Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-07-15
CALLED AT THE WHITE HOUSE
TELLS OF THE WORK OF THE sPE-
: CIAL COMMISSIONERS.
Says He Has No Doubt That the Com
mission Will Report in Favor of
q White Mans Administra-
tion, Except in the
Interior.

been one of the foremost figures in the
recent events in Samoa, called at the
White House to-day and was introduced
by Secretary Hay to the president. A brief
talk on Samoan affairs occurred and hopes
were expressed on both sides that the
causes of recent friction had disappeared.
Herr Rose afterwards saw a represent
ative of the Associated Press and gave an
interesting outline of the conditions up to
the time he left Samoa.
Prior to the arrival Of the Samoan COM
mission" said he, 'an armistice had been
arranged with the native forces. Mataafa
and his men were back of line sweeping
around the city of Apia and extending
from the town of Falenla to Lantii. The
Mataafa forces numbered about $500 men,
Tanu and his men occupied the peninsula
iutttng ont from the mainland near Apia.
They numbered about 1000 men. Both
forces were fairly well armed, but the
Tanu men had, in addition to their old
arms, about 700 modern rifles, furnished by
the British ships, at the time Of the con-
fict.
THE commissioners first turned their
attention to disarming the native forces.
AS soon as they arrived Mataafa sent
| letter of greeting and said he would abide
by any decision they might make. The
| commission then gave a hearing on board
| the Badger to each of the claimants for
| the kingship, Mataafa being heard one
| day and Tanu another They were ad-
dressed, not as king, but simply as sir
AS senior member of the body, the Ameri-
can commissioner, Mr.. Trip, asked some
very direct questions of Mataafa and Tanu.
He wanted to know If they were ready to
| give their support to the commission, even
| If it determined to deny the right of one
| or the other of them to the kingship, or
| to abolish the kingship entirely. Serious
| as these questions were to the two claim
ants to the throne, they promised to sup
port the commission in whatever action
| was taken.
Some days later the Badger went along
the coast to Malie, where Mataafa's head
quarters were located. The native chiefs
came alongside and a formal surrender of
1,S5 guns was made to the commission.
"Mataafa and his chiefs came aboard the
| ship and were entertained at dinner. The
! Tanu party followed with the surrender of
their arms a few days later, for while the
decision of the commissioners had upheld
Tanu, yet it was felt to be in the interest
| of all concerned that the native kingship
should be brought to an end, and that an
administration by white men, at least over
| those localities where white interests are
greatest, should be brought about. Tanu
yielded TO this decision, but for a time
| e,
royal flags were kept flying over the Tanu
headquarters, despite the fact he had sur
rendered the kingship. THIS was a source of
| irritation to the Mataafa people, who con-
| sidered it contrary to the understanding
| arrived at.
"Since arriving in this country, however
l understand that this source of difficulty
| has been removed, and that the Tanu flag
is withdrawn and the Tanu forces dispers-
1 nI Toto f.
back to the interior. With the natives dis
armed and both factors back to their
homes, there is every reason to believe that
no further trouble will arise, and that the
commission will be free to work out sat
| isfactory plan for the future government of
| the islands.
IN determining upon the abolition Of the
kingship, the commission examined the
question with great care. The opinion Of
all the business interests in Samoa was
secured and this was almost unanimous
in favor of abolishing the kingship The
manager of the German company, which is
the most extensive business concern on
| the islands, strongly approves the plan of
having white administration.
| The two large American companies, the
| British business interests and the smaller
German concerns also approved the plan" a"
Herr Rose did not wish to discuss the
future government of the islands, as this
might anticipate the report Of the commits
sion. He has no doubt. however. that the
essential principle will be the white man s
administration in place of the native king
ship. certainly for those parts where for
eign interests predominate, while, at the
same time, the natives will be given proper
consideration in the direction of affairs
in the interior of the island Herr Rose
expressed hope that his visit here would
help disarm any feeling which had arisen.
He will remain here some days. going on
a trip to Niagara Falls and other points of
iptereSt hefnra sailing for Rar1ip