Our Rights In Samoa

Washington-, Jan. 1G.- Tho Presidan!; has sent to Congress a mes9ago accompanied with a mass of doeuments giving the status of affairs novv in Samoa and the progrcss of affaira there. The correspondence inclosed is that since December 21, 1S8S. The President says : "The Information thus laid before Congress Is of much importance, since it has relation to tho preservatiou of American interests and the protection of American citlzena and their property in a distant locaiily and under unsuitable and unsatisfaetory governmant. In the midst of Ihe disturbances which have arisen at Samoa such powers have been exercised as seem to be within executive control under the constitution and laws, which appear to accord with our National policy and condition to restore tranquility and secure the safety of our citizens through negotiation and agreement with Great Brita.n and Germany whicb, with our own Government, constitute the tre&ty powers interested m Samoun peaoe and quiet. The attempt has been made to deüne more clearly the part which thoso powers shall assume in the government of that country while at the same time lts autbority has been insisted upon. These negotiations were at ene time interrupted by such action on the part oí the Germán Government as appeared to be inconsistent with their iurther continuance. "Germany, however, still insists, as from the flrst, that shehas nodesire or intention to overturn the native Samoan Government or to ignore our treaty rights, and she still invites our Government to join her proposition on this subject, and seems to lean to such a preponderance of Germán power in Samoa as was never contemplated by us, and is inconsistent with every prior agreement or every understanding, while her recent conduct as between native warring factions gives rise to the suspicion that she is not content with a neutral position. " Acting under the restraints which our constitution anil laws have placed ui on the executive power, I have ins:sted that the autonomy and independence of Samoa should be scrupulously observed, according to the treaty made with Samoa and the powers named, and the other agreements and understandings with each other. I have protested against every act api arently tendinst in the opposite direction showing the existence of interna! disturbances. One or more vessels of war have been kept in Samoan waters to protect American citizens and property. " A recent collision between the forces from a Germán m:m-of-war stationeil in Samoa waters and a body of natives rendered the situation so delicate and critical that the warship Trenton. under the immediate command of Admira! Kimberly, was ordered to join the Nlpsic, already at Samoa, for the better protecLion of person and property of our citizens and in furtherance of effurts to restore order and safety. "The views of the executive in respect to the just policy to be pursued with regard to this group of isUmds which lie in the direct highway of lhe growing and important commerce between Australia and the UniteJ States have found express on in the correspondence and documents which have thus been fuily communicated to Congress, and the subject in its prusent stage is submitted to the wserdscuss on conferred by the eonstitution upon the legislative branch of the Government." Tho correspondence ailuded to by the President was not laid before the House or Befcate.