SAMOA ISLANDS

HOW OBTAINED AND HISTORY.

In ancient times those islands were ruled by the royal houses of Malietoa and Tupna. Later they were visited by foreigners, and Germans, Britons and Americans settled more or less as they were attracted by the fertile soil. It was here that the renowned writer Robert Louis Stevenson made his home. The island of Upolu was his home.

A coaling station was obtained by the United States at the port of Pango-Pango, on the island of Tutuila. The interests of the United States, Great Britain and Germany became so extensive that it was necessary for these nations to have some voice in the government. Disputes were constantly arising as to various matters and it was decided that kingship be abolished and the three powers appoint an administrator to be aided by a legislative council of three members and an assembly to consist of native governors representing the various districts into which Samoa is divided.

The treaty of 1889 between these countries provided that these three nations should share the responsibility of protecting and governing the islands. Many difficulties arose from this treaty but they were arranged by the appointment of a joint commission in April, 1899, to carry out the provisions of this treaty.

Judge Bartlett Tripp of South Dakota, former minister to Austro-Hungary, represented the United States, and was chairman. Great Britain was represented by C. N. E. Eliot, Secretary of the British Embassy at Washington, and Baron Speck von Sternberg, first Secretary of the German Embassy to Washington, represented Germany. Troubles arose as to who should be king.

Mataafa and Malletoa Tanu were rival candidates. They both claimed the right of kingship under the election in 1898.

Mataafa was elected by a vote six times as great as his rival, but before this he had been exiled and allowed to return only with the promise that he would not seek to be a ruler. He was supposed to be sustained by the German Consul General Herr Rose. Albert Kautz, the American rear admiral, arrived and announced that he would sustain the decision made by the Supreme Court, which had been adverse to Mataafa, and on March II issued this proclamation:

"To His Highness Mataafa, and the thirteen chiefs associated

with him in particular, and to all the people of Samoa, both foreign and native, in general:

"First-Whereas, at a meeting held this day on board the United States flagship Philadelphia, at anchor at Apia, at which were present the consular representatives of the signatory Powers. of the Berlin Treaty of 1889 and the three senior naval officers of the same Powers, it was agreed that the so-called Provisional Government under High Chief Mataafa and thirteen other chiefs. can have no legal status under the Berlin Treaty, and can, therefore, not be recognized by the consular and naval representatives, it is hereby ordered that the High Chief and the thirteen other chiefs go quietly to their homes and obey the laws of Samoa and respect the Berlin Treaty.

"Second-It is further ordered that all the chiefs and their people who have been ejected from their homes and who have been sent to different points in the Samoan Islands return quietly to their aforesaid homes without molestation.

"Third-The guarantee of protection as far as lies in the power of the naval force now in this harbor is given to all who quietly obey this order; on the other hand, it will be used against all who disregard it or the rights of quiet and peaceably disposed people.

"Fourth-The treaty of Berlin recognizes the Chief Justice of Samoa as the highest officer under the existing Government, and as long as he holds his office his authority must be respected and the decree of the Court must be carried out.

"Fifth-Trusting that all residents of Samoa will have the good sense to observe the requirements of this proclamation, which is issued in the interest of peace, with an earnest regard for the rights of all, both foreign and native, and so there may be no occasion to use power to enforce it."

Mataafa and his followers immediately withdrew from Apia and two days later the German Consul Herr Rose issued a counter proclamation and caused it to be printed in the Samoan language and circulated among the followers of Mataafa. This proclamation read:

"Notice to All Samoans.

"By the proclamation of the Admiral of the United States. dated March 11 it was made known that the three consuls of the signatory Powers of the Berlin Treaty, as well as the three commanders of men-of-war, had been unanimous to no more recognize the Provisional Government composed of Mataafa and the thirteen chiefs.

"I therefore make known to you that this proclamation is quite false. I, the German Consul General, continue to recognize

the Provisional Government of Samoa until I have received contrary instructions from my government "

This tended to encourage Mataafa and he declared that he would not obey the Americans and he, with his natives, surrounded Apia. Forces were landed from the war ships Philadelphia and the Porpoise. The English and Americans acted in conjunction and shelled the outskirts of Apia, burned the village of Vaiaaia and the Porpoise shelled the village of Valusu two miles down the coast where a large number of rebels were stationed. A gneral disturbance followed and both American and British soldiers were killed by the rebels.

The natives seeing that their cause was hopeless agreed to abolish the office of king, but early in October the natives proclaimed Tamasese king. It was now time to act and November 8th, 1899, an agreement between the powers was reached. Germany proposed the plan and it was accepted by Great Britain and the United States. The Samoan act was repealed and the islands Upolu and Savaii and a few small islands were given to Germany and Tutuila and some other adjacent islands became property of the United States. So that now the Samoan Islands are in possession of Germany and the United States, Great Britain having withdrawn on the ground that Germany would renounce claim to the Tonga Islands and to Savage Island and cede Choiseul and San Isabel, the two easterly islands of the Solomon Group with their insular surroundings to Great Britain. Germany also made concessions at Zanzibar and other places in the agreement.

Tutuila and its attendant islets, which are the exclusive property of the United States, according to the Bureau of Statistics of the Treasury Department, includes fifty-four square miles and has a population of four thousand souls. It possesses the most valuable harbor in the islands and, in truth, one of the best in the world. Ex-Chief Justice Chambers, of Samoa, says of this harbor, Pago Pago: "It could hold the entire navy of the United States and is so perfectly arranged that only two vessels can enter at the same time. The coaling station, being surrounded by high bluffs, cannot be reached by shells from outside.

LOCATION, AREA.

Northeast of the Fiji Islands lies a group of fourteen islands called Samoa Islands, but perhaps better known as Navigators Islands. It takes about five days to sail in a straight course from them to Australia. The three largest islands are Savaii, Upolu, and Tutuila. Their respective areas are 659, 340 and 54 square miles. These islands are mountainous and of volcanic origin,

but since 1866 none of the volcanoes have been active. Their population is about 35,000, the greater part being in Upolu. Tutuila is four thousand miles from San Francisco, two thousand two hundred miles from Hawaii and four thousand two hundred miles from Manila in the Philippines

PEOPLE.

The natives are brave and show great activity in time of war. They stand up for their rights and are determined to maintain them. They are fond of the water. So skillful are they in boating and canoing that in 1768 when Bougainville visited these islands he gave them the name "Isles of the Navigators." The native Samoan does not love to labor naturally. The soil is cultivated mostly by foreigners.

The people are mostly Christians, but a few hold to the ancient belief in the personal agency of devils. They have schools, some of which are attached to their churches.

CLIMATE.

The climate is naturally tropical as they lie in the track of the southeast trade winds in latitude 13 deg. 31 min. south to 14 deg. 30 min. south.

The temperature varies but little all the year round. The rainfall is about 135 inches during the season.

PRODUCTS.

The soil is fertile. Large crops of coffee and cotton are raised. The breadfruit and cocoanut palm flourishes. One of the chief exports is copra.

The advantage of such a harbor in mid-Pacific is inestimable on account of our distant Asiatic possessions. With a coaling station American ships will feel safer to make the voyage by the Pacific and our Merchant Marine will increase rapidly.

CUBA

The subject of “Cuban Affairs" is one which must be treated with caution both for the sake of the United States and for the sake of the would-be Republic. The Cuban constitutional convention is now in session laboring to formulate a constitution which will give a permanent basis for a lasting government. The report comes to this country that the Cubans are already split into half a dozen parties viz, the Spaniards, the foreigners, the wealthy planters, &c. Those who represent the business interests of the island insist upon an American protectorate and are frightened at the prospects of the American withdrawal. They have no faith in Cuban rule. They consider General Gomez, (the Grant of Cuba), an adventurer, and they fear his power if placed at the head of the Republic as he is likely to be placed. To pacify this class, which is the substantial portion of Cuba's population, the United States Senate affixed to the Army Appropriation Bill an amendment which defines our relations with Cuba and is substantially as follows:

(1) That the government of Cuba shall never enter into any treaty or other compact with any other foreign power or powers which will impair or tend to impair the independence of Cuba, nor in any manner authorize or permit any foreign power or powers to obtain a colonization or for military or naval purposes or otherwise, lodgement in or control over any portion of said island.

(2) That said government shall not assume or contract any public debt, to pay the interest upon which and to make reasonable sinking fund provision for the ultimate discharge of which the ordinary revenues of the island after defraying the current expenses of government shall be inadequate.

(3) That the government of Cuba consents that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for the preservation of Cuban independence, the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property and individual liberty, and for discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba imposed by the treaty of Paris on the United States, now to be assumed and undertaken by the government of Cuba.

(4) That all acts of the United States in Cuba during its military occupancy thereof are ratified and validated and all lawful rights acquired thereunder shall be maintained and protected.

(5) That the government of Cuba will execute, and as far as necessary extend the plans already devised or other plans to be