The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-19
SITUATION IS
VERY GRAVE,
Prospect Of Serious Trouble in
Samoan Islands.
A CLASH OVER The KINGSHIP.
German Consul Appears 10 Have Gone Be.
y''d Bounds Of Authority
THE TREATY PROVISIONS VIOLATED.
President Of The Municipal Council OF Apla, With
The Assistance Of 6srmanys Representative,
Said 10 Have SEIZED The Court Records.

Washington. Jan. 19.-The situation
In the Samoan islands is realized here TO
be full OF gravity. For some time past
there has been an exchange of corre-
spondence between the three govern
ments, parties to the treaty Of Berlin, re-
| specting the choice OF a successor to the
late King Malietoa of Samoa, and some
OF the friction developed owing to the
strict adherence OF the United States
| government to the terms OF the treaty.
| II. as reported. Rafael. the president
Of the municipal council of Apia, and
the German consul, Rose, have seized
the supreme court and pronounced
themselves practically dictators. IL is
said here that they have violated the
treaty absolutely The functions of the
president OF the municipal council are
clearly defined by the treaty, and the
last advices received here were 10
the effect that President Rafael had
been granted leave OF absence, and in
| tended TO visit New Zealand. IL was also
understood that his successor had been
selected. and IL was thought was on his
way TO his post.
The chief Justice under the treaty.
is the court of last resort under any cir
cumstances. and moreover the treaty in
terms provides distinctly that, in case
of any dispute between the natives
themselves or between the foreigners in
Samoa, that the dispute shall be referred
to the chief Justice. and his decision
shall be final The treaty expresses the
idea that this provision is to guard
n nlf hnG ta attth lro q srs Al,
believed here that the president OF the
council would thus deliberately violate
the plain treaty provision.
1t is known here that the British and
American consular officers at Apia had
been acting In accord in the present
involved political situation there, and,
although the interests of the United
States may not be compared with those
OF Germany, yet their rights under the
treaty are equal, and 1t may be stated
that they will be maintained.
The report that the three consuls have
Joined in a provisional recognition Of
Mataafa could not he reconciied with
the open disagreement with the terms
OF the treaty as 10 the choice of a king
that such action would involve, the
power of settling disputes Of this char
acter being solely lodged in the hands
Of the chief Justice. who is an American.
A dispatch from San Francisco this
morning gives the following story, az
cabled to The Call from Auckland, n.
L.. under date of Jan. 10:
When the Oceanic steamship Alameda
left Apia on Jan. ~ a revolution had
broken out on the Samoan islands and
was being waged with much bloodshed
and great destruction TO property. The
warships Fake and porpoise. the latter
in command Of Captain Sturdee, were
then at the islands and were taking part
in suppressing the rising.
On Dec. 81. Chief Justice Chambers de-
termined in favor of Malietoa Tanus.
claiming Mataafa was barred by the
treaty Of Berlin. On Jan. /. 5000 of
Mataafa's followers rose in rebellion
and defeated 1000 OF Malietoa's men,
ambushing them and killing - natives
and wounding many. The rebels have
burned 400 houses and razed the town Of
Ppolu. The bread fruit trees have been
cut down in many places. The foreign
ers were uninjured. The crew Of the
Porpoise is guarding the mission as a
refuge for Malieots. The three consuls
have signed proclamation recognizing
the Mataafa party's provisional govern
ment pending instructions from the pow
ers, with President Rafael as executive
head
On the 9Th inst. Rafael Rose concur
ring, proclaimed the supreme court and
took possession. declaring himself chief
justice. He asked Mataafs for 5000 men
and was refused. The British and
American consuIs united In a strong pro-
test against the action OF the president
OF the municipal council. On the eth
Captain Sturdee OF the Porpose and the
two consuls declared the action illegal.
The Porpoise cleared for action and
landed a force Of marines Her force
was unopposed and took possession OF
the court. Chief Justice Chambers was
retnstated aud the British and American
flags hoisted over Chambers house and
the courthouse. The provisional gov
ernor wrote to Captain Sturdee on the
18th that he would seize Malletoa and
take Tamasese off the Porpoise by force
IL necessary. deprive them OF ttcir titles
and Danish them. Chambers is residing
on the Porpoise. The British and Ameri-
can consuls have protested against any
infringement OF the berlln treaty. Brit
ish residents have taken refuge in their
consulate and the American residents
have taken refuge in the mission. An
American wsrship is urgently needed
there.
\ cablegram from Auckland. ~. T.,
Jan. Is. says:
Chief Justice Chambers. on Dec. ~. de-
clsred Malietoa Tanus TO have been
elected king. I'm succession 60 the late
King Malietoa. The chirf Justice also
announced that Tamasese had been
elected vice ding. Chief Mataafa was
disqualified.
The consuls of the United States and
Great Britain and the captains Of the
German warship Fake and the British
wsrship Purpoisc met The German con