New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-20
THE SAMOAN ISLANDS.
ORIGIN OF THE PRESENT COMPLICATIONS
YEARS OF STRIFE OVER THE KINGsHIP.

YEARS OF STRIFE OVER THE KINGsHIp
The kingdom OF Samoa occupies group OF four
teen volcanic islands IL the Western Pacific Ocean
These islands. containing about thirty-six thousand
native inha oitants and less than q thousand for
eigners, have been the scene OF much strife a
great deal OF which be traced 10 German In
fuence They are Of consders Die Importance from
q commercial point OF view. clothing. hardware,
iron, manufactures, arms and ammunition, pro-
visions drinks and animals being imported. while
coffee. cocoanuts and cotton are exported.
Commercial treaties were first concluded on the
part of Samoa with the United States in 1875, and
with Germany and Great Britain in the following
year. Formerly the islands. with the exception OF
Tutuila. which had independent chiefs were gov
erned by the royal houses OF Maetoa and Tubua
IN July, 1881. by agreement between Germany,
Great Britain and the United States. Maletoa be-
came King OF all Samoa and Tamasose ViceKing
These frequently changed places until August q,
1887 when Germany proclaimed Tamasese King
and deported Malietoa a war vessel. and kept
him in captivity n the Cameroons and the Mar
shall Islands. Mstaafa. the chef OF the Royalist
party and relative OF the exed King, then made
war against Tamasese.
The Germans, after an encounter on December
Is, 1883 resulting from an attempt to dsarm Ma
taafa's forces proclaimed martial law. truce was
finally arranged. pending diplomatic negotiations
Samoan conference was held in Berlin In 1883, at
which Great Britain. the United States and Ger
battle Of December IS lsSS. had other motive on
the part Of he German consular and naval authori
ties than desire 10 bring about the annexation
70 Germany Of the Islands. Prince Bismarck tried
TO drag In Great Britain by announcing that Ger
many and England going hAnd-and-hand In
Samoa. but he was told by Lord Salisbury that
ngland declined any responsibility for the con
hct. Tamasese had been recognized as King not
only by Germany. but by Great Britain. and when
the Samoans locked to the camp of Mataafa the
German authorities declared war against Mataafa,
5ombarded villages, searched English vessels. de-
stroyed the property Of Americans suppressed the
English newspaper at Apia, arrested British and
American citizens and threatened 10 lombard Apia
When the German Government requested the CO.
operation Of the United States il was Informed that
the United States willing to aid In the restora-
ton OF order only the basis OF the preservation
Of the complete independence Of Samoa. Secre
tary Bayard also protested against subjecting
American citizens to military law Prince Bismarck
then ordered the commander TO withdraw the proc
amation OF martial law so far as II applied TO for
eigners. and compelled the German Consul desist
from the control OF the administration of the ISL
ands which ne had assumed
Meanwhile Mataafa gained the adherence Of over
SIX thousand warriors, while Tamasese's following
had dwindled 10 a mere handful Mataafa refused
TO surrender TO the Germans but finally agreed to
keep truce during the diplomatic negotiations
Admiral Kimberly had been dispatched by the
United STATES Government, and arrived at Apla
March Il, 1889. He offered TO aid the German and
British consus In the re-esta blishment OF peace
and order. and advised both Mataafa and Tamas ase
to await the decision of the conference.
The Samoan Conference met April q and con-
tinued In session about six weeks. The treaty then
signed guaranteed the neutrality Of the islands. In
which the citizens OF the three Powers had equal
rights OF residence trade and personal protection
The Powers recognized the independence OF the
Samoan Government and he tree rights OF the
natives to elect their Chief or KING and choose
The form o. government according 10 their own
laws and customs The treaty also provided for
the creation OF a Supreme court consisting OF a
single Judge, who should be named by the three
treaty Powers or Il they should fail TO agree, by
the King of Norway ana Sweden. The Chief JUS
tice has jurisdiction all civil suits concerning
real property situated in Samoa all civil suits Of
any kind between natives and foreigners, or be-
tween foreigners OF different nationaites and over
all crimes and offences committed by natives
against foreigners OF committed by such foreigners
as not under any consular jurisdiction.
With view to the prompt restoration of peace
and order In Samoa the Powers agreed 70 reeos-
niZe King the deposed Nalietoa Leupepa. When
this last agreement announced AT Samoa the
natives at first Cojecte1 aud elected Mataafs, but
finally induced 10 recognize Maetoa. MaietOa
continued TO reign until his death last August The
present trouble has resulted from the dispute
the election OF his successor. Mataafa. who had
been exiled some time before, but allowed TO
return on condition that be would take part in
political affairs first chosen Immediately his
rivals Maetoa Tanus and Tamasese charged fraud
and filed protests. The Chief Justice declared the
former exile Nataafa ineligible and that Malietoa
Tanus had been lawfully chosen King. 1t appears
that Germany has on this occasion been supporting