The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-19
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(! ring, organized the supreme court, aud
took possession. declaring himself Chief
| justice. He asked Mataafa FOR 500 men and
was refused.
| On the Tth Captain Stuidee OF the Por-
| poise and two consuls declared tho action
| illegal. The Porpoise cleared for action
1 and landed force of marines. Her force
was unopposed and took possession of the
court. The British and American flags were
| hoisted over the court house. The pro
| yisional government wrote to Sturdee on
the 18th that he would sieze Malietoa and
! take Tamasese off the Porpoise by force IL
necessary, deprive them of their titles and
desert them
The British and American consuls have
protested against any infringement OF the
Berlin treaty. British residents have con-
fidence In their consulate and American
residents have taken refuge in the mis-
sion. An American warship Is greatly
needed here
Washington. January 1s.-The situation
in Samoa Is realized here to be full of
gravity. For some time past there has been
an exchange of correspondence between
the three governments party to the treaty
of Berlin respecting the choice OF sue
cessor 10 the late King Malietoa, and some
friction developed owing TO the strict ad-
herence of the United States government
10 the terms of the treaty. The statements
IN the dispatches from Apia are not re-
garded here as conclusive for the reason
that they are In conflict with the pro-
vision Of the treaty
ii is reported that Rafael. the president
of the municipal council at Apia, and
tho German consul, Rose have seized the
supreme court aud pronounced themselves
nj nj n tIt lot at ..rI
they have violated the treaty absolutely.
The functions OF the president OF the
municipal council are clearly defined by
the treaty and the last adyices received
here were to the feet that President Rafael
had been granted leave of absence and |
intended to visit New Zealand. II was also
understood that his successor had beon
selected and 1t was thought was on his way |
to his post
The chief justice under the treaty Il |
made the court OF last resort under any !
circumstances, and moreover the treaty In |
terms provides distinctly that In case OF
any dispute between the natives them
selves or between The foreigners in Samoa
that dispute shall he referred to the chief |
Justice and his decision shall be final. The
treaty expresses the idea that this proyis-
ion Is to guard against hostile outbreaks.
Therefore it is scarcely believed that tho
president Of the council would thus de-
liberately violate the plain treaty proyls-
ion.
II was known here that the British and
American consular officers at Apis have
been acting in accord with each other IN
the present involved political situation
here. and although the interests Of tho
United States may not BIZ compared with
hose OF Germany. yet their rights under
Ihe treaty are equal. and. Il may be stated,
they will be satisfied.
The report that the three consuls have
oined In provisional recognition OF Ma
aafa could not be reconcled with the opsn
with the terms Of The treaty
IS to the choice Of king, that ouch Il
hing would involve the power Of scttiing |
disputes OF this character, being, as al
-eady stated. solely lodged in the hands Of
he chief justice. who. By the way In this Z
,ase Is an American. |,
The last adyices to the government here
we're to the effect that the chief Justice
.ad this particular dispute under consid
ration, 1t having been regularly referred I
O him In accordance With the terms Of the I
realty His decision in all probability
would be regarded az binding by NE gov
OF the United States.