New-York tribune., 1899-07-29
SAMOA STILL TROUBLED.
ATTITUDE OF THE NATIVES FAR FROM
REASsURING.
CHIEF JUSTICE CHAMBERS REACHES SAN FRAN
CISCO AND WILL PROBABLY NOT RETURN
HIS VIEWS OF THE SITUATION.

San Francisco. July 2s.-samoan ad'ices un-
der date Of July II were received to-day oy tue
steamer Moana as follows:
The situation in Samoa is one Of great uneasi-
ness. the attitude Of the natives being far from
reassuring. Several fights have occurred IN az
ferent parts Of the islands between supporters OF
the rivals for the kingship and several natives
have been killed Nothing much seems to have
been accomplished by the High Commission
since arms to the number Of four hundred We're
surrendered by the contendng factions. Chei
Justice Chambers. being dissatisfied with the
support extended to his court by the Commis
sioners will leave to-day for Washington. IheH
action in refusing the aid asked for TO sustain
the Courts authority is said 10 have peeh
prompted by dispatches received by the German
Commissioner from his home Government
which it is asserted. is greatly displeased WIN
his recognition OF the decision Of the supreme
Court in the kingshp case.
RECEPTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS
The Commissioners have been we'll received on
all the islands they have visited. At Tuluta the
natives were prepared to accept the proposed
abolition Of the royal office and the substitution
Of an executive appointed by the three Powers.
At Sapotuliha. the headquarters OF Lanati, tha'
chieftain was defiant in manner. indicating fut-
ure trouble At Safune the only place where
the natives took a prominent part in the pro
ceedings there was fight with axes, knives ana
stones in the presence of the Commissioners, one
man being severely wounded. The trouble was
caused by the meeting Of parties OF Mataafa ana
Maetoa men, who were bearing food offerings
70 the Commissioners The outcome OF all these
conferences is a mass meeting being held to-day
al Mullnuu Point where the leading men OF both
sides are discussing the future government OF
the islands.
At safata on July 4 some Mataafa men at
tackled the home OF opposing chief named
Taamui. who. with two others, was badly
wounded. Her Majesty's ship Torch went 10 the
scene. but quiet had been restored.
After the return Of the British warship loren
from Satafa the Malietoa men there took or
fence because the persons who attacked Chiet
TaamuIs house on July had not been punished
and made an attack on some Of the followers OF
the rival chief Suatele. one being killed and
several wounded two Of the latter being Sua-
tele's adopted sons. One OF these died later IN
the German hospital in Apia-
The warships Torch and Cormorant steamed
again 70 Satafa and arrested two Maletoa
chiefs and the Mataafa chief. who are now
lodged IN Jail in Apia pending an inquiry into
the matter The men-of-war at present there
are the Tauranga, the Torch the Cormo-
rant.
Mataafa has never been in Apia since he VS.
ited the Commissioners on the Badger at the
time he agreed to surrender his arms This, he
says he has done. and he accepts without res
eryation the abolition Of the kingship.
Mataafa complains that Tamasese and his i'm
mediate supporters have remained in the neigh
Lfc cohd dtra+ Mali
Tanu intended to go TO Sydney and remain there
for some time and the Torch was put at his
disposal to carry him as far as Fiji, where his
sister the Princess Of the Famaui is living.
but acting on the advice Of his chiefs. he de-
cided to remain in Samoa
President soento took office June 10, and
Immediately had trouble with Vice King Ia
masese and chiefs. who considered that, al
though Tanu had abdcated the kinshp, they
still constituted a Samoan government
The Commissioners were appealed TO. and
they requested the Chief Justice 10 see the
Malietoa chiefs and try 10 settle things
amicably. This he did. and the chief left
Mulinuu Point and the residence OF the late
President Dr. solf occupies the residence now
at rental.
Last week the Chief Justice issued orders 20
certain towns IN Sanaii 70 appear before the
Supreme Court IN certain civil cases where the
Judgment OF the Court had not been compiled
with Chief Lanat ordered them not 10 obey.
telling the towns to pay no attention n the or
ders OF the Court which were only words on
paper Some towns did not appear, while from
the remaining ones only Malietoa men appeared
The Mataafa mon openly defed the Court. The
Chief Justice then asked the Commissioners to
support his authority with warships II neces-
sary. and on their refusal he decided TO leave
Samoa
The Commissioners expect to sail for the
United States on the Badger on July 16
Chief Justice Chambers was passenger on
the Moana. being accompanied by his family
He is on a four months leave of absence but
SAYS that his business in the United States Is OF
such a nature that he will probably not return
70 Apla In an interview the Chief Justice SAID
"All is now quiet in Samoa. but l cannot an
swer for the future. Both Mataafa and Male
toa affect 10 be satisfied with the present ar
rangement which aboshes the office Of king
and vests the responsibility of government in
the Consuls OF the three Powers. feel sure
that Malletoa is sincere in this. Though fairly
elected, and after election accepting the KING
ship. he never had ambitions in that direction
As soon as the Commission arrived he proposed
to resign. spirit which later proved 10 De IN
/ accordance with the plans Of the Commissioners
and / have every reason 10 believe that ne VIII
live up 20 his bargain. -,
''MataAfa is ambitious For many years ne ne
has thirsted for power. and will not be 80 eashy
satisfied At the same time ne Is a man OF ~
ceptional ability. Is shrewd. and / have never
thought the interests OF the natives would espe-
ciallv suffer in his hands.
Yes my decision has been sustained by 'he
Commission. and II has published the fact III
proclamation.
THE PROBLEM OF THE FUTURE
with respect TO the future l can say little
| There Is the problem. In IT'S work the Commis-
sion has endeavorcd 10 eliminate from the origi-
nal Arrangement all Of the features that have
arnaared faulty or weak Those sections have