New-York tribune., 1899-02-10
THE SAMOAN SITUATION.
VIEWS OF HAROLD VI. SEWALL, WHO
FORMERLY REPRESENTED THE
UNITED STATES At APIA.
ONE OF THE CAUSES FOR THE CONDITION

TELEGRAPH TO IHh TRIBUNE
Honolulu Feb l. via San Francisco Feb O.
The Moana to-day brought the latest news OF the
situation a. Samoa The special agent Of the
United States, Harold NJ. Sewal who repre-
sented the United States there some time ago.
received full and detailed Information on the
subject both from newspapers and from private
letters owing 10 his official position, he was
guarded in his statements concerning the mat
fer although he admitted he felt strongly on
the subject Although he did not say so, 1t is
well known here that he considers the outbreak,
SO far as Germans had a share in il. as having
been part Of an effort by Germany to bring mat
ters 10 an issue, where the whole Samoan ques-
tion will be reopened, in which event Germany
hopes as Sewall says she has frankly avowed,
10 secure exclusive control in Samoa. or the
/ proposition to divide the islands among the
three Powers that are parties to the treaty.
Sewar says. there is not room in that little nest
for them all, while it is clear he thinks the i'm
portance Of American interests. naval and 9th
erwse in Samoa too great to yield in the slight
est degree our rights there. Giving his views on
the subject. he said
If were asked 10 name the true cause Of TINS
most violent and apparently unwaTranted usur-
patton in Samoa, I would say 1t came not so
much from the tripartite agreement which, Ike
all compromises. has not given complete satls-
faction any Of the parties to it, bat 10 the fact
that the Government Of the United States
through whose eXertions alone the Berlin con-
ference was called has not except recently un-
Ger the present Administration, shown the
slightest interest in the execution Of that agree
ment and In The discharge Of the duties which
that treaty made obligatory upon il. This agree
nent OF treaty. as ii may be called. provides for
the government Of those islands which outside
Of the limited area Of the capital have never
known what IL is 10 respect one central author
ity
GOVERNMENT TO BE SUSTAINED
Although the Berlin Act makes no definite
provision for the force necessary TO insure re-
spect for the government IT created. nevertheless
it was well understood a the conference in Ber-
lin and the moral obligation was freely under
taken 10 sustain by joint efforts tn government
thus created The British Government whose
naval and consular representatives, now at the
Islands have acted with such courage and
prorptituee was drawn rather reluctantly into
the Berlin conference But notwithstanding TINS
original indifference. that Government has main
ta.red for long period vessels in Samoa 10
preserve the peace and give moral prestige 70
the Supreme Court Germany. although always
dissatisfied with the Berlin Act and always
D
control i'm Samoa has maintained there almost
constantly two modern ships of war. which
has naturally steadily increased her prestige
and influence among the natives. the advantage
Of which she now seems 10 be reaping
Tine blame for the present humiliating and
distressful condition of affairs there must rest
largely uron our own Government although
with the work ii has had TO DO that blame can
not fairly be put upon the administration OF
President Mckinley Mr.. Cleveland whose sec
ond term Of Office so far as its foreign polcy
was concerned seems 70 have been mainly de-
voted 70 destroying tle work which ialthu'
American officials had done in Samoa as we'll as
| I'm Hawaii. to extend American influence ana
/ preserve American rights. sought repeatedly q"
| secure our withdrawal from Samoa But.
/ thwarted in his purpose Of abandoning of MS
own motion a treaty which the Sonate had
ratified and which the Senate continued TO ap-
prove he sought indirectly 10 accomplish the
same end by securing the downfall Of the gov
/ eminent for the erection Of which our Govern
ment was primarily responsible. and as means
! 10 this end he not only repeatedly signlfed 10
Germany his entire indifference to the main
tenance Of the Gid rent provisions OF the act
but as most executive means 70 this end he
/ took especial care that ship " the United
States Navy should visit samoan waters during
his term Nor did they. not one. This neglect
on his part with the natural and humiliating re-
/ suits that have followed. appears all The worse
from the fact that tho chief Justice then as
now was one Of our countrymen. designated oy
the three signatory Powers
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.
There is strong similarity between the
present situation ana that which was precipi-
tated lust prior 70 the hurricane which destroyed
/ me Trenton and the Nandalla. and cost US >"
man, lives say there is d strong similarity
IN the situation. But ! hope 10 learn mat the
imperial German Government has not been be
mind its accredited agents in the atrocious pro
ceedinRs Of which We have just heard Then,
in 1851 German agents openly espoused the
couea of the insurgent Tamasese az now they
have done Of the insurrent Mataafa. Then. IS
now they not only encouraged the insurgent
chief 10 make on attack upon the rghitu4y
elected sovereign Malietoa, but TOOK possession
Of the municipality Of Apia the neutrahty OF
which was guaranteed by The convention ne
tween the three Powers. IL that case. too. the'
took over the municipal buildings. ana dissolved
the Municipal Council as to-day We learn theN
have seized the SUPREME Court and attempted
10 usurp its functions. But In TINS case u'F
have gone a step further. and nave pef"l''eu
a., irfuriated mob of three thousand natives
who are barbarians only when they are al wal
TO pllage and loot the defenceess capital Ih"'
action has been bad enough in the violence oohe
10 property and the sad violence done TO ind'-
vlduals How much worse 1t would nave peen
had it not been for the action OF the hrl'lSh
captain we can only have at this distance
faint idea Too much credit cannot be gwen 10
him and to our own American ChleI justice anu
consular representative. who. without any snip
~ their flag have shown such courage IN de-
tending the rights OF their Government ana IN
a., 70 the Government 10 which Germany. as
we'll has pledged her sacred support
81 have not been enthusiastic over what II
termed an alliance Of English speaking people