Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-25
THE SAMOAN CONTROVERSY.
AMERICA, AND ENGLAND STAND
AGAINST GERMANY.
(By Telegraph TO virgianian-pnot)


(By Telegraph TO Virgianian- Pilot.)
Vancouver. b. c., Feb. 24.-The
steamer Miowera arrived to-day from
Sydney. Wellington. suva, Fiji and
Honolulu.
Mail advices from Samoa via sgd
ney show that after the scene in the
Apia Courthouse. when the British
ana American Consuis showed they
were stronger than Germany, three
cheers were given for the United States
consul for standing by British Consul
MaNe In response Consul Osborne
SAID that it was his duty to stand by
me chief Justice. and his decision in
the King case. and he would do so.
II was true that he had no man of-war
IN Aoia harbor to call to his assist
uhce. but there were plenty of United
states men-of-war in the background,
ana don't you forget it," he added.
WAR PROCLAMATIONS.
At Apia the interval of waiting for
instructions, from Europe is being filled
up by n war of proclamations issued
pS the German Consul and Da Rafael
ON one side. and by the British Consul.
.he American Consul and Captain
Sturdee. of II. NJ. S. Porpoise. on the
other Captain Sturdee issued pro-
l y
Chambers was not allowed to hold
court the Porcoise would fire on the
town. and In view of the possibilities
british and American subjects were.
therefore. required to take shelter on
board the Porpoise if they so desired
The German Consul then issued the
following:
According to official notice received
from II. II. NJ. Consul Maxse II may he
expected that. ADia will be shelled by
ii. NJ :. Porpoise at 1870 q. m. to-day.
'SiSned) ROSE.
Imperial German Consul.
UNCLE SANS SAY.
The next proclamation was the
United States Consul-General:
To the American Citizens in Samoa:
Living many thousands miles away
from our native land, the opportunity
rarely comes when we can serve our
country and preserve its honor. The
Berlin treaty is just as much law OF
the United States as if it had been
passed by Congress. We helped to
make it. Our President signed II. Our
Senate ratified it, One OF the mos;
important features of that treaty is
the Supreme Court OF Samoa, estab-
lished by our Governments together
with other treaty powers. for your pro-
lection. Every piece of property you
own and every right that you enjoy in
Samoa is protected by that court. The
title to the home In which you live is
signed by the Chief Justice of that
court. Except for his signature to
your deed and the seal of that court
stamped upon it You would have no
more right to your land than strangers.
Look at your deed and you will see
that 1t is not only signed by the Chief
Justice bu; by one of your own coun-
trymen. An insult to that court and
to the Chief Justice should be the
same to every American as IL the in
suit was given to our Supreme Court
at Washington, and to the Chief Jus
tice of the United States. There Is no
nation on earth that would dare insult
the Supreme Court of the United
States. Every man In America, from
the Atlantic TO the Pacific. from the
Gulf to the Lakes. would fly to arms
If such thing was done. Think calm
~ and act like patriots. Stand by your
flag.
(SigneO IL. w. OSBORNE,
~. S. Consul General"
German Consul Rose then issued a
proclamation, declining TO recognize
chief Justice Chambers. and saying
that the provincial government wac
entitled to fulfil all functions of the
Government. lie would, therefore. de-
cline to recognize any acts OF Cham
bers as legal or valid
british Consul MaXse and II. s. Con.
| sui Osborne issued joint reply, say
Ing that Chambers was the Chief JUS
tice, and any one else assuming to act
did so in violation of the Berlin treaty.
They claimed that the provisional.
government was intended to be only
temporary. Any acts pertaining to the
Chief Justiceship performed by any
body other than Chambers would be
revolutionary and void.