gestions was the maintenance of a native
Government. Germany accepted these
propositions as the basis for the proposed
conference. In letter to Mr.. Bayard, Mr..
Coleman, Secretary of Legation at Berlin,
says Count Bercham, of the German Foreign
Office, informed him that Prince Bismarck
had accepted Mr.. Bayards suggestion as
rendered
In effect this was but putting into more
definite and durable form the previously
existing conditions of government in Samoa.
These conditions are clearly and succinctly
stated in Mr.. Bayard's instructions to
Commissioner Bates. At the Washing
ton conference, for the express purpose,
as shown above, Of establishing stable ma
tive government to be supported by all the
powers, Mr.. Bayard insisted upon the
principles enunciated in the Bates instruc-
tions.
A GERMAN CLAIM.
Germany has recognized these principles
as the basis of the negotiation, but during
tho conference she departed from this posi-
ton, and put in claim for preponderant
control. England acquiesced in this pre-
tension, and the conference came to naught
for the reason that Mr.. Bayard
would not consent to surrender
either the political independence of
Samoa or the equal share of the United
States in the territorial control. After the
proclamation of martial law by the Ger
mans and Mr.. Bayard's protest against Ger |
man aggressions, Prince Bismarck proposed |
"a resumption of the consultation which |
took place between the representatives of |
Germany, England and the United States |
in 1887 at Washington.
The German Minister at Washington was
also instructed to declare that "any suppo- |
sition that Germany would not feel salts |
fed with a neutral position in the Samoan |
islands is unfounded. We simply de- |
sire to create a condition which offers |
permanent security for bringing to an end |
bloodshed and decapitation, and which
grants permanent safety to the commercial |
interests of the three treaty powers in
Samoa"
1t may be, of course, that the cable dis
patch has not stated the German Govern
ment's determination fully, and that the ex-
pected communication from the German |
Foreign Office will include Samoan
independence among the feat
ures Of the proposed arrangement.
However this NAV be, it must be admitted
that Secretary Bayard has scored a signal
triumph in staying the hand fthe strongest
and most aggressive military power in Eu-
rope, and in obtaining the concessions
which are said to have been made already
by % dictatorial statesman as Bismarck.
sACKvILLE's LETTERS.
The President will shortly transmit to
Congress the correspondence between Secre-
tary Bayard and the British Government
in relation to the dismissal of the British
Locd Sackville. 1t is understood
that one of the chief points in dispute is
whether government may with propriety
refuse to recognize the official rapre-
sentative of country without the latter's
assent. Lord Salisbury is said to maintain
that Minister should be permitted to re-
main at his post until his own Government
is satisfied that his usefulness is impaired.
Mr.. Bayard holds that he may be dismissed
as soon as he ceases to be acceptable.
One of the theories advanced in explana-
ton of the British Governments delay in
sending another Minister to this country is
that the British foreign office
is embarrassed by the difficulty
of relocating Lord Sackville. 1t may be
assumed that it is not easy to dispose of
diplomat who has been dismissed by the
country to which he has been accredited
and as Lord Sackville is still a member of
the diplomatic service, it is neces-
sary to provide for him some
where. 1t is not believed in
we'll informed circles that the delay is in
tentional or is meant to be construed as re-
Senting the treatment of Lord Sackville by