THE UNITED STATES AND SAMOA 285 



and dangerous to the peace of the United States. After a 

 trial of ten years the outcome of the Berlin Act may 

 be viewed in the light of Mr. Gresham's prophesy. The first 

 departure of the United States from a traditional and well- 

 ( established policy of avoiding entangling alliances, was 

 V not a successful venture. No evidence can be found of 

 detriment suffered before, nor of substantial advantages 

 afterward gained, to demonstrate, in this particular case, the 

 wisdom in the change of that national policy of non-inter- 

 ference. The responsibilities imposed upon the United States, 

 as a party to the Berlin Act, brought only vexatious cares, 

 expense, the loss of several naval vessels, and many lives. 

 Several times it threatened to involve the country in war. 



Among the assets, if there are any, may possibly be counted 

 the acquisition of Tutuila, and its valuable harbor of Pago- 

 Pago ; but the acquisition of this can hardly be ascribed to 

 the results of the Berlin treaty. American rights in this 

 harbor antedated that treaty, and were held in abej^ance so 

 long as the triple dominion existed. United States' trade with 

 Samoa is at best very small, and its increase in the decade 

 from 1889 to 1899 was but a meagre return for the amount 

 of energy expended in its behalf. 



The disposition of the islands, according to the recent 

 treaties, is wholly satisfactory to all parties. Germany has 

 a coveted satisfaction of ruling supreme over Samoa (barring 

 Tutuila). A strong national sentiment, possibly the out- 

 growth of an early interest felt in colonial expansion in the 

 South Seas, has placed the German valuation upon Samoa far 

 in excess of its real value. For the gratification of this sen- 

 timent, Germany was willing to give England substantial 

 compensation elsewhere, with which compensation England 

 is apparently perfectly content. 



The United States has acquired all it has ever desired or 

 really needed in Samoa, a valuable harbor and coaling 

 station. None of the islands secured by the treaty are suf- 

 ficiently large or populous to present any troublesome prob- 

 lem for their government. The island of Tutuila has a total 

 superficial area of something over two hundred square miles, 



