Show THE PLOT THICKENS PRESIDENT CLEV ELANDS MESSAGE TU CONGRESS the complications a serious aspect february 1 tha president today to day sent the following massago to congress 1 As supplementary to my previous messages on tho subject I 1 have now the honor to transmit a report from the secretary of state relating to affairs in samoa signed CLEVELAND bayard says to the president As the question of german action and american rights in samoa is un der consideration by congress I 1 beg leaveta le aveto transmit herewith with a view to their being laid before congress copies of the correspondence touching affairs in samoa which have taken place since january the date of your lat message to congress oa the subject this consists of a telegram to this department from blacklock vice consul of the united states at abia apia dated january and a paraphrase of my telegraphic instruction of the same copy to our minister at bertinot Ber linot which a copy was also sent to the charged 1 affairs air london and my note of the same dato to count arco galley today to day I 1 was waited upon by the german minister at the capital who read me a note from his government which F transcribed from his dictation and now enclose a copy of its text the enclosed telegram from blacklock reads AUCKLAND january 31 the german consul declares germany is a war with mataafa aad samoa is under martial law the paraphrase of the note to ister pendleton is as follows bayard instructs the minister of the united states at berlin to m form the german government thai advises advices from abia apia state that the german consul had declared germany tp bo at war with mataafa ana samoa to be under martial law bayard informs minister pendleton that the german minister ac this capital un der instructions from prince bismarck had already acquainted tha government of the declaration of war by germany against mataafa and accompanied compa nied his notification with a statement that germany would of course abide by its agreements with the united states and england touching samoa and preserve under all circumstances the rights of this government established by treaty but in view of advises advices from abia apia bayard instructs pendleton to bay that government assumed that german officials in samoa would be instructed carefully to refrain from interference with american citizens and property there hence no declaration cl of martial law could extend bogerman by German jurisdiction so as to include control of americans in samoa such pretension could not be recognized or conceded by this the remainder of tho correspondence as transmitted by the president reads as follows department of state january bayard to count arco valley informs him of the receipt of a telegram from blacklock and says not knowing what construction might be given to his authority by the german consul at samoa in said proclamation of martial law I 1 deemed it expedient at once to communicate to our minister at berlin informing him of the precise language of the telegram from blacklock and stating that the declaration of a state of war by the germans against mataafa and his party in samoa had been previously communicated through you and that prince bismarck in his instructions to you also states that the german government would of course abide by the agreement with america and england with respect to samoa and pay due regard to all instructions as to the rights of chose powers established by treaty our minister at berlin was therefore instructed ted to make it known at the ger man foreign office that the united states asserts that the german officials in samoa should be instructed to scrupulously abstain from all interference ter with american citizens and their property in samoa and that no increase or expansion of german jurisdiction over american citizens or kneir property would be caused by the german declaration of martial law nor would such jurisdiction be recognized or conceded by the united states couil arco valley to bayard un dor instruction from the prince chancellor february ast 1st As a state of our war declaration against mataafa tho commander of the german squadron has issued a proclamation by which foreigners established in samoa were subjected to martial law international law would be powerless to a certain extent to prevent such measure but as prince bismarck is of the opinion that our military authority has gone too far in this instance the commander has received telegraphic orders to withdraw that j part of the proclamation concerning foreigners I 1 am negotiating with mataafa our consul at the samoa has asked that the administration of tho islands of samoa might be temporarily handed over to him which demanded not being in conformity to our previous promise regarding the neutrality and independence of pe has been ordered by telegram to withdraw immediately his command news of the recent action of tite german forces at samoa has given rise to commotion among members of the souse and much indignation is felt at tho announcement that the germans intend to search vessels arriving at samoa representative chomas at illinois a particularly active and an influential member 0 the committee on naval affairs ha prepared tho following resolution which will be presented to the bousi at the first opportunity whereas prom the reports branc bitted to congress by the providen Pr of the united states and from current newspapers accounts the rights ot american citizens appear to have azen grossly invaded and the commercial interests of the united states jeopardized by the action of the german government through its naval forces in the samoan islands and whereas late newspaper dispatches show that steps have been taken looking to tho acquisition f the islands by the german government ern ment in violation of the rights and integrity of the government with which the government of the united states holds trea y and commercial relations an in violation of the treaty rights of the united states wherefore be it resolved by the senate and house of representatives of the united states in congress assembled that the president is hereby authorized and directed to take such steps forcibly if deemed expedient as may be necessary and cioper to protect and maintain the honor dignity and jute rests of the flag and government alf the united states and its citizens dispersed against the ads of the emperor of germany or his forces the papers relating to the harbor of Paga ygo which senator sherman an bounced in the senate this morning i he had received from secretary bayard are of interest in view of the prominence given at the present time to samoan affairs secretary bayaras bayards Ba yards letter to sherman is as follows observing that the question of the rights of the united states at harbor samoa is under discussion in thu senate I 1 enclose for such use as j you may deem proper a copy of the deed of transfer of that harbor w the united states in 1878 a copy of which was sent to the navy department at the time of its receipt here with it are two notes of mr goward who was the united states commercial agent at that station which are ex placatory plan atory of the transfer aped referred to and was made out on board the united states steamer adams in the harbor of Paga ygo and reads as follows to it may concern be it known that we the under signed being duly authorized and empowered by tamina and Jai pule of the samoan government do hereby on this ath day of august transfer to the government of the united states the privilege of using port and the shores thereof in accordance with the provisions of a treaty of friendship and commerce at the council at washington in the united states of america between the united states and samoa on the day of january 1878 signed by the chiefs the letter from goward to assistant secretary ari 63 dated januar j says in my opinion this instrument might be regarded as transferring to the united states the title to the land at hat airna I 1 was not authorized or prepared to accept an absolute title in fee simple not knowing how far the united states government desired to proceed in the matter for that reason the phraseology employed was that used in the treaty leaving thereby an interpretation of the same to the department great island waa selected as the place for raiding the flag commemorating the event in consideration of the fact that it commanded a view of all the harbor with the intention of the same to the department part ment of not confining the united government in its selection of any particular part of the shore for the use as a coaling station during the period covered by the language of the ten years or more the announcement that the german government has ordered its military to the german legation at washington to take notes of american military affairs is not regarded with any concern by state department as much as the legation has always been provided with military attaches and the united states has naval attaches at its legations in london berlin and pans sewall consul at samoa at the state department was unable to see bayard bit he had a brief interview I 1 with secretary aives the latter was asked if sewall was to bo sent back to samoa but he positively refused to answer the question or say anything regarding samoan affairs it is rumored tonight to night that the department feels very much injured in regard to sewells sewalls Se walls utterances and will request his resignation CHICAGO february 1 the daily news under the heading of two effective protests referring to Bis marcks communications transmitted to congress today to day and also to the action of captain leary at samoa will say the moral is that a vigorous foreign policy is a good thing if applied properly and at the right time now that pance bismarck has been aroused to the realization of the fact that the united states is still on earth the prospect for a speedy and peaceable adjustment of the misunderstanding is much improved february 1 the north german gazette referring to the re port from samoa says the declaration of war in an on the part of the german consul or commanding officer in samoa is im 1 probable because in the first place I 1 no instructions to that effect havo been given by government and in the second because there ia no opponent m the island against whom war could be declared Tama sese is a friend of the germans and mataafa was not recognized as a ruler bager many to declare war against him would be tantamount to recognizing his sovereignty the german forces may on a basis of self defense and reprisals be engaged IB actual war faro which however would not involve consequences of an intimation inte mation il war when some years ago german officer fc was shot by carit st nobody dreamed 0 d c aring var against friendly government f spain but our ships tried to cap ure the force aa a reprisal fhe affair in samoa is analogous february 1 latest ad ices from samoa say Tania seso sup have been reduced to men tho british and american consuls declined to recognize the right of the germans to establish martial law german authorities are willing 0 o recognize mataafa providing ho will rule under german control tho cologne gazette says germany restore her authority in samoa which was previously shaken by the events of december aad must make an example of tho disorders mis orders it can only occasion complications with america if her congress desires to stay the hand of germany and officially support Mata afas band on tho other hand the diplomatic side of the question does not fear a corn alexion of the war fury in the nineteenth century HO battle hyill be fought over samoa germanas germanys Germ anys proposals for a settlement of the difficulty are now on their way to washington which will convince the amen cans of germanas germanys Germ anys endeavor to deal justly with all duly established inter cysts on the strength of the german gazettes article on samoa it is arged that the german commander was not warranted in searching vessels of other countries for contraband goods of war feb 2 the secretary of state today to day received a cablegram from tho united states commissioners ners to the melbourne exposition saying the federal council ef australia has adopted aa address to tho crown viewing with deep anxiety tho recent events in samoa and favoring treaties guaranteeing independence pen dence in samoa and ing the opinion that foreign domina the samoan islands is a menace to the safety of australia secreta ry bayard said ho regarded the action of the australian authorities on the samoan question as very important inasmuch as it indicated that the people of that large and prosperous colony looked at the situation pretty much in the same light as the american people and were not disposed to look favorably upon foreign encroachments encroach ments in their vicinity I 1 bayard said this afternoon that he had not yet received Bi proposition for a conference on samoa out expects it in a few days bayard added ho wanted the fact made plain that bismark s instruction to the samoan consul to withdraw the demand for the control of the samoan islands was not tho result of bayaras bayards Ba yards telegraphic protest but on his own motion as the instruction to the consul was issued before the protest was sent 1 SEW YOEK feb 2 supplementary to the announcement of the german lieutenant sent to this country to examine our defenses the times says it is a small matter compared with the actual condition of affairs and asserts that germany constantly has agents who keep posted on all the details of our defenses who have complete plans of all our ships etc it sends men to this country to volunteer in the army and navy as common soldiers and sailors who when they obtain all the knowledge available desert and report to their government the times asserts that baron ton stromberg an officer of high rank was present incognita at the recent trial c f Zolin skis dynamite guns it is learned from sources deemed reliable that consul general sewall has made all preparations to leave for samoa on friday afternoon but in the forenoon of that day he received a note from assistant secretary rives asking him to call at the state department which he did and was then told by rives that he was to delay his departure it is the opinion of persons familiar with the situation that inasmuch as the next outgoing vessel which sewall can now i reach does not sail until some time in the early part of march his detention here is virtually a notice that ho will not be allowed to return in his official capacity |