THE SAMOAN WAR

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9264, 18 January 1889, Page 5

THE SAMOAN WAR

FURTHER NEWS FROM SAMOA. I GERMANY AND AMERICA. THE WASHINGTON CONFERENCE. VIEWS OE THE AMERICAN """ GOVERNMENT. MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT. Press Association.— Telegraph.— Sydney, January 17. The s.s. Lubeck which has arrived from Samoa, reports that no further fighting has taken place. Lieut. Spingel, who was wounded in the recent fight, has succumbed to his injuries. Mataaf a has taken up a new position, and is strongly fortifying his camp. It is reported that his troops have committed extensive depredations on the cultivations of residents in the vicinity to provide supplies for the camp. Tamasese is quietly recruiting. Shipments of ammunition which have come to hand have been eagerly purchased by both sides, numbers of natives mortgaging their lands in order to procure fighting material. Washington, January 16. Admiral Kimberley, who is under orders to proceed to Samoa with the United States corvette Triton, has been instructed to afford all possible protection in his power to the Americans residing at Samoa, and their property, and to report at once if, in his opinion, German officials arc acting with impartiality in their dealings with the natives. The Admiral is also instructed to protest against the overthrow of the native Government at Samoa. Mr. Bayard, United States Secretary of State, has informed Count Herbert Bismarck that he has no knowledge of Klein, one of the Americans who had been accused by Germany of instigating the rebellion at Samoa, and that if there is any truth in the statement Klein is acting without authority.

Mr. Bayard adds that the American officials at Samoa have been instructed to observe strict neutrality in dealing with native affairs. He suggests that the present time is opportune for the Samoans to elect a King, in accordance with the agreement arrived at by the Washington Conference on the Samoan question, and says that his Government will be willing to co-operate with Germany and Great Britain to restore order in Samoa on the basis of Samoan independence. Received January 17, 0 p.m.

President Cleveland has addressed a message to Congress in relation to the dispute between the United States Government and Germany on the Samoan question. The message sots forth that while Germany professee to have no intention or desire to overturn the native Government of Samoa, or to her treaty obligations, her actions in Samoa indicate a desire to obtain a preponderance of power in that country, which is quite inconsistent with existing agreements between the United States and European Powers. Tho message further refers to the treatment received by Samoan natives at the hands of German officials and residents of Samoa, treatment which certainly gives colour to the suspicion that Germany is not content to occupy a merely neutral position in Samoa. President Cleveland, in his message to Congress, declines Germany's proposal for co-operation with the United States for the settlement of affairs of Samoa, and invites Congress to decide the course to be taken by America. Klein insists that the Washington Conference of 1887 granted the Samoans the right to elect their own King. London, January 17. Lord Salisbury has forwarded instructions to the British Consul at Apia, similar in terms to those given v by the United States Government to their representative in Samoa, as to observing neutrality in the present situation.