The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-08-17
THE SAMOAN PROTECI0RATE
EN-oONSUL GENERAL MULLiGAN
 TERMS TT 4 FARCE.

His Long-suppressed Report About to be
 Published-Samoa should be Annexed
 Once the King Pleaded With Robert
 Louis Stevenson for Little Beef, as He
 Was Actually Hunsry-Report Relates
 Many Facts Concerning the Pitiable Con-
 dition of This semi-Barbaric Monarchy.
 Washington, Aug. 16.-The state de- partment has resolved to publish the report of James H. Mulligan, ex-con- sul general to Samoa, upon the govern ment, commerce, products and people of that country, which it has hitherto held as confidential and it will appear in the August volume of consular re- ports now in press. This report was submitted to the state department in September, 1895, when Mir. Mulligan re- signed and was the expression of his views after years stay in the coun- try Introducing the subject, MT. Mil ligan says:
 'The intervention of the United States in Samoan affairs and destiny marked an unprecedented, a unique epoch in her history. It signalized a distant, radical departure from the policy which had grown up. It was the only occasion on which she ever bound herself to maintain the ex- istence of any alien power, great or small the only time when, through the solemn compact of a treaty to which any other power was a party or in any other form, she assumed a share in the direction and control of the internal administration and foreign policy of an allen country. Samoa in its present present situation presents an object les son to the American people-one that should lead to the extension of the pol icy"
 He explains that one reason for mak- ing the report was the receipt by him of large number of letters of inquiry from the United States, "who, persuad- ed by roseate and misleading reports, express themselves as anxious to leave the United States to make their homes in these islands, where they suppose a living can be had without exertion and large profits await the application of ordinary industry or enterprise
 As a matter of fact, he says, the ex- pense of living is Samoa is two to three times as great as in the United States. MT. Muliigan describes the unsatisfac- tory working of the Samoan govern ment under the treaty and says that previous to the early part of last year the king had been paid nothing for nearly two years, during which time he had subsisted on such gifts as his kindred and adherents might offer. He was, in fact, q pauper. Last year a friend of Robert Louis Stevenson stated that he had a few days before received a note from this king, pleading for a present of, or credit for a little beef, as he was actually hungry
 MT. Mulligan reaches the conclusion that the Berlin treaty is an utter and unrelieved failure, and without surren- dering an iota of American prestige or right in the islands or failing to main- tain the rights of the people of the United States should put an end to an arrangement under which a farce is perpetuated and from which no credit ensues.
 MT. Mulligan assets a remedy Is still in demand, far more than when the Berlin conference assembled. He is convinced that so far as we are con- cerned the entire question of Samoa is centered in the harbor of Pago Pago. The harbor has not been conceded, it possesses only @ concession for a spe- ciflc purpose, but he argues that it should be maintained; that whatever value, in a naval point of view Samoa possessed when the treaty of Washing ton was formulated that importance has since been increased many times over The report states that Samoa g entire trade in 1894 amounted to less than $750,000 The total government and municipal revenue was less than $S,00O, of which thirty-two Americans registered at the consulate paid but S5,- 557. The customs dues were $27, 500. The population of the island is esti- mated at 35,000 Apia, the principal town, has 826 inhabitants and is with out wharf. public school fire en- zine or a foot of sidewalk.