Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-08-04
SAMOA DISSATISFIED.
Delay In the Formation Of the New
Government

The steamer Zealander, leaving Samoa July
Is. brought TO San Francisco yesterday the
news that great dissatisfaction was expressed
| in Apia, both by the foreign resi- dents and
| loyal natives, on receipt Of the news by
| steamer from New Zealand that America,
England and Germany had further delayed
the appointment Of chief justice and presi-
| dent of the municipal board, and that the
matter had been referred to the King Of
| Sweden. The new government Of Samoa is
| but little further advanced than it was two
years ago, Notwithstanding the fact that the
Berlin conference concluded its labors more
than . year ago and formed . treaty, which
| King Malietoa and the chiefs Of Samoa as
sented to last February. The only step which
| has been taken toward the new order OF af-
fairs is the recent appointment Of a collector
| OF customs by the three consuls sitting as q
consular board, and even this appointment
does not give satisfaction, as il is generally be-
| lieved that though the consuls have power to
| make appointments they have no power to en-
force the payment of duties The German
| trading firm, the largest commercial organiza-
! ton on the island. already pays its duty under
protest.
The native chiefs say that in difference to q
| request of the consuls they assented to the
treaty after consideration Of only twenty-four
hours, and they complain bitterly that no ap-
| nothing has apparently been done toward the
establishment of them. The government by
| consular board is regarded here the most
undesirable form that could be devised owing
to the present unsettled condition Of affairs in
Samoa and the apparently slight probability Of
any immediate action on the part Of the three
powers
1t is believed that trouble is imminent
Whether or not this trouble will reach the pro-
portion of another civil war similar to the one
MA aaA ftrr &c
present difficult to state, but the same indica-
tions are given now that were manifested be-
fore the late war. 1t is believed that the
trouble at this time would come from Mataafa's
party, which has been gaining in strength re-
Gently, the failure on the part Of the three
powers having tended to shake the faith Of
many of Malietoa's supporters. Mataafa him
self went to Savaii, the largest island of the
group a short time ago. and since his return it
has been learned that at least one-half Of the
chiefs there are in his favor.
Malietoa's followers are. Of course, stron ger,
and III the event of another it is thought
they would be ultimately successful, but the
mere prospect of another conflict is dreaded by
all the foreign residents.
Tamasese, who was supported by the Ger
mans two years ago, is apparently not engaged
in any strife, and he is said to be enlisting the
sympathy not only of the white population, but
also of the most intelligent portion Of Malie-
toa's party. Unsuccessful overtures are be-
lieved to have been made to him by Mataafa's
followers.
King Malietoa and his chiefs regard the stu
alton as so serious that they have decided to
the king, and they have selected VIM Black
lock- who was the American consular represent
alive at Apia during the last war, as the adviser
whom they desire. The only other man. of-war
at Apla now is the United States steamer Mo-
hlcan The trade on the island is utterly stag