Huntsville gazette., 1889-01-26
The SAMOAN MATTER.

tdl-<hhAirtS anu apprehension AT the
State Department and German Legation
-Rear-Admiral Kimberly's Instructions
in Regard to Maintaining Samoa's
Treaty Rights.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-The graphic ac-
count OF the outrages upon Americans in
Samoa and the insults offered the Ameri-
can flag by the Germans, as published
Sunday, has been read here with absorb
ing interest. The State Department Of
flclals do not seem to be very much moved
by the wrongs inflicted upon their coun-
trymen in those islands, but in all other
quarters the strongest Indignation is ex-
pressed against the course of the German
Government in suffering the outrages to
be perpetrated without an instant effort
to punish their authors. The conduct of
the State Department. is severely criticised
as lacking firmness and vigoT,z Rad the
outcome is likely to be some free ex-
preston of the sense of both houses Of
Congress.
At the State Department and at the Ger
man Legation there is considerable anxi-
ETY. and apprehension concerning the
state Of affairs at Samoa. The German
Minister keeps his mouth closed and
eludes, as far as possible, all interview
can make serve the purpose. The Secre-
tary said to o correspondent last night
that the State Department had not re-
ceived any information of an alarming
character from Samoa since he transmit
ted the correspondence on the subject to
Congress last week Subsequent dis
patches, he says, are rather of q reassur-
ing nature.
lA1-ty nd hn W
rights of all Americans" said the Secre-
tary, ''will be protected, and so will the
Samoans in their rights, without interfer-
ence from without"
In confirmation of this statement, the
Secretary referred to his communication
Of January u to the German Minister, in
which this language is used:
Ireceived with special satisfaction your as
surance OF the intentions of your government
TO maintain and carefully respect the treaty
rights OF this Government under all clrcum
stances, and this, as l stated to you, necessarily
included respect for the existence of Samoa's
autonomy and independence, which is the basis
of the three treaties with the United States,
Germany and Great Britain, the tirst-named
being earliest IN date
Rear-Admiral Kimberly, commanding our
naval forces in the Pacific has been ordered to
proceed in his flagship, the Trenton. to Apia.
l have great confidence in his wisdom and
benevolent discretion, as well as in that of the
naval commanders of the other national vessels
at Samoa to promote satisfactory arrange
ments l take it tor granted that the same
spirit of comfy and perception of the equal
rights of all these treaty powers which induced
your government to unite to invite the active
cooperation of the United States in restoring
embodynnFg nF e g sg anpn ppyg w cause @ PSacons rs
n fp IN fr-r,
plan Of settlement to the German officers in
command of the Imperial forces in that region
There is no obscurity il theseveral treaties,
and none in the understanding proposed by the
United States, first arrived at between the
treaty powers IN June 1866, and since then
from time to time set forth IN their correspon-
dence. On January Is last, the views OF this
Government were fully conveyed to the Gov
ernment of Germ ny by my instructions of that
date to cur Minister at Berlin. and have since
then undergone no change, and intmatiOn
Of dissent therefrom by the Government of
Germany has since then been received.
l think that the tenor Of my communication,
taken in conjunction with Secretary Whitney's
instructions to Admiral Kimberly, meet the
situation at Samoa as 1t has been represented
to US In Secretary Whitneys instructions 10
Admiral Kimberly, who is to start foT Samoa
on the Trenton, the Secretary said: "You VIII
at once proceed TO Samoa and extend fult pro
lection and defense to American citizens You
will consult with the American Consul, exam
inc his archives, and otherwise inform yourself
as to the situation. Protest against the subju-
CATION and displacement Of the native sovereign
OF Samoa by Germany as in violation OF a pos
tive agreement between the treaty powers, but
inform the representatives of the German and
British Governments of your readiness to CO.
operate in causing all treaty rights to be re-
spected, and restoring peace and order on the
basis of a recognition of SamOas right TO in
! dependence; endeavor to prevent extreme
| measures against the Samoans, and to bring
| about peaceful settlement"
As to what may happen when Kimberly
comes up alongside the German men-of-
war in the waters of Samoa, Secretary
Bayard is not willing to say, further than
that he has no doubt the Admiral will
carry out his instructions to the letter.
John Ball VIII 5 and by Brother Jona-
than.
LONDON. Jan PIT is stated upon most
| excellent authority that the English Gov
| ernment has decided to uphold the treaty
| bv the provisions of which European pow
ers are preciuded from obtaining or at
tempting to obtain dominance Of Samoa.
England has been fully informed of the
views of the American Government on
| the matter, and is in full accord with the
| opinions held in Washington. The two
| governments are agreed that the action OF
! the agents of Germany in Samoa is op-
| posed to the letter and spirit OF
the treaty, and also violates
diplomatic etiquette and endan-
gers the good relations 50 necessary
to the presence Of Americans and Eu-
ropeans when dealing with semi bar
barous nations. Dispatches have been
sent to Berlin couched in language con-
veying the foregoing sense Of the sltua-
ton. The latest news received by Lord
Salisbury from Apia is of menac1ng
character, and the Admiralty have there
fore ordered the strength OF the Pacific
fleet TO be increased Immediately by at
least two powerful vessels. Count Won
Hatzfeldt, the German Ambassador, had
an interview with Lord Salisbury yester-
day afternoon after Mr.. Phelps had con-
suited with Lord Salisbury.
The Trenton and Vandalia.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-It is said at the
Navy Department that it will take at least
six weeks for the war ships Trenton and
Vandalia to make the voyage to Samoa;