New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-17
,rp CLEVELAND AND SAMOA
VIEWS PUT IN STRANGE LIGHT BY
JURISPRUDENCE JUST PUBLISHED.


re spv hv the state Department which Will FORM
ISSUE 70 Pod Book for 1896 contains information
pa iii he read with interest by those VINO re-
"".., so- The Presidents words In his last annual
" NC saving in effect that the conditions III
ne ro-e woful and that this countrys situa-
60 under the tripartte agreement relative 10 the
'V' ..ol of Samoa was highly unsatisfactory
% he last message he said the situation was mis-
t,.,.oys and vexatious. and asked for such iesis-
I'M ~ oo,,on or expression would lead the way
- countrv's relief from obligations he termed
- irksorne and unnatural To cohsluei"o'c
oo'i- - members Of both the Senate Commit
i"" ~ Foreign Relations ard the House COMMIT
-, Foreign Affairs the countrys SITUATION Ill
- uas regarded satisfactory as possible In
SAM" ,ha fact that the United States has not
w , .v,hority over the Government OF the ISLANDS.
So ,,ro+ion would Of course. be better II TINS
c",,ornrent had full sway in that quarter IL IS
,r,y better for the United States that IL should
80 some say in the case rather than that Eng
"a M 80 Germany or either OF the two Powers
should have cohtro''
'~,,,,,rrrrs OF CONGRESS NOT ALARMED.
'. e evident that the Presidents somewhat vehe-
-. language in his annual messages relating TO
- hos not terrified members OF the House or
s.na,e committees. 1t can be stated quite posi-
-, that the committees have no intention OF
ting anv action recommending the aoop'oh
- steps looking 20 the country 5 rehei from It's
Av,s,ions in that quarter. y single remark III one
- ,so Presidents messages excited surprise
nc members OF the Senate Committee more
-.,r,,larly 1t was that in which the PRESIDENT
.s his authority for certain statements con-
s,-1 Samoan affairs the German Consul al
,s At the time the United States was repre-
,,ss FL that place by a Consul-General. oeha-
s n. course knew that Germanys OBJECT Is 10
Ling about state OF affairs which Will ehapie
NV 70 obtain sole control in the islands the
sycited unfavorable comment among Senators
:, annears from the batch Of correspondence re-
..--es 70 that between February and November OF
l,st year the State Department exchanged a num-
- =, letters with the German Minister at Wash
,rvton. and also with Sir Julian Pauncefote Urea.
13-tair's Ambassador. 4 careful examination VI
10 several letters fails to show that anything
se-so,s arose in Samoa. that the condition Oh
20 -s.-s there during the time was grave, or sucA
&C - warrant any alarm at the White House. hoth
80 German Minister and the English Amoassduoi
sought on several occasions TO induce the STATE De
nortuent to agree TO acts which the America"
{ General. Mr.. Mulligan. thought uh"'97' ~"
a. leas. two occasions the Secretary OF o'i'e' '''
General Gresham. was favorably Influenced by the
Arguments OF these diplomats once Baron oauiina
reported 10 General Gresham that the American
co,zul-C,Aoeral was not acting In harmony Win
no representatives OF Germany and Great britain
g. ANA The Berlin Treaty presupposes' baron
caurma said that the influence which the coleuia
80 q right n exert with the local administration
nd the Samoan Government Is TO De eNelten y" inc
h,s,s % mutual consultation. He added that a
resolution q, the Municipal Council which MI Null
ligan did not approve. seemed TO have led MIN 10
,ss,,oe IN nrlnc.ple hostile attitude toward al
tho measures adopted by the Municipal Couhc"'
, ,erebv Gripping the efficiency or that DouS' "s
we'll as that OF the Consular Board. inuepeiioen'
os this Il was pointed out that Mr. Mulllsah arO'-
,rarv course in ignoring the consuls OF the o'her
,raatv Powers was a source of frequent annoyance
Y,ron S2urn7a requested that instructions be given
10 Corsui-General Mulligan 10 discontinue MS OPP
posltion 70 the Municipal Council. and 10 art IN
germany with his consular colleagues IN poh'lcal
,,,,+ers He Enclosed in his communication letter
from the German Consul-Generai at Apla.
THE CASE OF MIR. PARKER
Secretary Gresham replied this that informa-
ION from M Mulligan TO the effect that the
Municipal Council of Apia had declined 10 enter
tain and act. either favoraby or unfavoraby, upon
the alyocation OF a Mr.. Parker. an American citi-
yan for a hotel license. Mr.. Muligan said this re-
,nsal was due 20 the fact that had the license
Teen granted TO Mr.. Parker. IL would have inter-
fered with the monopoly then enjoyed by Ter
nan subject himself a member OF the Municipal
Council and the proprietor OF the only two hotels
OF the island. Tbs non-action OF the Council was
REGARDED by Mr. Mulligan undoubted wrong
20 Mr Parker and he felt indignant at it. Secre-
-arv Gresham said in his letter that this feeling
he thought was not unnatural under the circum-
s-ances The Secretary added that the State De-
ra-trnent did not uphold Mr.. Mulligan in pursuing
q re;aatory policy in order 70 secure justice 10 MS
o,unt-vn1an and that, although It appears that
German members Of the Municipal Council have
sd,-+ad obstructive methods for the purpose OF
excluding an American citizen from participation
IN privileges which they enjoy. Mr.. Mulligan would
b. Instructed TO deslst from such methods in con-
nection with the work OF the Consular Board ana
20 take part in accordance with the spirit OF the
Berlin act in It's deliberations There seems to have
been nothing remarkable vexatous in the Incl
cent.
some time af;erward Baron Saurna reported 10
the Secretary Of State that Consul-General NULL
gan I'D not agree with the German Consul-GeneraI
8, AHA in relation TO the terms Of ordinance for
the suppression OF smuggling firearms IL seems
that Mr. Mugan was of the opinion that firearms
and ammunition for sporting purposes might be ad-
rnl;ted into Ap!a. In a letter which Is given with
.ho hatch Of co-respondence MI Mulligan said
On the subject that he was not then satisfied that
I: would be advisable TO include in an Introduction
sporting ammunition az such. Nor was ne per-
suaiea that II was desirable in tine Of peace 70 eX-
tend TIE construct. Of the proposed ordnance 70
thu, extent Powder and shot. INTENDED primarily
for sporting purposes he thought. Under the pres
sure Of necessity might be made up for fixed ammu-
milton for rifles but In cases OF the k.nd arising
there was authority 10 deal with persons infrlng-
ing the ordinance Upon review OF the question
Secretary Gresham decided that Mr.. Mulhgan was
IN error, and he infCmed Baron saurrna that 'he
American Consul-CIc MAJ would accordingly De a1-
yisea that the Berlin act absolutely prohibits the
sale OF ammunition even for sporting purposes, by
American ctiz ~ 10 native Samoans. or other IA
cihc islanders residing In Samoa.
Afterward. as the correspondence shows the
German Minister inquired Of the State Depart
,neni II the United States would son Germany ana
Great Britain in paying for certain surveys 10 De
made In Samoa Subsequently he suggested an in
crease in the allotment for this object. Secretary
Gresham replied aflirmatively 70 The first quest on
Secretary Olney answered the second suggestion
saying that the proposed increase in thu expense
Of survey work was not dehni-. ne preferred walt
ing until the actual cost known before acting.