New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-17
AFFAIRS IN SAMOA.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT MULLIGAN'S RE-
PORT TO BE PUBLISHED.
SHOULD THE UNITED STATES CONTINUE ITS
POLICY OF INTERVENTION THERE-THE
VALUE OF PAGOPAGO

POLICY OF INTERVENTION THERE-THE
VALUE OF PAGoPAGo
Washington Aug 1.-THE State Department has
resolved to publish the report Of James Fl. NULL
gan -x-Consul- General to Samoa upon the Gov
eminent. commerce. products and people OF that
country which Il has hitherto held confidential,
and 1t will appear in the August volume OF con-
suar reports now in press. Tho report was sub
mitted to the Department In September, 1895, when
Mr. Mulligan resigned his Office. and was the ex-
preston OF his views after years stay In the
country II is q long document comprising near
ly hundred printed pages. and Is valuable and
interesting from almost any point OF view Intro
duclng the subject Mr.. Mulligan says:
The intervention OF the United States in Samoan
affairs and destiny marked an unprecrefdented
tinct. radical departure from the policy which had
cn wa h the s hn only OCCASION s
which she ever bound herself to maintain the ex-
time when through the solemn compact Of treaty
to WHICH any other Power was PARTY or IN nny
and control of the internal administration and for
egn policy Of an alien country .,,...
Samoa in its present situation presents an OBJECT
lesson the American people-one that should lead
szsn of hs Polly Rar toaRre and ns
closer union with 70 ardsa b mat helm I'm
beneficial: or must exert great influence to conduce
TO its abandonment, II 1t Is found 10 be impoiitc;
one ma aooSe an % the future are to have the
Immediate direction OF Governmental affairs in the
United States.
Mr. Mulligan explains that one reason for making
the report was the receipt by him OF large num-
Der Of letters OF Inquiry from persons in the United
States who. persuaded by roseete and misleading
reports, express themselves as anxious 10 leave the
United States with all Its opportunities and ad-
vantages 70 make their homes in these Islands,
where they cautiously suppose living can be had
without exertion and large profits await the appli-
cation OF ordinary Industry or enterprise AS a mat
OF fact. he says the expense OF living In Samoa
Is two three times as great as In the United
States OF the workings OF the government under
the treaty the writer says the real merits OF the
situation hazed IN conflicting reports. biased by
divergent interests Viewed from widely separated
standponts Is not be clearly understood at dis
lance. This is a microcosm OF paradoxes 10 which
experience elsewhere offers no explanation. furnishes
solution"
Mr.. MullIgan sets forth some OF these paradoxes-
that the recognized and reignng King is dependent
for support on the charity OF that portion OF his
family or tribe which adheres to him; that foreign
officers OF his government enjoy salaries from It's
far In of the value OF services rem
dered; that when pittance OF his nominal salary
long in is doed out TO him. It comes through
the hand OF foreign official. who exercises his
pleasure TO pay or withhold; that a struggling VII
age within and part of the kingdom, levies i'm
port and export duties on every dollars worth or
merchandise brought into or shipped out of the
dom barely enough to pay the most meagre ex-
penses and salaries of foreign officials; that upon
officer is imposed the duties of treasurer of
the municipality, treasurer OF the Kingdom ad-
visor TO the King presiding officer and member Of
the Municipal Council Mayor OF the town and
Acting Chief Justice Of the Supreme Court. in the
absence OF the regular incumbent. Speaking OF
the rreguarity of payment of salaries. Mr.. Multi
gan says:
Previous to the early part OF the present year
the King had been paid nothing for nearly two
OF taro yams. money or other voluntary contri-
buttons as his kindred and adherents might OFFER
a friend. one Of the worlds most distinguished
Louis stevenson). that he had a few days before
received note from this King. pleading with him
for or credlt Tor little peer, tnat ne
actually hungry.
Mr. Muigan reaches the conclusion that the Ber-
lin treaty is utter and unrelieved failure, and that
without surrenderlng an iota Of American prestige
or right in the Islands. falling in ota to main
tain the rights OF the people the United States
Should put an end to an arrangement under which
a farce is perpetuated, from which credit
sues. remedy is still in demand far more
than when the Berlin Conference assembled The
eminent 10 give peace but two wars almost five
years Of rebellion waste stasnation and almost gem
esa years not aSs have ben added
the treaty was proclaimed.
Mr. Muiligdn is convinced that so far as the United
States is really concerned, the entire question OF
Samoa is centred in the harbor Of PagSpsgo The
says 1t possesses only concession for specific pur-
pose But he argues that Il should be maintained:
that whatever value, in naval point of view Samoa
possessed when the treaty Of Washington was formu-
lated that Importance has since been Increased many
times
The report contains abundant Information regarding
Samoa and its interests. OF the figures being
rather surprising Its entire trade In 1894 amounted
10 less than $4,000: the total Government and munich
pal revenue was less than 5000 OF which thrty-two
Americans registered at the Consulate paid but 1851;
customs dues were $1,000 The population OF the
island is estimated 80 900: Apia the principal
has s26 inha bitants and is without wharf public
school, a fire engine foot OF sidewalk.