strife for the kingship. The three nations were frequently required to intervene with their men-of-war to restore order; and the event anticipated by Secretary Blaine, that the joint protectorate scheme would not produce "efficient action," was in process of realization.
During Mr. Cleveland's second administration it became evident that the joint protectorate, which his former administration had initiated, was a failure; and his Secretary of State, Mr. Gresham, frankly recognized the mistake which had been committed, characterizing it as "the first departure from our traditional and well established policy of avoiding entangling alliances with foreign powers in relation to objects remote from this hemisphere." The correspondence respecting the subject was sent to Congress in May, 1894, and in his next annual message President Cleveland recommended that steps be taken to withdraw from the joint government. He renewed this recommendation in his annual message of 1895, but Congress took no action respecting it.[1]
The unsatisfactory workings of the tripartite protectorate continued during the administration of President McKinley, but as no better adjustment was suggested, the government continued under that plan until a state of affairs developed which forced a renewed consideration of the subject upon the powers. Malietoa died in 1898, and this event revived the conflicting claims to the kingship. The chief justice decided in favor of
- ↑ U. S. For. Rel. 1894, Appendix i. p. 504; 9 Presidents' Messages, 439, 531, 635. For events up to 1892, Stevenson's Samoa (cited); from 1881 to 1885, My Consulate in Samoa, by W. B. Churchward, London, 1887.
