The evening times., 1899-04-10
rhe GERMAN Complaints.

ThG OeEM0n OOmpI0hnuus
1t is not surprising that German senti-
| ment should be very strong against Ad-
miral Kautx. for action in Samoa that led
/, to the bombardment and slaughter Of the
followers OF Mataafa. The questions in
volved are such as to warrant. not a de-
mand for the withdrawal Of Admiral
Kautz and Chief Justice Chambers. but an
enquiry into the circumstances that led to
the dissolution Of the provisional govern
ment. The agrarian newspapers are rabid
In their comments. and the Berlin gov
ernment is not to be held responsible for
them; but there is nothing offensive in
the suggestion of the newspapers that rep
resent the authorities that there should be
an official investigation.
II the facts are given correctly in the
reports that have reached this country.
Admiral Kautz re-opened the whole ques-
tion at a time when there was truce. II
there is an enquiry, 1t must go back to
the beginning and cover the unwarranted
defiance OF the authority Of the Chief JUS
tice by the German Consul and head of the
Municipal Council. That Judge Chambers
had sole authority to decide whether Ma
taafa was eligible or not there can be no
doubt; neither is there any doubt that the
German officials refused to submit to his
decision. although there is a controversy as
to how far they carried their opposition.
In any event, they were entirely wrong
Of that there can be no doubt. The Berlin
agreement distinctly authorizes the Chief
Justice to determine all issues Of this kind.
Whether his opinion was just and fair and
In the best interests of Samoa is another
matter; hut even II 1t were not. that could
not justify resistance by the Germans
when the representatives Of both England
and this country sustained him.
. 1t was to enforce this authority that
Admiral Kautz ordered the provisional
government to dissolve and the rebels to
disperse. There can be no reason able
doubt as to his legal power to do this. He
was clearly right in affirming that the Ber-
lin agreement did not provide for n pro-
visional government and that the decision
of the Chief Justice was final. There is a
doubt. however, about the wisdom of re-
opening the controversy at that time. The
provisional government was illegal, but
the American and English consuls had
submitted to it until there should be in
structions from their respective home gov
ernments solely in the interest of peace.
While there were rebels under arms in
camp and in plain sight of the authsxities
and while the candidate for king, in whose
favor the Chief Justice. had pronounced.
was everywhere ignored. there was no
fighting. 1t may be thought that a judi
cious policy for the American admiral, who
had reached Apia two days earlier, would
have been TO remain inactive until posi-
tive instructions should be received from
home. What he did was to proclaim that
the provisional government was illegal;
that there could be no question about the
title of Malietoa as king; that the presence
of armed rebels was scandal; and that
the rightful ruler must be placed on the
throne and all opposition cease. In this
he did not exceed his rights.
But he had some reason to fear that this
would lead to bloodshed. The rebels
obeyed his command and started for their
homes. but they were induced TO return
and resist by the proclamation of the Ger
man Consul. Then the bombardment be-
came necessary. If the German account
is correct Admiral Kautz exceeded his
rights when he declared in his proclama-
ton that the German Consul had agreed to
the abolition of the provisional govern
ment. There is question whether he did
not again go too far and show q lack of
respect for the Kaiser when he ordered the
German warship Fake to remain where
she was. He had reason to suspect the in
tention of her commander to support the
rebels; it is believed ammunition was sent
to them from the Fake, but at the time
when she left her station and was ordered
back by the American commander, there
seems to have been no proof of this.
If the German government has cause to
of these things the American and
English governments have better cause to
of the whole policy of the Ger
man representatives, who are primarily
for all the trouble. But for
heir refusal to submit to the rightful au-
hOrity of Chief Justice Chambers there
Yould have been no violence.
tDs nf Rnv