No. 473.
Mr. Coleman to Mr. Bayard.
Legation of
the United States,
Berlin, October 1, 1888.
(Received October 13.)
No. 672.]
Sir: With respect to the events reported by
telegraph to the London Times as having recently occurred in the Samoan
Islands, and which appear likely to culminate in the entire overthrow of
Tamasese, installed there as ruler since the removal of King Malietoa by the
Germans, the press of this country has had surprisingly little to say, the
various papers considered to be in a measure governmental less, and the
especial organ of the chancellor of the Empire, the North German Gazette, as
far as I have been able to discover, not even reproducing the London
telegrams.
Such brief allusions as I have found in newspapers of this city are in the
nature of comments upon the telegrams referred to and upon an editorial
relating to Samoan affairs published in the London Times of the 17th ultimo.
I therefore inclose this editorial, the articles in question, and a letter
to the Times relating to the same subject, which appeared in its number of
the 28th ultimo.
Commenting on the outbreak announced as having occurred in Samoa, the
Vossische Zeitung, a liberal Berlin paper, remarks in its issue of the 18th
ultimo:
From Samoa intelligence of the outbreak of a rebellion for the
purpose of overthrowing the present King Tamasese has been received.
The reports state that the final deposition of Tamasese was regarded
as inevitable unless Germany should give him support. The
consideration of this possibility seems to cause great disquiet in
the English press. A telegram received by us to-day reads: “In
connection with
[Page 652]
the
reports from Samoa and the demand for German support for Tamasese,
the Times remarks that the Governments of England and America would
make representations at Berlin with a view to the restoration of
Malietoa. This restoration would serve as a basis of union between
the three Governments, and the predominance of German influence in
Samoa, which is the just consequence of the preponderance of German
trade there, would then be welcomed by all concerned.”
As is known, it is true that Malietoa, alter having been liberated in
Germany, is now on his way back to his home, but it is far from
certain that it was intended to thereby open up the way to the
throne for him. It was the practices of Malietoa, hostile to
Germany, which first disturbed peace and tranquillity at Samoa. In
case the conflicts and agitation should really threaten the position
of the present King, the three powers primarily interested will
undoubtedly seek to arrive at an understanding respecting the secure
establishment of power there, without the independence of the
islands, guarantied by treaty, being called in question by any
party, or without Germany being compelled to re-admit to authority a
chief manifestly hostile to it, and whom it has removed in the
interests of peace.
The same paper remarks in its issue of the 28th ultimo:
In Samoa events have taken the course that was feared. [Here the
London telegrams reporting defeat in battle of Tamasese are quoted.]
In accordance herewith it would seem that serious and difficult
tasks await the Empire in the South Sea as well as in East
Africa.
The National Gazette, the principal organ Of the national liberal party,
published yesterday, remarks:
With respect to the disturbances at Samoa the Government, pursuant to
a communication we have received, awaits fuller information, the
intelligence thus far received being too meager. In any event there
need be no apprehension that the good understanding of the three
interested Governments of Germany, England, and America would be in
any way impaired on account of Samoa. It seemed that diplomatic
negotiations concerning joint action to be taken by the three powers
were impending.
I shall not fail to report to you promptly any authoritative information I
may be able to obtain concerning the attitude of this Government toward
Samoa in view of the altered aspect of affairs resulting from the revolution
against Tamasese, which appears to have recently occurred there.
I have, etc.,
[Inclosure 1 in No. 672.—From London Times
of September 17, 1888.]
foreign and colonial news.
We have received the following telegrams through Reuter’s agency:
rebellion in samoa.
Advices received here from Samoa state that a rebellion has broken out
there owing to Herr Brandeis having made an attempt to induce the
natives to confer on Tamasese, the present King, the name of Malietoa,
and also on account of the excessive taxation to which the people are
subjected by the existing government.
Herr Brandeis placed himself at the head of a body of Samoans loyal to
King Tamasese and went out to meet the rebels, whom he encountered in
the bush. In the conflict which ensued seven of the supporters of
Tamasese and three of the rebels were killed, while the number of
wounded on both sides was large. Herr Brandeis’ force now numbers 1,400
men. A thousand Savaii natives have flocked to the camp of the partisans
of the dethroned King Malietoa, bringing their total effective force up
to 3,000 men.
The ultimate deposition of Tamasese is regarded as inevitable unless
support is rendered him by the Germans.
[Page 653]
[Inclosure 2 in No. 672.—From London Times
of September 17, 1888.]
Rather more than a week ago a telegram from Berlin announced that
Malietoa, the ex-King of Samoa, had been released from captivity and was
about to return to his native land. Hardly have people ceased to wonder
what this move on the part of Prince Bismarck portends, when news
arrives by way of Auckland, New Zealand, that an insurrection is in
progress in Samoa against the new King Tamasese, and that it promises to
be successful, unless the Germans interfere vigorously on behalf of
their nominee. Malietoa, it will be remembered, was deposed by an armed
force of Germans in August of last year, and, according to report, was
exiled to New Guinea, although we are not in a position to say that New
Guinea has been throughout the place of his imprisonment. Tamasese, his
rival of long standing for the sovereignty of the Samoan group of
islands, was created King in his place.
But the position of this puppet became precarious as soon as the German
ironclads left Apia. In the days before Malietoa’s deposition Tamasese
had never been more than a rebel, incapable of making head against
Malietoa, and only shielded from his vengeance by German influence. The
proceedings of the King and of the German agent have not been calculated
to win popularity for the new dynasty. One step in particular on the
part of Herr Brandeis seems to have provoked much resentment among the
clansmen of Malietoa. He caused the ruler, whom the majority of the
Samoans probably regard as a usurper, to assume the hereditary name of
Malietoa, thus wounding the tenderest sentiments of the old loyalists.
Oppressive taxation, besides, has filled to overflowing the cup of
Tamasese’s offending, and the result of it is a full-blown insurrection,
in which the insurgents have more than held their own and are twice as
numerous as the force of the government. Thus Samoa plunges once more
into the anarchy and bloodshed which have prevailed there, with few
interruptions, since time out of mind, and to which it was fondly
believed that German intervention had put an end.
It remains to be seen whether Germany regards herself as responsible for
the maintenance of the status quo in Samoa. If
Prince Bismarck could see his way to allowing matters to take their
course without any interference on the part of Germany, the rest of the
world would probably be satisfied; roughly speaking, justice would be
done, and the return of order would quickly come with the overthrow of
Tamasese and the restoration of Malietoa. It would be too much to assume
that Malietoa’s release at this juncture, and his impending return to
Apia, represent anything more than clemency on the part of the German
Government, or that they signify any intention to substitute him for the
weakling Tamasese.
Yet it is difficult to say why so unsentimental a person as Prince
Bismarck should do the thing of all others most calculated to upset his
work in Samoa by letting loose Malietoa among his former subjects. The
Germans have certainly not much to congratulate themselves upon in their
recent connection with Samoa. They have for many years kept, or greatly
contributed to keep, the islanders in hot water, and they have derived
next to no advantage from so doing. In selecting Samoa as a field for
German activity the German Government was acting upon the well-known
maxim of Prince Bismarck, that the flag ought to follow the trade. By
far the most important trading firm in the islands is a German company.
The case of Samoa, however, is a proof that the maxim is capable of
great abuse. Whatever the German foreign office might think, it has
throughout been made a tool of by Messrs. Godeffroy and the company
which has stepped into their shoes. All the intrigues of this firm with
Tamasese against Malietoa have been consciously or unconsciously adopted
by the German Government in defiance of all the dictates of justice,
and, what is very unusual for Germany, without much regard for treaties
with other countries which were interested in Samoa. The Germans, in
formal declarations, recognized the authority of Malietoa, and
accredited their consul to him. Yet they never lost an opportunity of
inflicting humiliation upon him or of backing up the rebel Tamasese. It
was a perfectly understood thing that any attempt upon the part of
Malietoa to enforce his authority against Tamasese would be resented by
the Germans and probably treated as a casus
belli. At the same time it must be admitted that the British
Government showed a lamentable want of firmness in abandoning Malietoa
and allowing their own treaty rights to be evaded. In 1884 a treaty was
entered into between Germany and England to respect the independence of
Samoa. That agreement has been in several instances ignored by the
Germans. It was ignored when, in November of the same year, the German
consul forced King Malietoa to sign a treaty giving Germany a virtual
protectorate. It was again superseded when Malietoa was deposed by way
of punishment for imaginary insults to Germany, and another ruler
installed in his place, under the complete control of a German official.
Germany, indeed, seems to recognize no obligation in Samoa except that
of not in terms annexing the islands.
The Germans, apparently, will find that their responsibilities in Samoa
were far from ended by the substitution of one ruler for another. They
are now face to face with a difficult state of things. On the one hand,
they are debarred by international
[Page 654]
pledges from annexation out and out. On the other,
they are probably beginning to realize that nothing short of the
permanent maintenance of an armed force of Germans in Samoa will
preserve King Tamasese against his subjects. But any proposal to take
this course might excite determined protests, from England and the
United States, the powers which are chiefly concerned in preserving the
independence of the Samoan group. This country, however, can have no
wish to obstruct the restoration of order in Samoa. Yet we should not be
sorry to see King Malietoa come to his own again. Both the British and
the United States Governments behaved shabbily to this monarch. The
British and United States consuls dissuaded him from offering any
resistance to the German force which demanded his surrender, and
Malietoa naturally interpreted their advice as meaning that their
Governments would see that he got his rights. In point of fact, Malietoa
was left to his fate. We can not resist a hope that, even at this late
hour, the British and United States Governments will appeal to Germany
in his behalf. His restoration would serve as a basis of union between
the three Governments, and the predominance of German influence in his
councils, which is the just consequence of the preponderance of German
in trade in Samoa, would then be welcomed by all parties.
[Inclosure 3 in No. 672.—From London Times
of September 28, 1888.]
foreign and colonial news.
We have received the following telegrams through Reuter’s agency:
the rebellion in samoa.
Advices received to-day from Samoa announce that Tamasese, the king set
up and supported by the Germans after the defeat and capture of King
Malietoa, has been totally defeated by the partisans of Malietoa, after
severe fighting.
The troops of King Tamasese have been led in the recent fighting by Herr
Brandeis, the German vice-consul.
The latest intelligence, dated the 18th instant, received here from
Samoa, states that part of the force supporting the present king,
Tamasese, being allowed to leave the neutral territory, went to Vaielils
(?), whither they were being hotly pursued by the partisans of Mataafa,
the newly proclaimed king. Another battle was consequently regarded as
imminent.
Sydney, September 27.
The latest intelligence received here regarding the rebellion in Samoa
states that an engagement took place on the 12th instant, in which,
after several hours hard fighting, the supporters of Tamasese were
completely defeated by the partisans of Malietoa, who thereupon occupied
Apia and proclaimed Mataafa king.
The captain of the steamer Vindex was shot while
attempting to reach the British consulate, but, with this exception,
foreigners were not molested.
Tamasese’s men had withdrawn to neutral ground, which was occupied by the
Germans.
The German and American war vessels maintained neutrality during the
disturbances.
[Inclosure 4 in No. 672.—From London Times
of September 28, 1888.]
samoa.—a suggestion.
To the Editor of the Times:
Sir: The news received to-day from Auckland
will scarcely surprise any one acquainted with Samoan affairs; nor,
indeed, will the defeat of the German nominee be altogether unexpected
either in London or Berlin. In spite of the influence possessed by
Germany in Samoa, the natives dislike the rule and resent the
high-handed proceedings of German officials. This fact is known to
Prince Bismarck and Lord Salisbury, and yet the former minister insists
upon following the German trade with the German flag, and the latter
apparently acquiesces in the tactics employed. It would scarcely seem
probable in these days of advanced civilization that such prominent
powers as Germany, America, and Great Britain should enter into treaties
of friendship and reciprocity with a native king and then allow one
nation to upset the Government
[Page 655]
and establish upon the throne the representative of a dynasty in
rebellion to the recognized sovereign, and yet this is what America and
Great Britain have done in the case of Malietoa. To escape from an
awkward position into which these two powers allowed themselves to
drift, they abandoned the man to whom they had pledged the honor of
their respective countries, and looked on with impunity while the lawful
king was an exile in a far-off land and his rebellious rival reigned in
his stead. But while this was the line taken by the greater powers, the
chiefs of Samoa, true to native instinct, continued to harbor in their
breasts that loyalty to their king which foreign nations had tried in
vain to upset, and in spite of so-called royal proclamations signed and
countersigned thus:
“Tuiaana Tamasese,
“King of Samoa.
“Bradeis.”
the rule of Tamasese has been overthrown and the advance
of Germany in Samoa received a check. But I do not wish to dwell on the
past; the past speaks for itself, and what is done can not be undone. It
is with the future that we are concerned, both as a people and as a
great power, and with the future I would deal. Now, certain treaties and
understandings exist between Germany and Great Britain respecting
spheres of influence in the Western Pacific, which division of the
Pacific Ocean, according to the understanding entered into between those
two countries in April, 1886, includes the groups of Tonga and Samoa.
These groups, however, are especially excluded from the benefits of that
understanding; hence the not unnatural surmise that a secret arrangement
with regard to those groups exists between this country and Germany,
which arrangement stands in the way of any activity on our part in
Samoa. Whether such an understanding exists or not it is not my part to
say, but it is very clear that advantage might be taken of the present
position of affairs to amend the 1886 understanding with a view to
utilizing the amendment as a diplomatic solution of the Samoan
difficulty.
I am, sir, yours, obediently,
C. Kinloch
Cooke.
2 Garden-court
Temple, September 27.
