New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-31

KING MALIETOA'S DEATH MAY CAUSE
THE DIVISION OF THE ISLANDS.
PRESENT GOVERNMENT UNsATIsFACTORY-GER
MANY LIKELY TO GET THE LIONS SHARE
PAGO-PAGO WANTED BY
THIS COUNTRY.

MANY LIKELY TO GET THE LIONS SHARE
-PAGo-PAGo WANTED BY
THIS COUNTRY.
WASHINGTON. Aug 3O-The State Department
has not yet been officially advised Of the re-
ported death of King Malletoa Of Samoa, and In
all likelihood must remain in official ignorance
Of the event for some time TO come. owing to the
slow means Of communication at the disposal or
the Department
II is the general impression here that the
death Of the King will result in the overthrow
Of the present form Of government Of the
islands. maintained It is by the Joint action
Of the United States. Great Britain and Ger
many Official reports 10 the state Department
show tina, this government is the most expensive
and unsatisfactory Of any In the world. having
regard to the population OF the Samoan group
In the capital city Apia. there IS maintained
tripartlte municipal government at vast proper
tionate expense while the reports show that
thirtv-two ratepayers are obliged to bear the
entire cost
For some years back the existing arrange
rnent for the government Of the Samoan group
has been saiisfa tory to none Of the three GOV
ernmcnts vct II has been 60 ltinued for the
reason that nothing better could be suggested
that would be acceptable to the three nations
Now thore are Indicators that at least one OF
the parties IS coming around to what was a
favortc plan Of settlement OF the State Depart
ment-namely a disruption Of the present tri-
partte government and an absolute division
of the islands of the group among the united
states Great Britain and Germany.
The principal object of the United States Gov
ernment has been To retain possession Of
coaling or a full naval station in the Islands. so
as to afford a base for naval operations in the
vicinity II Australasia as we'll to insure an
open rort for our merchant steamers on the
long voyage from san Francisco to Australia.
Tn. United States now holds title to
ground for n coaling station at Pago -Pago on
the island of Tutwa This island is the least
I'm size ~ any ~ the group but is more than
largo enough 10 support naval station. so
that II has been the plan of the state Depart
mont - acquire II whole in the event of
tho dissolution of the tripartite agreement
Basng tho division on the existing interests
Of tho three nations Germany holding the
largest interest would take he island second
IN size possessing the capital Aria. while
Great Britain would receive The largest Of the
group hut me second IN commercial importance
/, o. probable that among the first duties fall
ine 10 Mr. iIay when he assumes the Office Of
Secretary - state viii be tho consideration ot
some plan - tte over the crisis expected 10
follow tho I.lth Of the King
samoa 20 rho group % fourteen volcanic islands
cf T.fyr,.A is ral-d has lost iis king Tn
elsy ne. tho o.d that wears q crown" was never
mcre true thai 'n tho case NJ King Malls,oa Lau-
y.p4 IN tact im August o. l,'7 until November
l.sf ~ Majesty Was obliged 10 10 without the
royal h'afgrar which ~ had assumed in $50. FOR
turaG fnlf Gcr0d the Gcrmans maintained the
supremacy of his rival Tamaeese
Th"s" islands containing about thirty-slx thou
sand native ir.alifants and less than thousand
foreigners. nave been the scene ~ much strife
much - which can o." traced the efforts of 4
German company with large interests 10 bring
about German control Formerly the Islands with
't. exception = TutIia which had independent
crief- w"r" governed by tho royal houses Of
Nl'i''0a and Tuhua I'm july. ISL by an agree
m"nf between Germany. Great Britain and the
United state. MaIctoa became King OF all Samoa
ard Tamlses" vic"-fing These frequently changed
places until August %. l'>1. when Germany p-o-
claimed Tamiscsc king and Mlliotoa was deportec
20 'he 'amoroous. Mataafa. the chief of tho loyal
i~t patty and q relative II the cNiled king then
made against Tamasose
Tho Germans after an encounter on December
i3 l>>s. resulting from an attempt 70 disarm Ma
taafl's forces. proclaimed martial law \ truce
was finally arrang ID. pending diplomatic negotia-
tions A. conference I'm Berlin between repre-
seniatiycs of Germany Great Britain and the
United S'tfcs Samoa WAS declared independent
and neutral. the Shnoans were secured in their
right 10 c'ct th"ir king and 20 govern Themselves
r.oorlin- :" their own laws and customs and
Supreme Court was created 20 secure the rights of
for'en"rs Thor~lpon Mllictoa was reelected
lns bv his pcopl"
The sior, Of the fan ard restoration Of this sl
and r.hy was graphically told Ay Robert
Louis Stevenson In - Tootnote 10 History. Eigh,
Yoars Of Trouble In samoa" The late King was
greatly esteemed by Stevenson. ard this hook was
written 10 yindirtt" his right 70 The throne During
the progress of diplomatic proceed ings several for
e.sn var vrss,la wcr" I'm attendance 10 protect
Tho rights ~ citizens IN he islands In tho great
storm of March L. and H.. ls>a. three German and
three American vessels w"re driven ashore ~
Apa and destroyed and about fifty Americans and
a hundred Germans were drowned on this occa-
sion Mactoa rendered valuable services in assist
IL. .-lt.l