The Samoan Difficulty

Feilding Star, Volume X, Issue 90, 5 February 1889, Page 2

The Samoan Difficulty

*r By Electric Telegraph.— Copyright, (»K» ONITKP PR KS9 ASSOCIATION.) Washhtqtok. February 2U In replj to the protest of % FBay ard, United .States Secretary of Htate> against German action; in Samoa, Prince Bismarck replies that he has directed that foreign residents in the island 1 shatt be exempt from martial law, and he- has ordered the German Consul to- withdraw hia demand for tbe administration of Che island. The Senate- have- had the matter under consideration,, arid have unanimously instructed the Foreign Bfelattons Committee to report era tlto best measures to be adopted to pro- . . tect American interests in the Group, •- and in what manner America should discharge her obligation to protect the ■ Sainoan Government from foreign aggression. The question is creating a good d«at of excitement in the House of "Representatives, and members- are . prepared to authorise the President to* .'■» resort to force to maintain American* interests. . ..•■■- •■ It is behered that the feeling in America over the Samoan question " will become calmer after the accession i of General Harrison to the Presidential chair. ': . ■ "•■• „_..' February 4. The American Naval authorities, are sending large supplies of cialto "■■■- Pago Pago, a harbour in theSamwia group of islands. Jjosdohs, February 3. Tbo Standard says it is madaess for ;■; Germany to enter upon a war with the United States at the present . juncture. . February 4. | The Times this morning has a leading article dealing with the Samoam difficulty, in which it expresses ant opinion that Dr Knappe, the GermanConsul at the group should he cash* iered. It adds that should another confereuce be held as to Samoan affairs, it was the duty of England tostrongly support the interests of Australia. ■■•'_'.'.' Bkbxist, February 5. Count Herbert Bismarck being in* terviewed by a representative of the-. New York Herald on ' the Fammn question, virtually said the Group 'was . not worth a single angry despatch. It .was necessary to punish Mataafa',. ' ; but Germany would co-operate with England and America, and, if it were found that German officials exceeded their duty; they would be recalled. The Nord Deutsche Zeituhg states that the announcement that Germany has declared war against Samoa is untrue. Her recent action is merely for defensive purposes.