286 AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC QUESTIONS 



and has an estimated population of about three thousand. 

 The natives are peaceful, unarmed, and well disposed to the 

 United States. The harbor of Pago-Pago is an ideal one, 

 said to be the best in the Pacific; it is, moreover, susceptible 

 of easy defence. Its strategic value is very great. Several 

 much smaller islands to the east and south of Tutuila (of no 

 particular importance) fall to the share of the United States ; 

 but as these are of no real value to any one except their 

 own native inhabitants, they are not likely to become a 

 burdensome care. 



Contracts have been made for the improvement of Pago- 

 Pago harbor, for coal-sheds, docks, etc. On February 12, 

 1900, the President formally placed the island of Tutuila 

 under the administration of the Navy Department, and Com- <p 

 mander B. R. Tilley, U. S. N., became first military governor. ' 



Here, the " Samoan episode " closes. 



