THE UNITED STATES AND SAMOA 247 



Deep as is the regret felt by this Government for the lament- 

 able conflicts which have lately taken place between Germans and 

 the adherents of one of the native factions in Samoa, and however 

 sincere our hope that the unfortunate occurrence may be satisfac- 

 torily settled, this Government continues to feel it to be its duty 

 to maintain its attitude of consistent neutrality, and not abandon 

 the belief professed and acted upon for three years or more, that 

 the best assurance of peace and guaranty for the equal protection 

 of the rights of the three treaty powers in Samoa will be found 

 in permitting and assisting the natives freely to choose their own 

 king, who should be recognized by the three powers and assisted 

 by them in the administration of good government. 



In closing the letter, he urged that : 



The objection to Tamasese is wholly on the part of the pre- 

 ponderating number of his own countrymen who deny that he was 

 ever chosen by popular will, or that he is acceptable to them ; to 

 insist, therefore, upon his rule is to substitute the will of foreign- 

 ers for the Samoan native government for which the majority 

 have manifested their strong desire and which the treaty powers 

 had certainly agreed to respect. 



When news of Dr. Knappe's proclamation of martial law 

 reached Washington and Berlin, Secretary Bayard protested 

 vigorously, and Bismarck realized that his energetic officer 

 in Apia was over zealous. On February 1 he addressed 

 the State Department: 



When the state of war was declared against Mataafa the 

 commander of the German squadron issued a proclamation by 

 which the foreigners established in Samoa were subjected to mar- 

 tial law. International law would, to a certain extent, not pre- 

 vent such a measure, but as Prince Bismarck is of the opinion that 

 our military authority has gone too far in this instance, the mili- 

 tary commander has received telegraphic orders to withdraw the 

 part of his proclamation concerning foreigners. 



In negotiation with Mataafa our consul at Samoa has asked 

 that the administration of the islands of Samoa might be tempo- 

 rarily handed over to him, which demand not being in conformity 

 to our previous promises regarding the neutrality and indepen- 

 dence of Samoa, Mr. Knappe has been ordered by telegram to 

 withdraw immediately his demand. 



