244 AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC QUESTIONS 



ances of the absence of any intention on her part to annex or 

 establish a protectorate over the islands, has been compelled to 

 dissent from propositions which seemed to subordinate all other 

 considerations to the strengthening of the German commercial 

 and landed interests in the islands, and correspondingly to 

 diminish, if not entirely to destroy, the probability of the estab- 

 lishment of a Samoan Government, and of the neutralization of 

 the group, at least in respect to the powers now immediately 

 concerned. 



During the peaceful continuance of the Tamasese Govern- 

 ment, until the autumn of 1888, but few despatches of real 

 importance concerning Samoan matters passed between the 

 powers. Both England and the United States felt dissatis- 

 fied with the situation ; and while resenting the action of 

 Germany in overturning the native government and setting 

 up a king of their own choosing, they appeared to be adverse 

 to further interference, so long as affairs in the islands moved 

 along smoothly, and the new government gave reasonable 

 satisfaction to all parties. In the autumn of 1888, however, 

 when Mataafa entered upon the scene in open rebellion 

 against Tamasese and the German regime, the questions of 

 neutrality and of German aggression were reopened. Mr. 

 Bayard wrote to Berlin, November 21, 1888, that as often 

 stated theretofore, u the desire of this Government is to see 

 a lawful and orderly condition of affairs established in Samoa, 

 under a government freely chosen by the Samoan people. 

 As to what chief may be at the bead of that government, it 

 is to this government a matter of indifference. ... If any 

 cause of complaint should arise out of differences between 

 the consuls at Apia, the matter should be taken up by their 

 respective governments, and settled at once directly between 

 them and not be left to be the subject of contention in 

 Samoa." 



As the revolution progressed, and the situation in Apia 

 became more acute, the communications between the powers 

 took on a slight degree of petulance. Count Arco-Valley, 

 the German Minister in Washington, reported to the State 

 Department, January 10, 1889, that : 



