Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-19
TROUBLE IN SAMOA,
The Situation There Full Of
Gravity for U.s.
MAL|ETOA TAHUS DEFEATED.
ha aa'e in the Ascendant, and RecoS-
tnlzsd Professionally.
MORE GERMAN BUMPTIOUsNEss.
Kniser's Consul and President of
Amin Council seize supreme Court
and Declare Themselves Prncti-
caIIy Dictators.
MORE GERMAN BUMPTIOUsNEss


AUCKLAND. NEW ZEALAND, Janu-
arv is.-Samoan advices just received
here say that Chief Justice Chambers
on December 9lst, declared Malietoa Ianus
to have been elected King, in sue
cession TO the late King Maletoa. The
Chief Justice also announced that Ia
masese had been elected Vice-King. Chiet
Mataafe was disqualified.
The consuls Of the United states ana
! Great Britain and the captains Of the
| German warshp Falcon and the BRUSH
warship Porpoise, met the German Consul,
| who refused 10 recognize Malietoa
| Tanus. and declined to cooperate IN the
disposal ofNhe Samoans, WHO, therefore,
| assembled in large numbers at Muilhu'
| armed themselves, and surrounded the
| municipality. Malietoa Tanus and Ia
masese mustered about 1900 men, well
armed. but supplied with defective ammu-
nition The British and American con-
su,s endeavored TO avert hostilities, but
they commenced on January 1st Malietoa
Tanus and Tamasese fought bravery put
800 of their followers were captured. Iheh'
disheartened and outnumbered. the two
chiefs sought refuge on the BRUSH
warship, and their followers sought pro-
| lection under the guns of the Porpoise'
Mataafe's loss was sixty-one killed ana
wounded. and Malietoa Tanus lost twelVe
! men killed and wounded.
r FOREIGNERS on BRITISH WARsHlP.
The foreign residents were placed under
the protection OF a detachment oil men
I belonging TO the British warship ana
20 Chief Justice Chambers and his FANNY
; went on board of her.
e The followers OF Mataafe looted ana
r burned Apia. destroyed the plantations
= ond nIllaged considerably in the country.
!. The consuls later decided TO recognize
y Nataafe and his chiefs as provisional
5 government. pending the receipt OF IN
struotions from the Powers.
e Aftervard Dr. Rafael and the German
s. Consul closed the Supreme court dS-
o claring that the power was vested III
: them. The British and American cohsuiS
u u then appealed TO the BRUSH Wa.sniP
i Porpoise. which landed force OF Dlue-
/ jackets. and Chief-Justice Chambers,
II under their guard. took his seat. The
o British and American flags were hoisted
~ over Chambers's house and the court
house. Mataafe held aloof from these de-
- | VelOpmentS.
~ ngtTIsH AND AMERICAN PROTEST.
20 The provisional government wrote TO
le Sturdee. on the 10Th, that they Woulu
- seize Malietoa and take Tamasese OH
q. the Porpoise by force, If necessary oe-
er nrive them of their titles ana desert
X them Chambers Is residing on the Por-
es noise. The British and American consuls
r have protested against any infringement
al or the Berlin treaty British residents
We have taken refuge in their consulate ano
n tha American residents have taken re-
IN fnge in the mission. An American war
d. shin is urgently needed mere
)r- SITUATION GRAVE
'c- WASHINGTON. ID. c., January lS.-
c" The situation In the Samoan lslands l.
III reaI,zed here to be full of gravity. Fol
~ some time past there has been an eN
~ change of corr espondence between th
no three governments party TO the treaty y
40 Rerlin respecting the choice OF sue
.,r cessor to the late King Malietoa, ant
- .one fri,-icr developed. owing TO IN
"0 a.,ict adherence of the United states u
tha terms of the treaty. The statement
%, IN the dispatch from Samoa are not re
20 corded here as conclusive, for tne rea
~ ~r son that they are in conflict WIN III
Ia- provisions of the treaty .,,..,
" If os reported Rafael the presldeh
@ @Ise 90 tbe municipal council at Apia, and III
TN German Consul. Rose. have seized IN
81 Sunreme Court and pronounced theii
op9 ee1ves practically dctators. II Is sal
10 here that they have violated the treat
O' absolutely The functions OF the pres
dent of the municipal council are cie"i
,.o defined by the treaty, ana the Iast ~
me ,ioas received were to the effect thi
or ,''-i,,ent rafael has been granted leaN
ne af absence and intended TO visit Ne
leg Zealand. II was also understood th'
Ieu his successor had been selected ana
my was thought he was on the way TO
.est post -.,ro,>.s
= - TREATY PROVISIONS.
er- The Chief Justice, in the treaty,
op- made the court of last resort an" M =,
i've over. the treaty in terms proVlles VI :,
Of tinctly that in case OF any ui9p"., -,
ing tween the natives themselves or petwe'
10 the foreigners I'm Samoa. that uispu
nes ebol he referred to the Chlef JUSTICE d
his decision shall be iinai.
Tbe treaty expresses the idea that IL
the orovision is TO guard against hostlle o,
ana hrealxs Therefore. it is scarcely
)ck. ueved here that the pfeslueht oi
nd council would thus deliberately Vloi"'e
f 30 plain treaty provision. -. n.,.,-,. -,
,ast ,,,,aricoo consular officers at Apia ha
on -, acting I'm accord in the present
eve yolved political situation there, and
,out though the interests Of the United sta
am. may not be compared with those Of G
bill many. vet their rights under the trea
that are equal and it may be stated that Tn
oud will be maintained.
hich RECOGNITION OF MATAAFE.
OF The report that the three consuls ma
au- ioined in n provisional recognition
nate Nataafe could not be reconciled with
terms Of the treaty on the choice ol
King that such selection would inVol
g. the power of settling disputes OF I
:. e. character being, as already stated sol
y III lodged I'm the hands Of the Chief Justi
who. by the way. is I'm this case
tho | American.
~ e,,e The last advices Of the governm
'"'s "i,1 here were to the effect that the 81
t''o sa., Justice had this particular dispute un
@ lOe consideration. it having been reguia
oSa referred TO him. In accordance WIN
49, 49, terms of the treaty. His decision III
- probability. would be regarded as pi
yea, inc nv the Government Of the Oni
and States.
lmed r .c.rxST Quay.
The THE ri"'