The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-06
THE RIGHT TO PAGO-PAGO.
4 CLEAR CASE OF COMPLETE OWNER
SHIP By THE UNITED STATES.

II Great Britain Has SEIZED the Ha-bo-.n
IL In Clear Violation OF Treaties and
Agreements by which This Country
Owns Ex-senator Shermnn's Speech In
tho Senate at the Time OF tho Treaty.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 5.-Ths following facts
about the rights and interests OF tho United
Statcs in Pago-Pngo harbor In the Samoan
Islands. which Is said to have Just been seized
by Great Britain are from official sources:
In 1872 Manga, High Chief of Pago Page.
freely and voluntarily" granted to Com
mander Meade. u. S. N. the exclusive prv-
lego OF establishing In the said harbor naval
station. Hthis agreement, which contained a
certain implication OF protection. is to DO re-
garded as treaty. it is OF no avail. for twas
never ratified by tho Senate The treaty
with Samoa made In 1873. however.
gives the United States the privilege
OF establishing therein n naval station.
the Samoan Government agreeing neither to
exercise nor authorize any jurisdiction
within said port adverse tos UGH rights of tho
United States or restrictive thereof" On Aug.
8. 1873 upon the ratification OF this treaty by
Samoa. commission appointed by the
Samoan Government signed the document
transferring the possession Of the harbor ac-
cording to the provisions of tho treaty In
connection with this transfer the United
States ship Adams erected on Goat ISL
and. at point commanding view OF
the entire harbor. flagstaff and raised
thereon tho American flag The rights
Of this Government under this treaty
and these proceedings were not affected by
the Berlin act our commissioners expressly
stating That they could consent in no way to
the impairment Of our rights at Pago-pago
The British treaty made in 1879 reserved the
right to establish on the shores Of a Samoan
harbor a naval station. "Aria. Snlvafata. tho
German harbor. and that part of the harbor OF
Pago- Page which may hereafter be selected by
the Government OF the United States ex-
copied"
When the matter was before Congress in
June. 1889. the rights Of the United States in
Pago- Pago were interpreted to be exclusive.
The amendment reported by tho Committee
on Appropriations roads: For the survey.
Improvement. and occupation OF Pago-P Page
100000" &c. Senator sherman spoke upon
the amendment for the Committee on Foreign
Relations. and said. IN concluding his speech:
The first thing to be done IL to assert our
fago and so much OF the shores OF tho island
OF Tutuilla as ia necessary for u coaling sta
ton This t Is mere rocfy leland st compare.
| this magnificent harbor. and one OF the amend
ments to this bin proposes that we shall take
possession OF 1t. occupy 1t, and erecta coaing
station and such other buildings as may 10
necessary. That ought to be- done Immediately.
This Government within eighteen months
has purchased Goat Island and half mile
of the shore adjoining. being a small part OF
what Admiral Kimberly recomm ended should
10 secured and OF what would be needed for a
station. To this island. which ls the most val
liable about the harbor. tho United States has
bought every claim. native and foreign. and
| It's title may be regarded as indisputable. II
| the United States has not yet exclusive title to
| Pago-Pago harbor. the Government has the
right to make it so. For. until 1t has not only
selected II site. but acquired title to all the
land tho Government may want. nothing Gun
| be done which may interfere with It's purposes
there. Should this land be secured. there
would be SO little left that the question OF ex-
elusive right could never arise. Any attempt
| by a foreign power now to secure lodgment
at paso-PaGo harbor will be resisted undoubt-
| cdly by this Government