(Auckland Weekly News, February 24, 1899 – By Our Special Reporter)
(APIA, February 6, 1899) — I interviewed the young King Malietoa and his coadjutor Tamasese on board H.M. Porpoise. Malietoa Tanu, I may state, is a more familiar cousin, and youthful, about 17. He is a pleasant and intelligent face, but he is green at shy, and like his late father, King Malietoa, is an intelligent boy. He is an amiable and modest lad, a mere schoolboy in appearance, though grave and composed, who aspires to ascend the throne of Samoa. His ambition has become stronger since he was a scholar. He is better fit for a college than to govern the turbulent and fierce Samoans.
Tamasese is noble for Samoa. He is a direct descendant of the great chief whose name, after hundreds of years, gave its name. Malietoa (we had possession of the greatest part of the nobility) and the Samoans set much value on heredity. If they did not, European rulers would triumph. Their system cannot exist if there are no such to lead them.
Tamasese, another noble birth, who had before rather reigned for a brief time as king, looks some 40 years of age, strongly built, and evidently a man of strong looking. Both he and Tanu were dressed in simple lava-lava. They shook hands in European fashion, and we chatted under the sun in the tropical sun.
Malietoa Tanu explained that Tamasese would speak for him, and Tamasese began: “Let the foreigners be angry with me. We could all live in peace and have good feeling.” Then he explained that it was because the larger number of Samoans at Malietoa’s side left, but, owing to the action of Mataafa, they went to Her Majesty’s ship Porpoise. They were awaiting the decision of the Treaty Powers, and on this decision they would abide.
“How is it the majority of Samoans are in favour of Malietoa, that Mataafa had the most followers in the war?”
“Because,” answered Tamasese, “there were still many on Mataafa’s side who were there through fear. If all the families in Samoa could be placed together without intimidation, very few would support Mataafa.”
“Further,” Tamasese, “that the Germans made overtures to you before the Chief Justice gave his decision?”
“Yes, they made promises long ago, soon after my father Tamasese’s death, and whilst Malietoa Laupepa was king. They promised to exalt me above all others in Samoa, and they had exalted my father. This was some time ago. They promised strongly; they have broken these promises.”
“Did the Germans, on the death of Malietoa Laupepa, favour his son Tanu?”
“No, Tanu was a nominee of the British, and the Germans objected to this. When the Germans heard that I (Tamasese) had many supporters who wished to make me king, they sent word in a letter. This letter was from Dr. Kramer. Kramer told me that the German Government had asked him to speak to me. I had chiefs with me. Kramer sent these men, and when they were gone, he said that I must cease to support Malietoa Tanu and join Mataafa at Mulinu’u. I did not do it. I should be sent away to another country.”
Kramer said that it would be right for Mataafa to be king, and if I helped him to become king I should be rewarded. Kramer stated that Mataafa would be king for only a little while, then he would be taken away, and Tamasese left; which I (Tamasese) knew meant that it was virtually promised that I should be king as soon as Mataafa could be disposed of. I had no intention of supporting Mataafa, in spite of what the Germans had promised, for I had always decided that it was right that Tanu Malietoa should be king, and I had called together my people, and they had expressed their willingness to make Malietoa Tanu king of Samoa.
I may remark here, that it is well known in Samoa that Tamasese himself had many supporters for the kingship, and it is a fact that he voluntarily gave up his chance for this high position, and gave his own allegiance and influenced his followers on behalf of Malietoa Tanu, in order,” as he said, “that there might be peace in Samoa.”
I asked Tamasese how it was that Mataafa’s followers had more guns than Malietoa’s people, and he, taking the question to mean numbers, said: “A great number of people went to Mulinu’u (Mataafa’s village), thinking that to go there was the proper thing. Several chiefs representing villages had used strong persuasions with the people, urging them to stick by Mataafa. Many people were supporting Mataafa on account of the work of the French priests. The priests told the people that they had better join Mataafa, because he would be supported by the Treaty Powers. A French priest had told them so.”
“How did Mataafa’s people obtain their rifles?”
“They bought them!” Here Malietoa Tanu broke in, and said, the Samoans had been saving up money to buy weapons for a long time. “One had five dollars, some ten dollars, some 15 dollars.” They got this money by the sale of copra.
“How did the Samoans buy rifles when the sale of such things is prohibited?”
Tamasese laughed at the question. He replied: “The white men are like ghosts. They say rifles prohibited this side, and the side, but underneath they give arms. All white men are alike in that.”
The remainder of the interview resulted in nothing of importance, save that Tamasese declared that England and America should annex Samoa, and that Malietoa Tanu declared that only one of these Powers, he could not say which, should annex the Islands. Both Tamasese and Malietoa Tanu asked that I would tell the public how grateful they were for the kindness of Captain Sturdee and others of the warship Porpoise.
My interview with Chief Justice Chambers is particularly interesting, because this gentleman has been the central figure around which so many intricate changes of Samoan politics have recently revolved. That he has throughout the length and breadth of his career in Samoa borne himself as a broad-minded and strictly impartial dispenser of justice is acknowledged on all sides, and that during the recent trying crisis in Samoan affairs he has conducted himself with dignity and discretion is palpable. Of course, there were many points which, from the very nature of his office could not be discussed, but in nearly everything which bears generally on Samoan affairs he spoke freely.
The first question I asked him was regarding his decision in the question of the kingship of Samoa. He told me that, irrespective of Mataafa’s eligibility or ineligibility, his decision would have been in favour of Malietoa Tanu; for from all the evidence that came before him he considered Malietoa the rightful king according to the laws and customs of Samoa, according to the wishes of a most important part of the Samoan people, and according to the clauses of the Treaty of Berlin.
“Is Bismarck’s stipulation re the ineligibility of Mataafa for the kingship of Samoa printed in Samoan, or was it formally made known to the Samoans?”
“No,” said the Chief Justice. “I believe that R. L. Stevenson made this fact public some years ago.”
“What was the cause of Mataafa beginning the war?”
“Well,” answered the Chief Justice, “I should say it was largely owing to the action of officials in Samoa, who are neither British nor American officials. I believe if Mataafa had been left to himself he would not have aspired to the kingship, but would have contented himself as high chief of his own district. When my decision was given in favour of Malietoa Tanu, I met the high chiefs on both sides, and I firmly believe these men intended to loyally abide by the decision.”
Source: Auckland Weekly News (Special Correspondent), February 24, 1899. This reprint is part of Samoa Newshub’s archival history series.
