The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-14

The Plain Truth About samoa.
In the good sense and diplomatic ability
OF Secretary JOHN HAY the country has
learned to have confidence. His mind Is
wide awake While he Is u man of magma
ton and sentiment, he is not at all likely
"a subordinate to merely sentimental con-
sidcrations any material interest committed
10 his craftsmanship.
II tho terms OF the not yet officially
reported agreement for the partition OF
Samoa are such as to seem on the face less
advantageous to our Government than TO
the other parties concerned. there will be
very general belief that We are getting,
in one shape or another valuable consider
stion for any concession our State Depart
mcnt may make to Germany's inveterate
policy in that group
For years the eyes Of the Foreign Ofilco
at Berlin have been fixed upon Apia. The
acquisition Of the Samoan Islands was n
German project originally inspired by n
powerful commercial company in Hamburg
enjoying peculiar relations with the house
~ the late Prince BISMARCK. 1t has be-
come a national ambition to such an ex-
tent as to render the yearning perhaps dis
one occasion tho audac!ous and relentless
pursuit of III" German policy in Samoa has
actually strained the leash that holds the
dogs ~ war
The prior treaty rights Of the United
States in Samoa and the English interests
in the islands have been the obstacles in
the way OF the earlier achievement OF Ger
manys unconcealod purpose. The German
flag would have covered everything there
years ago. had il not been for the resolute
assertion by successive Administrations at
Washington of the doctrine that Samoan
neutrality must be- preserved against the
aggressions ofany European power seeking
exclusive contro'. In the later years OF the
incessant, II Unavowcd, contest over this
doctrine, the American policy has conceded
with that "f the British Government with
results too clearly written in recent history
To require comment here
Now England finds il profitable 10
roinqush 70 Germany her share Of Samoa
for value received elsewhere: and the De.
partment ~ State at Washington araui-
esces In the arrangement, according to
common report. taking ms our part the
island of Tutuila and its harhor of Page.
page, wher" we already possess rights from
which no nation not crazy or dcliberat ,ly
committed to hostilitcs against tho United
States would over undertake to Dust u.s.
All that ia said about the excellence 81
the harbor Of Pago-pago is true. Likewise
true Is all that Is said about its availability
rs a naval station in the South Pacific, and
port Of call on the highway o. our immense
commerce in future years with Australia
and New Zealand. Former Administrations
recognized MI this when they acquired the
use % Pago-pago Congress recognized all
this years ago when 1t voted money to buy
ot private owners the land around Pago-
pago Bay, and to establish n station and nut
coal there.
w" are getting nothing new whe- we get
PaEo.pago, bur title there. as we have
explained may not have been one ~ SOY.
"reGn md absolutely permanent POSSES
sion, but II nntchatel the entrance Of
either Germany or England into the affairs
It IN" samoan group, and II was of the sort
"h,"h IN ~" modern code Of expanding
civilization meanS absolute prrmnnencn,
h'r','.: iorcible dIspossession.
T.rrn.orc, in tn" view oi anybody familiar
Wiz til" history and tcchn : 81 the Samoan
question, it II childish to dwell upon the
acquisition of n fine harLor in Tutuila as n
iiu@nh II American diplomacy, nal an
ahnndor'ly c0mpcnsating offset f.: ..o
ir.'H"IiE of our allotment in otter
respects. That : the ground urrn which
tine newspapers deriving their information
fr'm IN" corridors and antoroOIns " the
state Department appear to regard tho
reported settlement as great diplomatic
victory for tn" United States. Tur SIN
does not doubt that tho settlement will
turn ont to b" n triumph for American
diplomacy, but not because II gives us
Pago-paE0,
Equally childish il is to assume that the
general schcn" or division now reported
would hav" been highly acceptable to this
nation Mt amy previous time snc. w.
began to take an interest in Salmon
Go back 10 the tim" when Samoa VIVA
almost the only spot IN remote cons
which our newborn impulse of expansion
had fixed upon, and before other and
larger questions ~ general international
interest had engaged our attention
proposition then 10 Withdraw from Amin
ana lpo!u, to abandon our demand for the
n"uiraIltNof tn" group, leaving the German
or ia" English flag dominant and to con.
tent ourselves with the comInrativcly in
slgninchnt island Of Tutulla plus harbor
pf"'Hc"ly already ours, would hardly have