Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, Transmitted to Congress, With the Annual Message of the President, December 3, 1888, Part I
No. 538.
Mr. Rives
to Mr. Phelps.
Washington, October 9, 1888.
Sir: I have to inclose herewith for your information and to ask your special attention to copies of two dispatches from the United States vice-consul at Apia, dated respectively the 11th and 14th of September, 1888, in which an account is given of the recent hostilities among the natives in Samoa, resulting in the complete overthrow of the Brandeis-Tamasese Government.
The Imperial German Government has given us the assurance that it does not propose to interfere in the strife between the natives for the purpose of controlling their choice of a Government.
It is proper to say that in their recent course which seems to have been in a great measure unanticipated by the foreign element in the Islands, the Samoan natives have shown a spirit and resolution that appeal most strongly to our sense of humanity.
I am, etc.,
Acting Secretary.
Mr. Blacklock to Mr. Rives.
Apia, Samoa, September 11, 1888. (Received October 8.)
Sir: Affairs in Samoa have taken a decided change since last mail; then all was apparently quiet and peaceful, but now everything is excitement and trouble. The whole of Samoa is in open rebellion against Tamasese, and you will see from the record of current events inclosed that the Tamasese Government is in a bad state.
I have, etc.,
U. S. Vice-Consul-General.
Record of current events.
Apia, Samoa, August 27.
Talolo from Tuamasaga chiefs to Tamasese, and the ceremony of giving away a name to Tamasese.
Her Britannic Majesty’s consul, H. de Coetlogon calls.
August 28.— Another or a continuation of yesterday’s doings; dissatisfaction brewing on account of Brandeis breaking into the native customs and also insisting that the name of Malietoa be given to Tamasese.
August 29.—A repetition of yesterday, and a report that several hundred natives have taken to the bush; also that Brandeis proposes to disarm the Malietoa natives. The French corvette Fabert arrives from Tahiti.
August 30.—Great excitement last night among the natives on Mulinuu, and the Germans, owing to the natives in revolt against Tamasese, threatening a raid on the point.
August 31.—Early this morning Brandeis, at the head of about 600 natives, goes inland to put down the revolt.
Natives just arrived from the bush report a skirmish, and a dead body is brought in. Great numbers from both parties are taking to the bush.
Things are beginning to look serious. The engagement took place about 3 miles behind Apia; five reported killed; one chief from Mulinuu killed, and a chief of the Malietoa party killed also. The other deaths were common people.
Although the Tamasese people make the attack and surprise the others, they return without accomplishing anything. Reported that a number of the Tamasese people are now leaving the point and joining the opposition.
To-night everything deathly still; ail native houses have their blinds down. Men all sleeping, and in every house two old women are watching and keeping guard to prevent a surprise being made on them, The men are all armed; every one has his gun alongside of him.
The people on the point are very uneasy, expecting the Malietoa party are going to make a raid on them.
September 1.—Nothing serious happened last night. This morning Tamasese’s people are returning home to their different villages. The Tuamasaga people got orders yesterday to report at Mulinuu in the afternoon, but they took no notice of it, and not a single man went. In yesterday’s engagement Tarnasese’s force was about six hundred and the bush party about forty; merely a skirmish squad.
The killed and wounded on both sides were about equal. Brandeis was certainly not victorious, as he came back without doing anything, and the other party killed as many as he did.
September 2.—Great preparations on both sides for a renewal of hostilities on Tuesday next. Many of Tamasese’s people leaving and joining the Malietoa people. All Tuamasaga people take to the bush.
September 3.—Tamasese’s people are fortifying Mulinuu. Natives are arriving from Savaii and joining both parties.
This afternoon the German man-of-war Adler lands a squad of men armed at Mulinuu.
The excitement increases and an engagement is expected either to-night or to-morrow morning.
September 4.—Before daylight this morning a German man-of-war boat boards an English boat coming round Mulinuu point and examines the cargo. Natives from Mulinuu go to Matautu, Vaialu, and Matafagatele and take up their quarters in the houses vacated by the Malietoa people. They commence depredations on Hamilton’s property, notwithstanding his having notices and American flags on same, but on Hamilton’s going to them and letting them know that a force would be landed from the Adams if they did not desist, they knocked off.
Great excitement on account of a report that the Malietoa party are going to make a raid on Mulinuu at 5 o’clock this evening.
A letter is sent from the Malietoa people asking if there is any neutral territory to the three consuls; the British consul calls on the German, who says he respects no neutral territory.
September 5.—The German man-of-war Adler leaves for the westward with several native boats in tow, and a lot of armed natives: Brandeis having given the revolutionists notice in writing that the Adler was going to burn Manono.
Mataafa reported to be chosen as king of Samoa by the revolutionists, and the whole population, both Malietoa and Tamasese people, said to be well pleased.
[Page 754]Several white people go from town on horseback to Faleula to visit the revolutionary army and return in the evening. They report the natives in good spirits, and in large numbers, well armed, and strongly fortified. The Adler returns and one of her sailors reports the shelling of Manono and the attempt of the Tamasese boats to land, but they were driven back by the people on shore.
September 6.—Great quantities of pigs, chickens, and all kinds of native food coming in from Matafagatele and vicinity. The Tamasese people are cleaning everything out belonging to the other side who are in the bush.
A number of natives come in from the bush and sleep at Mulinuu to-night; they intend to try and get Seumanatafu away, who is at present closely watched.
The captain of Adams sends a protest to the captain of the Adler.
September 7.—Seumanatafu did not get away last night. All the natives on the point are anxious to leave and join the revolutionists. Only four chiefs left with Tamasese—Seumanatafu, Suatele, Too, and Mataia.
The captain of the Adler replies to the A dams’ protest that he is acting under Becker’s orders.
Aana people all leave Mulinuu and return home to consider whether they will remain neutral or join Malietoa.
Mataia and Too leave Mulinuu and go to Faleula with their people to-night.
September 8.—Yesterday the Tamasese people, who are living at Vaifele, killed all the pigs and chickens and burned two houses. This village only contains women and children left by Malietoa people who have gone to Faleula.
Suatele goes to Savali to try and raise recruits for Tamasese.
Lanati also goes from Faleula to bring over the Malietoa people. They are expected to arrive on Monday.
A number of people, camped in Vailele and Matafagatele, cleared to-night and joined the Faleula party.
September 9.—Notice received from the Faleula Government that Mataafa has been made king with the name of Malietoa Tooa Mataafa.
Notices are sent to the three consuls, the French priest, and to Tamasese.
Yesterday Safu, a chief of Manono, was shot by his people for being a traitor.
A great many people from Apia go down to Faleula and visit the Malietoa people.
In the afternoon about six hundred of the Malietoa people come in towards Apia and pitch their camp at Vaimoso. They got word that the few Tamasese people left at Mulinuu were going to build a fort at Vaimoso, and they came in to prevent it.
September 10.—A letter in German just received from the German consulate.
Having had it translated, it states that the Adler, by request of the German consul, has landed troops near Mulinuu to protect German property and others on account of armed mobs being in the vicinity of Apia.
Captain Hamilton has just come in and reports the Tamasese people have pulled down four houses on his property and cut down his trees and committed all sorts of depredations on his property.
Another letter just received from Mataafa, addressed to the British consul and myself, inquiring about neutral territory.
Proclamation of Brandeis.
Mulinuu, September 5, 1888.
To the chiefs and rulers of Tuamasaga, Manono, and le Faasaleleaga in the bush:
Chiefs: By authority of His Majesty Tamasese, the King of Samoa, I make known unto you all that The German man-of-war is about to go, together with a Samoan fleet, for the purpose of burning Manono, on account of their seci et actions. After this island Manono is all burnt, ‘tis good, if the people return to Manono and live quiet. If they obey, then no other punishment will come upon them or added to above.
To the people of le Faasaleleaga I say return to your homes and stop there; the same to those belonging to Tuamasaga.
If you obey this instruction, then you will all be forgiven. If you do not obey, then all your villages will be burnt down the same as Manono.
These instructions were made Or set forth in truth. In sight of God in the heaven.
Chiefs, I am,
The chief leader of the Government.
Commander Leary to Commander Fritze.
Apia Harbor, Samoa, September 6, 1888.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that information was received yesterday btat-ing that the German war vessel (Adler) under your command would on that date proceed to the island of Manono with a Samoan fleet, and there burn the homes and villages of the Manono men who are now on this island (Upolu) in open revolt against Tamasese. It is reported that those homes were occupied by the defenseless wives and children of the aforesaid Manono men. The information further stated that after burning Manono the Faasaleleaga and the Tuamasaga would also be burned unless the men in revolt would surrender to Tamasese and return to their homes. It is a fact that yesterday morning an armed force of natives embarked in the corvette Adler, and the ship proceeded with the natives’ boats in tow towards Manono, and later in the day the firing of heavy guns was reported in that direction, furnishing thereby presumptive evidence that the above-mentioned mission was about to be accomplished.
The present Samoan revolt is almost, if not quite, general, and the revolutionists had an armed force for warlike purposes in the field within a few hours’ march of this harbor when the vessel under your command transported the Tamasese troops ‘to a neigh boring island, with the avowed intention of making war on the isolated homes of the women and children of the enemy.
Such action, especially after the Tamasese party having been represented as a strong government, not needing the aimed support of a foreign power, appears to be a violation of the principles of international law, as well as a violation of the generally-recognized laws of humanity.
Being the only other representative of a naval power now present in this harbor, for the sake of humanity I hereby respectfully and solemnly protest in the name of the United States of America and of the civilized world in general against the use of a national war vessel for such service as was yesterday rendered by the German corvette Adler.
I am, etc.,
Commander, U. S. Navy, Commanding U. S. S. Adams.
Commander Fritze to Commander Leary.
Honorable Sir: I have the honor to reply to your letter of yesterday that I am neither obliged to interfere with political affairs nor to inquire whether a requisition from the diplomatic representative of the German Empire directed to me is lawful or not.
This is the duty of the diplomatic representative.
In this case you would do well by kindly addressing Mr. Becker, German consul.
Very respectfully, etc.,
Captain of Corvette and Commandant H. M. Kz. Adler.
Samoan Chiefs to Mr. Blacklock.
September 9, 1888.
Your Highness: We wish to inform your highness that we have this day crowned Malietoa Mataafa as King of Samoa from Manna to Falealupo.
We crowned him on September 9, at 10 o’clock in the morning.
May your highness live.
We are,
Proclamation of Samoan Chiefs.
attention, all men.
We have crowned this day, the 9th of September, 1888, at 10 o’clock in the morning, Malietoa, To’oa Mataafa, as King of Samoa.
There were present Tumua, and Pule, and Aiga.
We are,
Mr. Becker to Mr. Blacklock.
Apia, September 9, 1888.
I hereby notify the consulate of the United States that in consequence of the appearance of armed mobs in the vicinity of Apia I am compelled to ask the commander of the I. M. Krz. Adler to send a detachment of soldiers to Apia for the protection of German property and others.
Therefore has the said commander, with permission of Samoan Government, posted a guard on the boundaries of Sogi and Mulinuu.
The United States consulate I hereby notify to acquaint the American citizens with the above.
Imperial German Consul.
Mr. Blacklock to Mr. Becker.
Apia, Samoa, September 10, 1888.
Sir: Your notification of this morning’s date with reference to armed mobs and the landing of troops from H. I. G. M.’s S. Adler received.
I am, etc.,
U. S. Vice-Consul-General.
Mr. Blacklock to Commander Leary.
Apia, September 11, 1888.
Sir: Capt. E. L. Hamilton, an American citizen, has just reported to me that natives belonging to the Brandeis-Tamasese party have been committing depredations on his property, which is in charge of some Samoan families. They have pulled down and removed therefrom four Samoan-built houses, turning the people in charge out of doors; also cut down some banana trees (wanton destruction). Their attention was called to the fact that it was American property and the American flag was flying on same. The natives only laughed at this, and said they did not care for that.
I hope you will see your way clear to interfere in this matter and have these houses returned from where they were taken, for if this is allowed to pass there will be no end of insults to the American flag and depredation committed on American property. Even American lives will be in danger if this outrage is quietly winked at.
Awaiting your decision in the matter,
I have, etc.,
U. S. Vice-consul-General.
Commander Leary to Mr. Blacklock.
Apia, Samoa, September 9, 1888. (Washington time.)
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date in reference to depredation committed upon the property of Capt. E. L. Hamilton, an American citizen, and to inform you that I have this afternoon visited the said locality in company with the owner, and caused the national flag, that had been taken down, to be replaced by the native chief in charge of the encampment. I also informed the said native chief that the houses removed from the American property must be returned and put in order for occupation by the families who were put out of them, and that I would allow him until 12 o’clock to-morrow (noon) to comply with my commands.
He promised that my orders should be complied with.
I am, etc.,
Commander, U. S. Navy.
King Mataafa to Messrs. Blacklock and Coetlogon.
September 11, 1888.
Gentlemen: I write this letter to you two, very humbly and entreatingly, on account of this difficulty that has come before me.
I desire to know from you two gentlemen to-day the truth where the boundaries of the neutral territory are.
You will observe that I am now at Vaimoso, and I have stopped here till I know what you say regarding the neutral territory.
I wish to know where I can go and where the forbidden ground is, for I do not wish to go on any neutral territory or on any foreigner’s property.
I do not want to offend any of the great powers.
Please excuse trouble and send me an answer to this question.
Another thing I want to inform you. Yesterday I sent a letter to the German consul, asking where the neutral territory was, but I have heard he did not get it. I suppose some scheming people got hold of it.
Now I wish to ask: Would you two gentlemen have a talk with the German consul about the neutral territory and let me know your decision?
Another thing I’d like. Would it be possible for you three consuls to Make Tamasese remove from (Mulinuu) German property to some other place, for I am in awe of going onto German land.
I hope that you two gentlemen will receive this letter of mine kindly.
I am, etc.,
King of Samoa.
Mr. Blacklock to Mr. Bayard.
Samoans at war. General revolt against Tamasese. Affairs more serious than ever.
Mr. Blacklock to Mr. Rives.
Apia, Samoa, September 14, 1888. (Received October 8.)
Sir: The existing state of affairs here makes it necessary to have the U. S. S. Adams take supplementary dispatches to the mail-steamer. I have the honor to inclose herewith a record of current events since the regular mail left here on the 11th instant. I inclose also a translation of a letter just received.
I have, etc.
U. S. Vice-Consul-General.
Record of current events.
Apia, Samoa, September 14, 1888.
September 11.—A report that the Malietoa party are advancing on Mulinuu and Matafagatele.
Capt. E. L. Hamilton called to-day to say that the natives had taken back the houses they removed from his land and replaced them, where they took them from.
September 12.—Great excitement this morning. The Malietoa people, with Mataafa at their head, are marching towards Matautu and Matafagatele to attack the Tamasese forts which are there. An engagement is expected every minute.
The fight has opened. Things are lively. Immense excitement. The Malietoa people carrying everything before them. The Tamasese people take refuge under the German man-of-war Adler’s quarter.
Captain Bissett, a British subject, master of the British schooner Vindex, killed on his way to the British consul’s office. A good many coming in wounded.
A German sailor shot on board the Adler in the mouth while watching the fight. It is getting dark, but the fighting still continues. There is one more fort to be taken to-night. Two nearest Apia were taken early in the afternoon.
Fighting continues all night till 3 o’clock in the morning.
Everything taken by the Malietoa people. The enemy completely routed.
About 12 o’clock at night a great scare took place, a report that the people from Mulinuu and the black boys, laborers of the German firm, were on their way to attack the Apia natives in their houses. The state of affairs is dreadful, and from all accounts this is merely a commencement.
Before next mail goes the place may be all in ashes. The natives are desperate and ‘will fight to the very last.
September 13.—The Malietoa people in possession of Apia this morning. Two villages, who were the principals in the fight yesterday, march through town triumphantly, but quietly and orderly. The Apia boys are all coming in and returning to their houses with Seumanatafu at their head, he having been taken again into their ranks. The German consul, captain of the Adler, and Brandeis met in Mulinuu on official business.
The Adler has moved into the small harbor close to Mulinuu Point.
The people of Vailele, Matafagatele, Vailoa, and other Malietoa villages along the beach return to their homes, such as they are now. The loss of life is quite small in proportion to the numbers engaged, I suppose not over forty on both sides, but a great number wounded. Numbers of English and Americans visit the battle-ground and are astonished at the strength of the fort, in some places 10 feet high, and the danger the white residents are placed in.
September 14.—Every thing apparently quiet this morning. I have just heard that the German consul wants to meet Mataafa to-day.
U. S. Vice-Consul-General.
Samoan Chiefs to Mr. Blacklock.
September 9, 1888.
Your Highness: We, the chiefs and rulers of Samoa, respectfully beg to notify your highness that we have this day, with consent of the majority of the Samoan people, elected as a King Malietoa Tooa Mataafa.
Further, we wish to notify your highness that it is the desire of nearly all the Samoan people that Tamasese ceases to be king of Samoa and Brandeis to have no more connection with the Government and such connection ceases from this day.
After careful consideration we are determined to abide the action we have now taken to defend our rights to elect what King we, the united people of Samoa, may choose to rule over us.
We feel confident that peace and good order will be maintained in Samoa, and for our future guidance we wish to be allowed the privilege of selecting three gentlemen representing the three great nations having commercial interests in Samoa to advise us in our endeavors to rule impartially and justly.
May yon live.
We are the Tumua, and Pule, and Aiga, and forty others.