The Morning News

THE SAMOAS TROUBLE.
The difficulties and dangers of interfering in the affairs of far distant and half-civilized peoples are shown in the case of Samoa. We have very little interest in Samoa, and the vast majority of our people don't know much about the Samoans. It appears, however, from our dispatches that the war between the Samoan chiefs, Mataafa and Malietoa, threatens to bring about strained relations between our government and that of Germany.
This country, Great Britain and Germany exercise a joint protectorate over the Samoan Islands. Germany has the bulk of the trade with the islands, and for that reason she has always seemed to feel that she should exercise greater power in their affairs than either of the other powers. Acting upon that idea she has more than once done things which were not approved by this country and Great Britain. Not many years ago she exceeded her authority and our government was compelled to make a vigorous protest.
Our government has always insisted upon a strict construction of the treaty under which the three powers control the islands, and that its provisions should be obeyed. Germany, on the other hand, has seemed to think it was not necessary to pay much attention to the treaty, especially where it was to her interests to disregard it. The consequence has been that the Samoan Islands have been a source of expense and annoyance to us, and very little profit.
The pending trouble, so far as we are able to judge from the facts available, is due to Germany's disregard of her treaty obligations. There was a contest between the two chiefs, Mataafa and Malietoa, which was decided by the Samoan courts in favor of the latter. The chief justice of the court of last resort is an American. The Germans, it seems, have encouraged the defeated chief, Mataafa, to disregard the finding of the chief justice.
The finding of the courts will have to be sustained, at least that appears to be the impression. Force may have to be used to compel Mataafa, who, it is reported, has defeated Malietoa in a battle, to respect the law. It is not known, of course, what position in the matter Germany will take. If she should insist upon sustaining Mataafa serious trouble might arise between this country and Germany. The fact, however, that Great Britain and this country are acting in harmony may lead Germany to take a second thought before persisting in a violation of the treaty in order to gain a slight advantage. It would hardly be a wise proceeding on her part to pursue her own policy in the islands regardless of her treaty obligations and the wishes of the other members of the protectorate.
It is pretty certain that if we were to exercise a partial control of the Philippines or govern them as colonies we should be in trouble on account of them pretty nearly all the time. The profit we should obtain from them would not nearly equal the burden of expense they would impose upon us.