The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-07-15
WHITE RUIN IN SAMOA.
German Consul General Rose Dis
ousses the Situation.
CONTROL OF THE COMMISSION

II
Doubtless BE Given Consideration In
the Direction Interior Annirs.
Washington, July 15.-Consul Cen
eral Rose, the German official who has
been one of the foremost figures in the
recent events in Samoa, called at the
White House yesterday and was in
tToduced by Secretary Hay to the presi-
dent. A brief talk on Samoan affairs
occurred, and hopes were expressed
on both sides that the causes of recent
friction had disappeared Herr Rose
afterwards saw a press representative
and gave an interesting outline of the
conditions up to the time he left
Samoa.
prior to the arrival of the Samoan
commission" said he, "an armistice
had been arranged with the native
forces Mataafa and his men were
back of a line sweeping around the
city of Apia and extending from the
town of Falenla to Lantii The Ma
taafa forces numbered about $500 men
Tanu and his men occupied the pen
insula jutting out from the mainland
near Apia. They numbered about 1000
men. Both forces were fairly well
addition to their old arms, about 700
modern rifles, furnished by the British
ships at the time of the conflict.
"The commissioners first turned
their attention to disarming the ma
tive forces. AS soon as they arrived
Mataafa sent a letter of greeting and
said he would abide by any decision
they might make. The commission
a
Badger to each of the claimants for the
luingship, Mataafa being heard one day
and Tanu another They were ad-
dressed not as kings, but simply as
Sir AS senior member of the body
the American commissioner, Mr.. Tripp,
asked some very direct questions of
Mataafa and Tanu. He wanted to
know if they were ready to give their
support to the commission, even IL it
determined to deny the right of one
or the other of them to the kingship,
or to abolish the kingship entirely.
Serious as these questions were to the
two claimants for the throne they
promised to support the commission
in whatever action was taken.
"Some days later the Badger went
along the coast to Malie, where Ma
taafas headquarters were located. The
native chiefs came alongside and
formal surrender of 1875 guns was
made to the commission.
"Mataafa and his chiefs came aboard
the ship, and were entertained at a
dinner The Tanu party followed
with the surrender of their arms a few
days later, for, while the decision of
the commissioners had upheld Tanu,
Kxyau fa1t tn ha in hn int nf
all concerned that the native kingship
| should be brought to an end, and that
an administration by white men, at
least over those localities where white
interests are greatest, should be
brought about Tanu yielded to this
decision, but for time there was
some prospect of trouble as the royal
| flags were kept flying over the Tanu
headquarters, despite the fact that he
had surrendered the kingship. This
was a source of irritation to the Ma
taafa people, who considered it con-
trary to the understanding arrived at.
"Since arriving in this country, how
ever, understand that this source of
difficulty has been removed and that
the Tanu flag is withdrawn and the
Tanu forces dispersed The Mataafa
people having also gone back to the in
terror with the natives disarmed, and
both factors back to their homes, there
is every reason to believe that no fur
ther trouble will arise, and that the
commission will be free to work out
a satisfactory plan for the future gov
ernment of the islands.
I'm determining upon the abolition
of the kingship the commission has the
support of all the leading business in
terests in Samoa"
Herr Rose did not wish to discuss
the future government of the islands,
as this might anticipate the report OF
the commission. He has no doubt,
however, that the essential principle
will be the white mans administration
in place of the native kingship, GER
tainly for those parts where foreign
interests predominant, while at the
same time the natives will be given
proper consideration in the direction
of affairs in the interior of the island