The record-union., 1899-04-15
THE SAMOAN COMPLICATION.

poses a plea for the MataafanS and
Germany that to put it mildly is dis
ingenious. It is set out that the pro-
vision in the tripartite agreement ex-
Guiding Mataafa from the Samoan
throne was placed there at the request
of Germany and after some insistence
by her, and considerable demur on the
part Of America and England. This be-
ing the case now that Germany with
draws her objection to Mataafa, that
clause of the treaty should be consid-
cred as vacated Or as the Philadelphia
paper puts it, now that Germany
valves the clause so inserted at her
instance, Mataafa ceases to be inell-
gible to be King, and, being the choice
of the majority of the Samoanss he
should be recognized, and Chief JUS
tice Chambers be rebuked for maintain
ing the integrity of the compact.
Now see how a plain statement of the
actual facts will dispose of this mis-
leading plea of the American" After
German had forcibly deported Malietoa
and fought Mataafa and recognized and
supported the claims of Tamasese in
furtherance of her commercial ambi-
ton; after the long and troublous times
concerning Samoa in the midst of which
the terrible tornado at Apia destroyed
so many Of our ships in March, 1889, a
conference between America, England
+oI II, +Ia @rno
ferred to, recognizing Malietoa Laupepa
az King; the right of the Samoans to
choose their King according to tribal
tradition and custom, and the estab
lishment of "a joint protectorate with
Supreme Court named by agreement,
or i'm case jof disagreement by the King
of Sweden and Norway. That court
was to have Jurisdiction of all questions
arising under the treaty, and any ques-
ton arising among the natives respect
ing the election of chiefs or King, and
of all differences arising between the
signatory Powers which they failed to
adjust amicably.
By condition of the agreement in
serted at the request of Germany, who
was Jealous of Mataafa because of his
friendlness for American interests, he
was excluded from eligibility to the
throne. This exclusion was made per-
petual and it stands as part and par
eel of the conclusions reached by the
Berlin conference, under which the
treaty was erected. Lately, Malietoa
dying. the election resulted in the choice
of Mataafa as against a minority vote
for the nephew of Malietoa.
The latter claimed to- be the only ELI
gible. and the Chief Justice upheld his
claim and ruled Mataafa's pretensions
out This decision, says the New York
Times" was unjust, but it is conceded
that it was in accordance with the law
of the compact of the three Powers.
The claim of the Philadelphia "Ameri-
can" us that Germany has now waived
her objections to Mataafa and that,
therefore, the Justice should have
held the choice of the Samoans to have
been duly elected. But we fail to I'M
derstand how either of the Powers could
waive a clause of the common compact
indeed, We have heard Of no such
waiver being filed, if, indeed, ever made;
1t can only be surmised by the action of
Herr Rose in sustaining the pretensions
OF Mataafa.
There is, no question whatever that
thepgreat majority of the Samoans wish
Mataafa to be their King, and that they
have by their system of electing so
manifested their WILL But it is diff
cult ito see how it was possible for the
Chief Justice to consider such election
when the only eligible candidate. Tanu
OF the .Malietoa Laupepa descent re-
ceivedr the support of portion of the
people If the others, fully aware of
the ineligibility of their candidate chose
still to vote for him, they deliberately
wasted their strength. The court had
not the power, even if so inclined. to
eonstrue the treaty in favor of Mataa-
faas claims.
A most singular feature of this whole
affair. which has resulted in a small
war and the death of American and
British naval officers. grows out of the
original friendship of Mataafa for
Americans, who are now opposing him
For prior to the tripartite agreement
Germany, now the hot friend of the
entertain, was his bitter foe and the
cause OF all his woes. AT that time
TamaSeSe was a nratander m tba tbr,,,
and Mataafa was his rival. Old King
Malietoa had been deposed by Ger
many and taken in exile to distant
Island and later on to Hamburg I'm
der American and British pressure ana
lnsistence, Germany restored Malietoa,
sending gunboat to bring him to his
home. He arrived about the time the
tripartite conference was concluding its
labors.
The old chief was set at liberty; Ma
taafa met him and rendered to him the
royal power he claimed to. and, indeed,
did exercise. Malietoa declined to ac-
cept until a satisfactory settlement of
Samoan affairs was effeoted. The peo-
PIE preferred Mataafa for King, and he
was chosen at new election. Ia
masese objected, and, raising the stand
ard Of revolt, war ensued. Germany
was then bitterly opposed to the cleo
ton Of Mataafa, and America, respect-
ing her opposition, prevailed upon the
sauoans to rescind their action and