Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-30
THE TROUBLE IN SAMOA.
Finally Settled by Partition of the
IsInnds.

trouble broke out in Samoa early in the
present year over the decision of Chief
justice Chambers in favor of young MaIie-
toa Tanus as against Mataafa, the two
riVal claimants to the kingship. Samoa had
peeh Tor some time under joint protec-
torate of the United States, Germany and
Great Britain The English took the side of
the Americans in this controversy, while
the Germans encouraged the pretensions of
Mdtaafa. Mataafa had received a major
lty OF the votes of the people, but was in
eligible under previous agreement made
between the powers. Besides, under the
joint agreement for the governing of the
island, the decision of the chief justice was
final. In spite of this. the Germans in
stalled Mataafa as king. In the disorders
winch followed the rival claims of the con-
tending factions, Chief Justice Chambers
took refuge board an English man-of-
war in the harbor of Apia. Malietoa was
defeated and the victorious party, under
Mataafa, organized provisional govern
ment with Dr. Raffel, German, at its
mead. The latter issued a manifesto clos
ing the supreme court until further orders
from the provisional government. This an
nouncement was taken as usurpation of
power by the British and Americans, and
Capt. Sturdee of the Porpoise sent an
armed force ashore, reopened the court and
notified the belligerents that If they Of
Tered resistance they would be fired on by
L.
fel and the German consul, Mr.. Rose pro-
tested, the former declaring that he him.
self was the supreme court. Procamations
and counter proclamations followed each
other until Capt. Sturdee took the matter
into his own hands, landed a force of
marines, forced the door of the court rein
stated Judge Chambers and hoisted British
ana American flags over the house of the
chief justice and the court house.
When the reports of these troubles finally
reached Europe. Germany sent word to
Consul Rose that his protest against Chief
justice Chambers was not upheld. The
United States dispatched Rear Admiral
hautZ in the cruiser Philadelphia to the
scene of the trouble. He arrived in Apia
March :. he called a conference of the
cCnsuls and the senior officers of the war
ships in the harbor. AS a result of this
conference he issued a proclamation stating
that the provisional government under Ma
taafa had no legal status, under the Joint
treaty, and ordered Mataafa and his fol-
lowers to dispense. Mr.. Rose issued a
counter proclamation denying the authority
| of Admiral kautz, and announced his in :
tention to recognize the provisional govern
ment until he received contrary instruc-
| items from his government. This procla-
nation had the effect of stirring the natives
under Mataafa to acts of violence They
seized and fortified houses within the mu-
nicipality. Admiral Kautz ordered them to
esist, and to evacuate the houses under
| reril of bombardment His warning was
| ignored, and on March Is the Philadelphia
and two English men-of-war in the harbor
| opened fire on the villages in possession of
Mataafa, setting fire to many houses and
doing much damage. That night the natives
made a savage attack upon Apia killing
one American sailor and wounding several
Feeling ran very high between Americans
and English on one side and the Germans
on the other. Fortunately, however there
was no armed conflict between the treaty
powers on the island. DIR. Solf was an
pointed president of the municipal council.
to succeed DR.. Raffel. The German gov
eminent protested against this appoint
ment, claiming that the concurrence of all
the signatory powers was essential to make
such an action legal Ambassador White
answered this protest that the action taken
in the case of DR.. Solf was only to meet a
great emergency and that the concurrence