The record-union., 1899-01-13
4 Civil War Narrowly Avsrtsd in
the Islands.
The Lives Of White Residents Threatened
by the Natives.
Armed Guards Protecting the Resi- :
dence Of the Chief Justice, an
American = Disagreement Be-
tween the Consuls the Most Sc
rious Element in the Whole At
fair.

SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. II. = The
following letter has been received by
the Associated Press from it's Samoan
correspondent, and shows how alarm
ing the situation was when the
steamer Mariposa left Apia for this
city. The letter is dated Apia, Decem-
Der 2Sth:
Events have moved very rapidly
since the last mail left here. Civil
war has been narrowly averted, and,
for the first time in Samoan history,
the lives of white residents have been
threatened by the natives. Even now
bloodshed is not far from improbable.
Armed guards protect the residences
OF Chief Justice Chambers, an Amer
lean citizen, and Mr. Gurr, the leading
English lawyer Of the town. who has
taken prominent part in supporting
Malietoa Tanus' claim to the throne.
If fighting once begins the results will
be serious, for each side has thousands
of men in the field, and it will require
energetic action on the part Of the
English and German, warships to keep
the conflict within bounds.
The whole trouble has arisen through
the injudicious action of three treaty
Powers in bringing the deported Ma
taafa back to Samoa By doing so
they have thrown down bone of con-
tention, and converted what might
otherwise have been a peaceful cleo
ton into an angry combat. OF course,
at the time America, England and
Germany agreed to Mataafa's return
Malietoa's death was not anticipated;
otherwise the homecoming of the ex-
lied king would certainly have been
delayed.
For many years, ever since the I'M
fortunate affair at Vailele, when so
many brave German soldiers lost their
lives, the Germans have shown a feel
ing of uncompromising hostility
toward Mataafa, under whose leader
ship the Teutonic defeat was accom-
plished. Latterly, for some unex-
planned reason, the German officials
have changed their views, and have
tried to secure Mataafa's return. This
course has brought the German Consul
into open disagreement with the Brit
ish and American Consuls and the
Chief Justice; the natives have been
encouraged to turbulence, and the
lives of white residents have been en-
dangered.
The trouble began Immediately upon
Malietoa's return from Jaluit. Though
he was nominally held as prisoner,
the Consuls, actuated by kindly mo-
tives, gave him permission to reside
on the royal demesne at Mulinuu, and
to take such of his guards as he chose
with him. This permission, "FaA Sa-
moa," was interpreted literally, and
Mataafa's people began crowding by
i.,fn he cd
of the. Mulinuu Peninsula. At first
the followers of Malietoa, chiefs who
had followed the fortune Of the late
king for years, gave way courteously,
but eventually they found themselves
driven entirely from their matched
houses. and were forced to take refuge
in another quarter of the town.
Fortunately Malietoa's people pre-
served a friendly attitude, and obeyed
the proclamation of the Consuls de-
'manding that peace should be main
tanned at all hazards. But still the
usurpers on Mulinuu were aggressive.
and issued proclamation declaring
NIataafa King of Samoa. Further,
they assumed to themselves royal
powers, and, secretly encouraged by
the Germans, proceeded to depose pub
lie officers and appoint their own nom
inees. The climax was reached when
Mataafa and his chiefs actually dis
charged the Chief Justice. who is ap-
pointed under the Berlin treaty by the
three Powers. OF course such action
was purely farcical, and the Chief
Justice speedily notified Mataafa that
he must walt for the decision of the
court before he could legally declare
himself King.
The most serious element In the
whole affair is the disagreement be-
tween the Consuls. The German Con-
sui has been playing double with ms
colleagues, and the English and Amer
lean officials are naturally indignant.
1t was an understood thing that there
was to be no foreign interference IN
the royal elections, yet throughout IL
all an undermining current of intrigue
has been at work with the Mataa1a
people until they have been reused 10
aggressive action. have openly de-
clared against all white control, and
announced their intention OF disregard
ing entirely the Berlin treaty
To show the extent of the feeling
aroused. Suatele, a religious fanatic.
who Is one of Mataafa's most promi-
Won't adherents, Is quoted as saying:
"Samoans. you must fight strong;
when YOU fight kill. When you meet
q white man, cut him up; when you
,oaet a missionary cut him up; when
vou meet a deacon, cut him up; when
Won, meet a. Samoan, cut him up. We
will break through the bonds OF the
treaty: we will have no municipality.
In speaking of missionaries. Mataa-
fa's people, being Catholics, refer OF
course to the representatives of the
London Missionary Society, who are
unsectarian Protestants. Only a few
more speeches OF this kind are required
TO incite the Samoans to open violence,
and in this case the houses of mission
aries and white residents will be the
first objects of attack.
Chief Justice Chambers commenced
his examination into the merits OF the
rival candidates for the throne on De-
cenber 10th, in the presence Of great
crowd of natives and whites Under
the Berlin treaty the Chief Justice Is
the final referee in this matter. but
on the previous day Mataafa's people
entered vigorous protest against the
e,nployment of attorneys in the case.
This however, the Chief Justice, con-
s;dering that he had right to run
his own court as he chose, refused
~ consider, and Mr. Gurr appeared
an behalf of Malietoa. Another attor-
new. Mr.. Cruther, who had previously
held a brief for Tamasese, announced
FIAT his client had retired from the
contest. and that his influence would be
thrown into Malietoa'p scale