The Portland daily press., 1894-05-02
SHOULD NOT BACK OUT.
Senator Frye Talks of Our Rights in
the Samoan Matter.
THE SCHEMES OF GERMANY AND
GREAT BRITAIN.

How 1t Came About That Three Nations
Assumed Virtual Protectorate Over
Samoa-The Previous Cleveland Admin
istration Would Do Nothing and This
One Seems Anxious to Back Out of the
Agreement that Has Since Been Made.
Washington, May 1.-Senator Frye ex-
presses himself on the Samoan situation
in his usual vigorous English. do you
think the United States will back out
OF. Samoa, Senator ?'' he was asked.
"The United States ought not to back
out of Samoa" he replied emphatically.
"But after the Hawaiian policy one can
not say what this admin stration will
do. have no official information about
Samoa, but it is evident there is some
friction down there, though nothing
which could possibly justify the United
States in giving up rights acquired 10th
by purchase and by treaty. But whether
the President will make it ground for
withdrawing from the tripartite agree
ment, thereby giving Samoa over to
Germany and Great Britain, is ques-
tion. If he goes to that length- it will
erned his action towards Hawaii-to re-
pu diate and discredit the work of the
former administration"
After brief pause, the Senator contin-
ned: "The story of Samoa is very sim
pie. Germany got hold of the Samoan
group through her tradingscompany, IN
VIII ch members of the German govern
ment were directly and largely interest,"
ed. 1t has never been the plan of Ger
many to colonize islands of the Pacific
and give them good government as Great
Britain does-because of the expense.
So Germany's hold is always by trade.
The German traders in Samoa cheated
the natives and had things pretty much
their own way. Great Britain had gone
down there, too, and the United States.
by purchase, bad acquired rights to
Pago Pago harbor for coaling station.
Under such conditions things were not
likely to go on smoothly, and they led
to the conferencesin Washington during
PresidentCleveland's first administration
Germany being represented by the Ger
man minister, Great Britain by the
British minister, and the United States
by the Secretary of State, Mr.. Bayard.
This conference, however, accomplished
nothing, and took recess without adj
justing any of the difficulties. Dur
ing the recess, Germany went down there,
took possession OF Samoa, and deported
the king-actually lugged him off. 1t
was just as much of an insult TO Great
Britain as to the United States. But
Great Britain made no protest and did
not resent it, | have never had any
doubt in my own mind but that there
was an understanding between Great
Britain and Germany at the time of the
conference"
What do you think the understanding
was, Senator'S
"Why, that Great Britain should let
Germany go ahead in Samoa, and then
Germany should keep her hands off
Hawaii Great Britain was passive. and
it was the United States that called
Germany to account. I introduced a
the affair. Harold Sewali, consul gener-
al to Samoa, came home. But before he
could testify the President sent him
back. Another resolution in the Sen
ate, though led the President to stop
Sewall at San Francisco, and he returned
to Washington and gave his testimony.
Afterward the President removed Sc
wall. Our investigation aroused strong
feeling of Indignation against Germanyss
course, but the President did nothing.
IL was not until the Harrison admins
trations that anything was done TO settle
the trouble. MIR. Blaine took it up and
brought about the Berlin conference,
which resulted in the tripartite agree
ment, or treaty, between Germany,
Great Britain and the United States"
Continuing, Senator Frye said that
Germany and Great Britain both being
possessed of the European greed to COB
BILE up everything in the Pacific, the in
terest of the United States in Samoa
should be jealously guarded. @s-'A