266 AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC QUESTIONS 



the rights of the recipients to receive them. Thus the last 

 step in a Samoan election, according to native custom, is a 

 war of succession. 



With the throne left vacant by Laupepa's death, three 

 candidates for royal honors at once presented themselves: 

 Mataafa, the veteran, fresh from his enforced retirement ; 

 Malietoa Tanu, a young boy, son of the dead king ; and 

 Tamasese, who, it will be recalled, had been created, by the 

 Germans, king of Samoa in opposition to Malietoa Laupepa, 

 in 1888. Each aspirant was of royal blood i.e. belonged 

 to families who were eligible to the kingship, and had, there- 

 fore, substantial claims for the honor of succeeding Laupepa. 

 Tamasese had a comparatively small following of several 

 hundred men. Tanu was popular in Apia, and was supported 

 by many foreigners, especially by the Americans and English, 

 and supposedly by the Protestant missionaries ; Mataafa had 

 practically the solid backing of all native Samoa. He was 

 the popular idol. Delegations of natives from all parts of 

 the island rallied to his support. Thousands of his adherents 

 came to Apia in the hope of witnessing the triumph of their 

 favorite chief, and to assist in the ceremonies of his anoint- 

 ment as king. The result of the native election (November 

 14, 1898) was in favor of Mataafa, both Tanu and Tamasese 

 showing a pitiful weakness in face of the overwhelming 

 strength of the Mataafa party. Tamasese had been induced 

 at the last moment to withdraw in favor of Tanu. The 

 latter, despite the inequality of the contest, and no doubt 

 influenced by his foreign friends and supporters, decided 

 to contest the election with Mataafa. He maintained that 

 Mataafa was not eligible to the office, owing to the fact 

 that he had suffered exile, and that he had returned to 

 Samoa only with the express understanding that he should 

 never seek to gratify his royal ambitions. 



The sixth section of the third article of the Berlin Act 

 provides that: 



In case any question shall hereafter arise in Samoa respecting 

 the rightful election or appointment of King or of any other chief 

 claiming authority over the islands . . . such question shall not 



