The times., 1899-01-21
Germany in samoa.

Ten years ago it was found TO be neces-
! sary that an American warship should 80
/ 10 Apia to protect American interests in
! Samoa, where the usurpations Of Ger
many were so extreme that Bismarck repu-
dated them and apparently abandoned the
| idea of exclusive control That year there
I was conference between America, Ger
many, and England. and the independence
I Of the SamOans assured. The power to de-
eide all questions of elections was vested
in chief justice. and the president of the
municipal council was to act only on the
agreement OF the consuls OF the three
tions. The news published yesterday
morning is supplemented by dispatches by
way OF London. The situation is, in brief,
| this: At the general election TO choose
successor TO the late king. Mataafa re-
/ ceived majority OF the votes The chief
/ justice. an American, decided that under
the conditions Of his return from exile
! he was ineligible and that MaIietoa Tanus
was therefore entitled to the Office.
There is no Genial of the authority Of
| the chief justice to make this decision.
hut as the partsans Of Mataafa refused TO
submit and began an usurrecton, the
american and English consuls at the in
stance OF the German consul, agreed to
allow provisional government set up by
Mataafa to rule until advices should be
received from their respective govern
meuts. The German consul, who upheld
Mataafa. emboldened by this success. per-
scnally led the forces of that claimant
when they entered Apia to take fore be
possession Of the court house. where the
American and British consuls were. The
latter left the building, locking the doors,
and refused the demand of the German
consul for the keys. The German consul
then broke down the doors. removed the
locks and put on others. The president of
the municipal council German. who can
only act under the agreement of the three
consuis appeared on the balcony and
shouted TO the British marines: Il am
the supreme court! ! am the chief JUS
tice!" The two consuls, American and
British, forced their way into the court
room, ousted the German consul and the
German president CT the municipal coun-
ell, formally opened the court. and issued
a warning against any further interference
with its jurisdiction.
There is active insurrection. fostered by
the representative of Germany, who, if he
is not crazy, would hardly show such a
high hand without the backing of his gov
ernment The tone of the German press
for months has indicated the desire if not
the purpose, OF their government TO gain
exclusive control of the islands. There
fore the conditions are such as may easily
lead TO serious complications, involving
Germany on the one hand and America
and England on the other. AS this country
owns land there to be used as a coaling
its rights. The order to the Philadelphia
to go to Apia means that the Administra-
tion will not submit to 4 repetition of the
events of ten years ago, which, as Bis
marck was forced TO admit. were in vio-
lation of all understanding between the
powers. When that warship reaches Apia
the anti-German force will be oyerwhelm-
ing and able to suppress the mischievous
operations OF the German consul and the
president OF the municipa! council and up
hold the chief justice in his proper au-
thority.
That We have no warship in Samoan wa
ters at this moment is due entirely TO the
obstructionist minority in the Senate. as
long as the Treaty of Peace is not ratified
We are still constructively at war with
Spain and are bound to maintain the pres
ent strength OF Admiral Dewey. The sit
uation in the Philippines will continue
until the Treaty is ratified and the Presi-
dent feels free TO suppress the outlaws,
which can be done quickly. No Ameri-
can wants trouble with Germany, and II
We have it the cause will be the continued
temptation to that nation TO promote the
resistance which Aguinaldo will offer TO
American authority as long as We tolerate
it-that is to say. as long as the Treaty
is not ratified. If the serious conditions
in Samoa should result in a rupture OF the
outwardly friendly relations between this
country and Germany. the minority in the
Senate will be directly to blame. Their
unpatriouc course has done mischief
enough in Strengthening the self appointed
| dictator Aguinaldo without getting US in
TO . foreign war.