The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-31
For Germany.

The latest occurrences at Apia and Null.
II and Whereabouts clear the whole Sa.
moan situation at the cost Of some Ameri.
can and English lives.
Three Governments agreed by treaty to
guarantee good government in Samoa and
to preserve peace and order there. The
three Governments are those OF the United
States, Germany and Great Britain, in the
order Of signing the compact.
A rebellion arose in Samoa against the
Government established by the treaty. and
it has been fostered, promoted, encouraged
and practically supported throughout by
the local representatives OF one Of the par
ties to the treaty, Germany.
The paramount duty OF the treaty Powers,
in the present grave emergency, is to sup
press the rebellion, to protect life and prop
erty, to prevent outrage, and to remove the
cause Of trouble and danger by deporting
the leader OF the rebels.
That is the duty Of the United States,
Germany, and Great Britain jointly. In
the exercise OF that duty, the representa-
tires of at least two OF the three treaty
Powers declared at an end the so-ralled
provisional government OF the rebel MA
TAAFA and thercupon Admiral KAUTz, as
the senior naval officer of the Powers re-
sponsible for peace and order in Samoa,
issued a proclamation ordering MATAAFA
and his adherents to dispense.
We say at least two Of the three treaty
Powers, for 1t does not appear from the
dispatches whether the German Consul
General ROSE participated in the confer
encc. Probably not; or, IL present, only as
a protesting minority, for after Admira
kAUTz's warning to the rebels to go to
their homes, and after MATAAFA and his
followers had evinccd a disposition to obey,
the German Consul-Gencral issued a proc
lamation of his own uphOlding the pro-
v%isional government OF the rebel MATAAFA.
Thus supported and encouraged to defy the
Powers acting under the treaty, MATAAFA
resumed his active rebellion, attacked
Apia, and in SO doing killed three British
sailors and one American.
As to Germany, the alternative is so plain
nowthat it hardly requires statement. That
Government must either rcpudiate Consul
General ROSE and his acts, or it must repu-
dat" the treaty Of Berlin. As a party to
the treaty it cannot uphold it's representa-
tives in upholdiug rebels against the gov
ernmcn established by the treaty, and we
do not believe that Germany will under
take so to do.
Section 7 of the third article OF the com-
pact between the United States, Germany,
and Great Britain provides:
In case any difference shall arise between either
of tho treaty Powers which they shall fail to adjust
by mutual accord, such di6,r,nce shall no, b. held
caus, for pdr. but shall be referred for adjustment
in the principles Of justice and equity to the Chief
Justice Of Samoa. who shall make his decision
thereon in writing
The German Government has not vet. so
far as Is known, repudiatod the Chief JUS
tice whom it joined in establishing in
authority in Samoa. 1t has not slgnited
its approval OF the attempted overthrow Of
the supreme tribunal by the rebel natives,
tho former German President of the Mu-
nicipal Council, and the present Imperial
Consul-General in Samoa.
Therefore. there is no international con-
iiict involved in the present situation, pro-
vided that Germany meets her responsible
ity and does her duty, under the treaty,
and does IL promptly.