Evening journal., 1893-02-14
We and OUR NEIGHBORS
The Relations of Uncle Sam
and Foreign Powers.
AMERICAN INTERESTS PROTECTED.

A Record of Last Years Work in the
State Department Brings to Light
Diplomatic Correspondence on Inter-
National Cases-The Inner Facts OF
the Gilbert Island Controversy.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14--The relations
of the United States with other powers
growing out of the protection of the in
terests of the United States and its citi
zens in the islands of the Pacific ocean
have been the subject of considerable
correspondence that will appear in the
forthcoming volume of Foreign
Relations" Some of this correspondence
is particularly interesting at this particu-
lar juncture of affairs.
Mention has been made of the fact that
at the time Captain Davis, of her
Majesty's ship Royalist, hoisted the
British flag over the Gilbert Islands
June II last, his treatment of Adolph
Rick, the commercial agent of the United
States at Butarati, was such as to call
forth protest from Secretary Foster,
which protest was filed with Lord Rose.
berry on November 16 by Henry
White, secretary of the American
legation in London. From the
correspondence it appears that Captaiu
Davis refused to recognize Mr.. Rick as
consular representative until he should
be accredited TO her Majesty, the Queen,
and be demanded that the printed head.
ing United States Consulate Butarati"
should be erased from letters entrusted
to him under the usual courtesy of for
warding home bound mails by returning
war vessels, for transmission to the de.
partment of state on the ground that it
was mot courteous
II is pleasant to note that Mr. Rick re-
fused to comply with the demand
and that the letters were carried by
Captain Davis in the original form pre-
sented to him. The correspondence also
shows that Captain Davis, in profane
and an unwarranted manner undertook
to try A. j. Kustel an American trader
on the island of Tarawa, for an alleged
assault upon a native of the island some
months previous to the date Of the rails
ing of the British flag over the islands
subsequently, under date of Decem-
Der 9, Lord Roseberry informed Mr..
White that the British authorities and
officials in the vicinity of the British
Islands had been instructed to recognize
MIR. Rick as commercial agent of the
United States in the Gilbert Islands and
at the same time expressed the regret of
her Maiesty's government that Captain
Davis did not extend to Mr.. Rick pro
visional recognition, giving in the mean
time the assurance that the rights and
interests of United States citi
zens established in the Gilbert
Islands would be fully recognized
and respected by the British authorities
Within the past few months frequent
references have been made to the fact
that correspondence was in progress be-
tween Germany, Great Britain and the
United States, under the tripartite ar
rangement by which they maintain I
protectorate over the Samoan islands
The condition of affairs on the islands
was said to be unsatisfactory and the
presence Of a war vessel was deemed ad
visable, and for time there was talk Of
sending a second vessel there.
1t was supposed at the time that thes
precautions were made necessary b,
probable local disturbances, but
letter written to Secretary of Leg
alton White in London, by Secretary o
State Foster, on the 21st of last Novem
Der may serve 70 more fully explain tn
presence of the alliance at Samoa.
The letter summarizes the variou
steps in the acquisition of the rights 0
the United States in the harboi of Pag
Psgo, which have been continuous sine
1872 and since 1878 have been exclusiv
by express stipulations in the treaty O
January II, 1873 Subsequent treatiesIwit
Germany and Great Britain containin
nrovicfonc for fba acta hliahmaut of ooal
ing and naval stations so far as the con
travene the exclusive rights of the Unite
States to the harbor of Pago Page
Secretary Foster asserts, are void for tn
reason that the grantor was no longe
competent to deliver the thing sllege
to be granted