The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-04-28
ORIGIN OFOUR RCONNEtTION
WITH SAMOA.

WITH SAMOA.
For the origin of the establishment
of an American interest in Samoa. we
must 90 back more than twenty-five
years. In 1872, President Grant sent
Commander Meade to look for a site
for coaiing station on the route be
tween San Francisco and Australia,
where line of steamers which had
been established between those two
points could coal under American pro-
lection. Commander Meade's instruc-
tions really permitted Inn to make al
most any kinl of agreement Pago
Pago Bay in the island Of Tutuila, then
third i'll Importance and size of the
Samoan group, was suggested to him
as one of the best harbors in the South
Pacific. Commander Meade made an
agreement with the Government Of
Tutuia, at that time Independent Of
the other islands to guarantee Ameri-
can protection of the Government from
outside interference in return for 4 ces-
sion of Pago Pago Bay. The protec-
torate part was rejected by the Senate
ut President Grants suggestion.
Meanwhile, German commercial
house, with which Bismarck was finan-
cially connected and the interests of
which were the interests of Germany.
prevented the consummation of the
agreement. as the action of the United
States interfcred with the German plan
of eventual annexation of all the is
lands. \ Baron" Steinbergcr was
then sent out as special agent Of the
United States, but proved a secret
agent of Germany. He stirred up q
war between Malietoa and Tupua, who
reigned as joint Kings, the Germans
siding with Malietoa. When the last
named succeeded, Steinberger was
made Prime Minister and virtual ruler,
which position he held but a very short
time, as Malietoa soon learned his real
character. Then the Germans tried to
oust Maletoa IN favor of Tupua, but
the former, supported by American
recognition, based on hode of a con-
summation Of the Pago Pago agree
ment, held his own.
In 1878 a treaty was made between
Malietoa and the United States, in
which Pago Pago Bay was ceded. In
1879 Germany and Great Britain joined
in recognizing Malietoa. The Govern
ment of Apia was turned over to the
Consuls of the three Powers for three
years, at the end of which time the con-
vention was continued indefinitely.
Germany next succeeded in intimidat-
ing the next King, Malietoa Televao,
into giving Apia to the Germans. In
1886 Bismarck sent squadron to eff
feet German annexation. Televao
appealed to United States Consul
Greenbaum for an American protec-
torate. Grcenbaum's action was later
disavowed, but his boldness checked
the Germans for a while. In 1887
German force landed and set up Tam
asese as King.
The British at first joined the United
yates in refusing to recognize this
action, but atterward went over to
Germany. The Germans had mean
while sent Malietoa a prisoner to Ham
burg. \ conference at Washington
of the representatives of the three
Powers was broken up by Secretary
Bayard learning that England had
secretly agreed to Germany's Samoan
ambition. Ten days later Germany
began fighting to suppress Mataafa,
the rightlul heir to the throne. Amer
leans and American trade were kept
out of Samoa by harsh measures; the
English were treated the same way.
The United States thereupon firmly
insisted upon another conference in
1889. The Berlin treaty was the re-
suit. While present in the harbor of
Apia to maintain the status quo pend
ing the result of the conference, the A.
merican and German men-oEwar were
destroyed by the fam )us hurricane of
1889 In 1893 an additional agree
ment was made that warships should
not undertake to enforce a decision of
the Supreme Court until the three Pow
ers agreed. In this agreement which
the Germans say Admiral kautz has
violated.-Fr0m tie Balto. Neus.
DANGER IN SODA.
Common soda is all right in its