The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-05-15
GERMAN SHIPS FOR SAMOA.



~ - nsuevss ,r-, m ,H- U.,t.s states
whAsr-w. nv= ths Trip.rt,to Asrss-
rssts Attsasv viii A--uz~ Pre-
tst,erste, eva vita Ensisss's Cons.nt.
WASHINGTON, Msy 14.-Ths snnouncsm emit
from Berlin this morning of the intention Of
the oefmsn Government to send Ave German
var ships 10 Samoa At an early date. and the
possibility Of sending out . regiment Of In
fentry. created sonna com ment among off1cials
Of the state Dspattpent. While sverse to dis
ehssine the subjeet. they feel that this step
implies that Germany 10 preparing to step In
and seize the islands II opportunity offers.
There are nov two German vessels and one
English vessel In Apia harbor The Germans
have kept ut least one vessel there at all
times while the British have had feet near
by ahd have despatched a ship there for short
stays every few months. The agreement OF the
United States under the tripartite com pact to
station war ehlp there has been ignored for
three years. and there Is no intention on the
part OF the Administration, a. far as can be
learned. TO order one there. This may be due
10 the fact that the United States has a small
force 10 select from on the Pacific station. but
even when this force was much larger no at
tempt was made to assign q vessel to Apis.
The Berlin despatch indicates that should
the United States formally abrogste the treaty.
an arrangement will be made between Ger
many and England whereby Germany 10 to
assume . protsctorate over the islands. and
that England will take control OF the Tonga
Grouh, which she has been struggling to se-
cure FOR years. but has been prevented in q
measure By the efforts made by Germany In
the same direction. AZ Secretary Gresham
IL absent no authoritative statement can
be obtained OF the attitude the United
States will assume should Germany mo-
bllizs \ Rtronk feet In Samoan waters
With the evident intention Of asserting . pre-.
tp create disecrd and snDther war between
them. The, future attitude OF the United
taken out Of the hands Of secretary Gresham
~ his experimentation to the senate present
ng IN 70 Viii" nc the t1s
ssSre..ry Ggs.h.m's statement /. /. long
Sfintsr, Tor Gistrippticn among the Senators
when Senator Gray's resolution calling for the
alton in the Senate This resolution was pre-.
s9 wfss sSS . the Of
Sa Mi Min esss bad sTsr. IDs extended
tsry Gresham, wben the relations Of this
sSdp,s g samoa Were discussed and
TIE abroe..ion q che tri.paIt,5e nersement
IL Is unuerstOou tnat tho RESOLUTION mas not
yet come up for discussion. and no attempt
will 10 made for the present to get II before the
Senate. where . prolonged struggle would un-
doubtedly ensue. and bitter fight be made By
tile Republicans to defeat any such move as
10 cont m plated by Secretary Gresham. SEN
ator Morgan Tor one would undou btedy op-
pose It. especially In view OF hia recent report
Oh the Nicaragua canal. in which he points
out the strategic i'm portance OF a coaling alta
tion Ct Samoa should the canal lie comp eted.
1t was stated at the state department to- day
that there 10 much doubt Of the right OF this
Government TO hold indefinitely the cesaion
Of the site for the conling station. The site
was originally secured under the treaty Of
1873. which gave to the United States the
right to acquire the station within ten years.
when II would then be, optional whsther the
Samoans should extend the time. This treaty
has never been abrogated, and some years ago
the site Tor the station was purchased for a
nominal sum No attempt has l.een made.
however, to make permanent station. and the
only Indication there IN OF a station are several
hundtsd tons OF coal dumped there by q
schooner shortly after the famous hurricane.
Should Germany assume control Of The Islands
IL IL beiisved that the right OF the United
states to tho station would necessarily he
Affected. 1t 10 understood that tho main
reason upon which the Administration bases
its objections to cpntinuance OF the present
arra ngeinents for the preservation OF an au-
tono " nus Govern ment 10 that the expense In
CARED By msintajninR ii far exceeds the re-
terns received through commercial relations