The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-08
Pago.Pago--T Tho Whole or Nothing.

II Is ,lsclcss for sleepy subordinutcs in
and around the state Department at WASH
ington to give out that the occupation OF
Pago- Pago hnrbor by the English az coal
ing and naval station is no interference
with American rights in that quarter.
The Samoan treaty with the United States
WINS the earliest of the three treaties with
the powers most interested in the islands.
This treaty was concluded on Jan.
II. 1878. It provides that tho naval
vessels of tho United States "shall
have Tic privilege of entering and using
the port of pago-pago. establishing therein
station for coal and other naval supplies
for their naval and commercial MARINE"
and stipulates that the Samoan Govern
p,ent "irW hereafter neither exercise nor
authorize any jurisdiction riihin said port
adverse to such rights Of the United States
or restrictive thereof"
II that does not confer mn exclusive right.
what form of language can? No ono will
pretend that the grant of similar rights In
Pags-Pngo hnrhor To n power which ut
some future day may be at war with
tho United States does not constitute an
exercise or authorization Of jurisdiction
adverse to the rights OF the United States.
No ono will imagine that il Great Britain
Aeld Pago-Pugo hnrbor by n title such rs
ours she would tolerate the establishment
there of Il naval station byany other power.
Two years aud half later Samoa con-
cluded with Great Britain n treaty by which
the island Government granted to England
the right to establish n naval station in
some Samoan hnrbor: but tho treaty e1-
cepted Apin Bay. Saluafata Bay, where
Germany had meanwhile acquired exclu-
sive rights. and that part OF the harbor OF
Pago-pago which may be hereafter selected
by tho United States as station"
This later treaty with England conflicts
with tho earlier treaty with the United
States. II 1t bo understood as comforting
upon England any jurisdiction in Pago-
Pago harbor, or authorizing England to
enter and occupy that port.
Our rights in Pago-Pago are paramount
to any title set up by anybody since the
treaty OF 1878 was concluded; and until
we shall have completed the process Of ac-
quiring all tho land we need on the shores
of the bay. no other power has the right
to enter "a Il joint occupant. Until now.
Great Britain has neither asserted such
right nor avowed such a purpose.
We hope that our esteemed contemporary
the Tribune will join us in the attempt to
stir up the State Department and Gen.
HARRIsoS's Administration to proper vigil
lance and activity with regard to this i'm
portant matter. Less than three years
ago. when tho Berlin trcnty was before
the Senate. the Tribune pointed out the
danger Of "a surrender OF the control OF
the most valuable harbor and coaling sta
ton in the SOuth Pacific Ocean. The value
OF the position" added tho Tribune with
great force and truth, for the future COM
merce OF the world is incalcu!able: the
value to the United States upon the finish
ing of the Nicaragua Canal will be greater
than to any other nation in tho world"
Tho only value Of PaEo-Pago Bay to us az
naval station lies in the exclusive posses
sion and occupation OF that port. The idea
OF n joint occupation with Great Britain is
ridiculous. As we'll talk Of n harmonious
arrangement by which England and France.
Or England and Russia. shai! occupy the
rock Of Gibraltar.