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meanwhile； on the proposition of Mr。 Bayard； the Washington
conference on Samoan affairs was adjourned till autumn； so that
〃the ministers of Germany and Great Britain might submit the
protocols to their respective Governments。〃 〃You propose that the
conference is to adjourn and not to be broken up？〃 asked Sir Lionel
West。 〃To adjourn for the reasons stated；〃 replied Bayard。 This
was on July 26th； and； twenty…nine days later； by Wednesday the
24th of August； Germany had practically seized Samoa。 For this
flagrant breach of faith one excuse is openly alleged； another
whispered。 It is openly alleged that Bayard had shown himself
impracticable； it is whispered that the Hawaiian embassy was an
expression of American intrigue； and that the Germans only did as
they were done by。 The sufficiency of these excuses may be left to
the discretion of the reader。 But； however excused； the breach of
faith was public and express； it must have been deliberately
predetermined and it was resented in the States as a deliberate
insult。
By the middle of August 1887 there were five sail of German war…
ships in Apia bay： the BISMARCK； of 3000 tons displacement； the
CAROLA； the SOPHIE； and the OLGA； all considerable ships； and the
beautiful ADLER； which lies there to this day； kanted on her beam；
dismantled； scarlet with rust； the day showing through her ribs。
They waited inactive； as a burglar waits till the patrol goes by。
And on the 23rd； when the mail had left for Sydney； when the eyes
of the world were withdrawn； and Samoa plunged again for a period
of weeks into her original island…obscurity； Becker opened his
guns。 The policy was too cunning to seem dignified； it gave to
conduct which would otherwise have seemed bold and even brutally
straightforward； the appearance of a timid ambuscade； and helped to
shake men's reliance on the word of Germany。 On the day named； an
ultimatum reached Malietoa at Afenga； whither he had retired months
before to avoid friction。 A fine of one thousand dollars and an
IFO； or public humiliation； were demanded for the affair of the
Emperor's birthday。 Twelve thousand dollars were to be 〃paid
quickly〃 for thefts from German plantations in the course of the
last four years。 〃It is my opinion that there is nothing just or
correct in Samoa while you are at the head of the government；〃
concluded Becker。 〃I shall be at Afenga in the morning of to…
morrow； Wednesday； at 11 A。M。〃 The blow fell on Laupepa （in his
own expression） 〃out of the bush〃； the dilatory fellow had seen
things hang over so long； he had perhaps begun to suppose they
might hang over for ever； and here was ruin at the door。 He rode
at once to Apia； and summoned his chiefs。 The council lasted all
night long。 Many voices were for defiance。 But Laupepa had grown
inured to a policy of procrastination； and the answer ultimately
drawn only begged for delay till Saturday； the 27th。 So soon as it
was signed； the king took horse and fled in the early morning to
Afenga； the council hastily dispersed； and only three chiefs； Selu；
Seumanu； and Le Mamea； remained by the government building；
tremulously expectant of the result。
By seven the letter was received。 By 7。30 Becker arrived in
person； inquired for Laupepa； was evasively answered； and declared
war on the spot。 Before eight； the Germans （seven hundred men and
six guns） came ashore and seized and hoisted German colours on the
government building。 The three chiefs had made good haste to
escape； but a considerable booty was made of government papers；
fire…arms； and some seventeen thousand cartridges。 Then followed a
scene which long rankled in the minds of the white inhabitants；
when the German marines raided the town in search of Malietoa；
burst into private houses； and were accused （I am willing to
believe on slender grounds） of violence to private persons。
On the morrow； the 25th； one of the German war…ships； which had
been despatched to Leulumoenga over night re…entered the bay；
flying the Tamasese colours at the fore。 The new king was given a
royal salute of twenty…one guns； marched through the town by the
commodore and a German guard of honour； and established on Mulinuu
with two or three hundred warriors。 Becker announced his
recognition to the other consuls。 These replied by proclaiming
Malietoa； and in the usual mealy…mouthed manner advised Samoans to
do nothing。 On the 27th martial law was declared； and on the 1st
September the German squadron dispersed about the group； bearing
along with them the proclamations of the new king。 Tamasese was
now a great man； to have five iron war…ships for his post…runners。
But the moment was critical。 The revolution had to be explained；
the chiefs persuaded to assemble at a fono summoned for the 15th；
and the ships carried not only a store of printed documents； but a
squad of Tamasese orators upon their round。
Such was the German COUP D'ETAT。 They had declared war with a
squadron of five ships upon a single man； that man； late king of
the group； was in hiding on the mountains； and their own nominee；
backed by German guns and bayonets； sat in his stead in Mulinuu。
One of the first acts of Malietoa； on fleeing to the bush； was to
send for Mataafa twice： 〃I am alone in the bush； if you do not come
quickly you will find me bound。〃 It is to be understood the men
were near kinsmen； and had （if they had nothing else） a common
jealousy。 At the urgent cry； Mataafa set forth from Falefa； and
came to Mulinuu to Tamasese。 〃What is this that you and the German
commodore have decided on doing？〃 he inquired。 〃I am going to obey
the German consul；〃 replied Tamasese； 〃whose wish it is that I
should be the king and that all Samoa should assemble here。〃 〃Do
not pursue in wrath against Malietoa；〃 said Mataafa 〃but try to
bring about a compromise； and form a united government。〃 〃Very
well；〃 said Tamasese； 〃leave it to me； and I will try。〃 From
Mulinuu； Mataafa went on board the BISMARCK； and was graciously
received。 〃Probably；〃 said the commodore； 〃we shall bring about a
reconciliation of all Samoa through you〃； and then asked his
visitor if he bore any affection to Malietoa。 〃Yes；〃 said Mataafa。
〃And to Tamasese？〃 〃To him also； and if you desire the weal of
Samoa； you will allow either him or me to bring about a
reconciliation。〃 〃If it were my will；〃 said the commodore； 〃I
would do as you say。 But I have no will in the matter。 I have
instructions from the Kaiser； and I cannot go back again from what
I have been sent to do。〃 〃I thought you would be commanded；〃 said
Mataafa； 〃if you brought about the weal of Samoa。〃 〃I will tell
you；〃 said the commodore。 〃All shall go quietly。 But there is one
thing that must be done： Malietoa must be deposed。 I will do
nothing to him beyond； he will only be kept on board for a cou