The San Francisco call., 1899-03-31
HAROLD M. SEWALL ON
AFFAIRS IN SAMOA
BELIEVES IN THE ABOLITION
OF ITS KINGSHIP.
Roasts This Government for Not
Faithfully Abiding by the Fa-
nous Berlin Treaty.

No one at present in this country Is
better able to discuss the present trou-
BILE at Samoa than Harold M. SeWall,
who has been the United States special
agent to Hawaii ever since the latter
anneXaticn and who arrived in this city
a few days ago. He is member of the
commission that drafted the famous Ber-
lin treaty under which the Government
of Samoa was operated. In an interview
yesterday Mr.. Sewall said:
was fully advised at Honolulu of events in
Samoa and have anticipated the perplexlns
conditions which have at last been brought
about. The neglect and indifference OF our
Government during the first and second adHllh-
istrations of Cleveland caused the present con
ditions. Had this Government ,IalthIGlly
abIded by the Berlin agreement and done what
it was honoraby bound to do under that agree
ment the present trouble would nave peeh
avoided.
Periodically these disturbances have arisen
in Samoa. 1 do not like to think that they
are to be traced to any authorized action or
German agents there, but there Is strange
similarity in the situation now and in the pre-
cedng crisis, precipitated by German action
This goes back to the very beginning of our
relations and German relations with samoa;
In 1884 and 1885 it only by the unauthorized
action of our Consul in rasing our nag over
the islands that German seizure OF them was
avoided In 1887 and 1888 the situation was
similar to that. of to-day-disavowals from the
German Foreign Office, but acts OF aggression
almost to the point of conflict with our I clvli
and naval authorities on the part OF the Ner-
man representatives in Samoa.
am delighted that Admiral Kautz has acted
in support of the terms of the Berlin agree
ment which if honestly abided by Will give
the islands all the government they need. l
regret as much that the guns of the Philadel-
phia should be turned against the finest native
peopla in the Pacific. l firmly believe that an
alert and benevolent diplomacy at washington,
London. Berlin and Apia could have avoided
the present distressful situation and even now
it may not be too late to do So
Mataafa himself is to my mind representa-
tive Samoan, in birth and ability ana In all the
qualifications that make him fit to rule. ABOVE
this consideration must be placed the fact that
three powers are honorably pledged to support
the Berlin act and the decision of the American
Chief Justice appointed under 1t. 1t IS due TO
the powers that they themselves be Vindicated
first by the restoration of the status ante quo
the status existing before the present revolu-
tionary proceedings. Then if l were to be asked
the remedy for the whole situation, 1t would
not be in the division of the group, which is
not large enough to admit or separate owner
ship; not in the recall of honest and able
American officials who have done their duty
in the face of great disbursement on all
sides but in certain amendments to the Berlin
act chief and principal of which would be the
abolition of the kngship of the islands. With
this principal amendment and the loyal support
of the Berlin act. which has done more for
Samoa than 1 believed possible when it was
framed L believe a clear way will be found
out of the present difficulties, and l hope our
Government will not be slow in availing itself
of so prompt and humane a solution.