New-York tribune., 1902-10-22
GERMANY WINS SAMOAN CASE.
KING OSCAR DECIDES AGAINST THE UNITED STATES
AND GREAT BRITAIN


In these briefs. which have hitherto been re-
garded as confidential the following facts and
deductions are set forth;
FIGHT FOR THE SAMOAN THRONE
MaIietoa Laupepa. King Of Samoa by virtue
of the decision of Germany, Great Britain and
the United States in the treaty of 1889, died in
August, 1899. On his death two prominent can
didates for the throne appeared-Malietoa Tanu
son Of the dead King. and Mataafa. a chief who
had been exiled in 1898 in accordance with the
decision of the powers but who in 1895. upon
the suggestion of Germany, had been allowed
TO return 10 Apia Under the terms Of the
treaty, failure Of the natives to agree on
king required the consideration of the dispute
by the Chief Justice who was w L. Chambers
afterward appointed by President Mckinley a
member Of the Spanish Claims Commission
The Chief Justice awarded the throne to Nal
ietoa Tanu. on the ground that in 1889 Prince
Bismarck had declared that Mataafa was ine-
gible because he had barbarously mutilated
German dead, and in this declaration the rrp'e-
sentatives Of the United States and Great Brit
ain had joined. The decision Of the Chief Jus
uce promptly followed by an outbreak OF
the Mataafan adherents. who drew their inspi-
ration. according to the American and British
briefs, from the German consul general, Herr
Rose.
by Herr Rose against Mr.. Chambers. written
month before the decision was announced The
German officer charges Mr.. Chambers with
maladministration, and declares that he is not
10 be trusted.
The United States has not felt disposed 10
attribute 10 the German Consul any sinister
motive the American brief safes while it
has not failed to recognize that his action neces
sarily operated TO stimulate those unclvilized
people TO open and violent acts Of rebellion"
The late Lloyd Osborne. then Consul General
OF the United States at Apia, is quoted as say
ing in a report that without discussing the
question Of justification there can he no earthly
doubt that had Germany ndOrsed and sustained
the decision of the Chief Justice there would
! have been no war In Samoa The CONDITIONS
existing in Samoa, as the result OF the attitude
OF the German agents. We're anarchlcal, ana
Mataafa's attempt to attack a detachment or
American and British bluejaCkets was respon-
sihle for the action OF Rear Admiral kautZ IN
firing on the hostile canoes which preceded the
bombardment. Germany charged that Admiral
Kautz was under the influence Of the British
Consul and took perverted view Of the situa-
The correspondence between the representa-
tves of the three powers in Apia at the Time
as spread on the records, was extremely bitter
and full OF reflections on the integrity ana honor
of the nations concerned, and there were frank
declarations that il the naval forces OF the
United States and Great Britain had not been
supreme in the absence of German warships, a
clash must have occurred which would have
brought the United States and Germany 10 the
verge of war.
THE CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES
The claims which are incidental 10 the larger
question. were fled by citizens OF the United
States. Germany. Great Britain. France, Aus
tria, Denmark Sweden and Norway, Portugal
and Switzerland. and natives Of Samoa. Citi-
zens Of the United States ask for SIl,605 70 re-
inburse them for their losses in the lombard
ment; subjects Of Germany want S103,9lS sub
jects Of Great Britain S6.2SJ. and citizens OF
France S2632l None Of the claims have yet
been supported by evidence argument, pend
ing the decision as TO whether liability exists
King oscar having decided that the military
action OF the United States and Great Britain
was unjustifiable and by inference that Ger
] ny was not responsible for creating the re-
bellion. the claimants viii probably now be
asked 10 submit proof Of damages before the
I King reasonably mulct the United States
an Great Britain in specific amounts.