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216 AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC QUESTIONS 



diction within said port adverse to such rights of the United 

 States, or restrictive thereof." In return for these con- 

 cessions it was provided in the treaty, that : 



If, unhappily, any differences should have arisen, or should 

 hereafter arise between the Samoan Government and any other 

 government in amity with the United States, the Government of 

 the latter will employ its good offices for the purpose of adjusting 

 these differences upon a satisfactory and solid foundation. 



This treaty was made by the United States more in the 

 desire not to appear wholly indifferent to the friendly 

 advances of the Samoans than for any importance it attached 

 to Samoa, or advantage to be gained by close political or 

 commercial relations with her. It was indeed felt by many 

 that the mere offer to use friendly offices in case of difficulty 

 was a rash promise that might some day call for fulfilment, 

 especially as Germany, with her preponderance of commercial 

 interests in the islands, would probably sooner or later seek 

 forcibly to acquire the group. 



The Samoans, however, proceeded to make treaties of 

 similar character the following year with England and Ger- 

 many, granting to each exclusive rights in certain harbors 

 for naval and coaling stations. In the case of the German 

 treaty the Samoans were far more generous, through coercion 

 it is said, and granted to the energetic German representa- 

 tive certain concessions that appeared to be incompatible 

 with the favored nation clause in the American treaty. This 

 fact excited some feeling of displeasure, which was no doubt 

 more keenly felt in the American consulate at Apia than in 

 the State Department at Washington. To American citi- 

 zens in Samoa it suggested imposition on the part of Ger- 

 many, and convinced them of Germany's intention to 

 secure a grasp upon the islands that would lead to ulti- 

 mate annexation. There can be little doubt had Ger- 

 many then made a coup d*6tat, and formally seized the 

 islands with a graceful recognition of American and Eng- 

 lish rights in their respective harbors, the world would not 

 have been profoundly moved or the United States greatly 

 shocked* But the American Consul, who hoped for an 



