Ugly Americans before Graham Greene-- - Samoa 1856

 

Mid 1800s Samoan warrior with his machete sword

  

    Long before Graham Greene wrote his classic novel "The Ugly American," Americans were already doing an outstanding job of being ugly, condescending, and threatening destruction if their demands were not met.

    From the early 1820s on through the rest of the 1800s, growing numbers of European missionaries and settlers in the South Pacific increasingly demanded protection from their respective navies.  This was very similar to the pattern of settlers in the American West asking the US Army for protection against Native Americans. 

    The United States was a participant in at least a half dozen punitive expeditions against various island tribes before the American Civil War not counting the ad hoc bullying  by an American naval officer recounted below. 

    Today, Apia and its harbor are part of the Samoa,  under Commonwealth protection. American Samoa, consists of the easternmost Samoan Islands with Pago Pago its capital.

Samoan chief and his wives

Incidents of the visit of the US ship Independence at Apia, Island Upolu, Samoan Group.

Valparaiso, Chile   Monday, June 30th, 1856. To the editors of Panama Star and Herald.

Gentlemen, by late arrival from the Samoan group of Islands, I have had placed in my possession the accompanying extract from a narrative of the proceedings of Commodore Mervin of the United States frigate Independence at Apia. I have been requested to have it published in your paper as it is the only one that is extensively circulated on this coast and throughout the Pacific. I trust you will give publicity to it through your columns. There is a universal desire among the foreign residents at Apia, as I am credibly informed, to have it published. Being a stranger to Commodore Mervin, I cannot therefore be accused of having any private ends to gratify in this matter, but I merely wish to subserve the cause of justice and humanity, by letting the civilized world see how a high official representing one of the most liberal and enlightened nations among the powers of the Earth has treated a weak and confiding people who have hitherto respected our flag and idolized our nation. As an American citizen, I blush for my country when I see persons of so little judgment in such high positions. It is, however, due to Commodore Mervin to say that it is generally believed among the foreign residents of that key island that, had he not been governed by the advice of Mr. Van Camp, the United States commercial agent at that place, he would have pursued a different course.

 Respectfully yours,

 Justice.

Commodore Mervin requested the presence of the chief Moegagogo, against whom the United States Council had preferred a complaint. The chief complied with the request and to his surprise was told that his people had killed Mr. Van Camp's cow, eaten all of his hogs and stolen boards from Van Camp's wreck. (I. E. picked up boards which had drifted away and washed up on the beach in front of their houses.) The Commodore told him he had decided that the chief should pay a fine of $36 for the cow and pigs and bring the boards to the United States Consulate. He was allowed two days to consider upon his answer to the demand. At the expiration of the two days, the chief met the Commodore and Consul at the United States Consulate. At the request of the Chief, Mr. William P. Pritchard was sent for to interpret. The chief was asked if he was ready to comply with the decisions of the Commodore. He answered that he would like to bring forward some white men, Americans and others, to give evidence on oath that they had seen the cow immediately after she was found dead, and that there were no signs whatsoever of the animal having been killed, either by being shot or being hit with a club or axe;  indeed, the old chief maintained that there were no marks at all on the cow having been killed. He said his witnesses were also prepared to swear that there was a mark on the cow's neck where the rope by which she was tied had evidently strangled her.

Besides this, there were no other signs of violence about the animal. The cow was found in a position as if she had slipped into a sort of ditch that was near the tree, to which she had been tied, and there hung or strangled herself. The interpreter began to tell the Commodore what the Chief had said, but as soon as the first sentence was out of his mouth, and mention was made of witnesses and white men, the Commodore stopped him—saying he did not come there to have any explanation with the Chief, or hear witnesses or anything else, and as for the white men’s testimony, that was out of the question because every white man on the island was such a “villain”, “scoundrel,” etc. etc. that he could not listen to them. All that the Chief was asked was “yea or nay—either would he pay the fine or would he not pay it? This was interpreted to the Chief, the Commodore, of course, not having heard what the Chief had said.

When the Chief heard what the Commodore said, and observed the preemptory manner, he replied that in America he was well aware a man always had a fair trial; and  to be showed the same privilege to his people. The Commodore would not hear this from the interpreter. The demand was again made, whether the Chief were prepared to pay or not. He replied he was greatly aggrieved at not being allowed a hearing, and that the Commodore had all the talking to himself. This the interpreter managed to tell the Commodore, who said directly to the Chief that he did not come here to “palaver” with him, that the case was fully examined the other day and he must say either yea or nay”—that he (the Commodore) wanted no more than either of these two words from him.

The Chief said that he was aware that by the laws of civilized nations, his people were entitled to a salvage of planks they had saved from the wreck—and that by their own custom they were –and gave an example of the following case:

“If a canoe was picked up by a Samoan, he would take it to his own house and hold possession of it, until the owner redeemed it by the payment of a very fine mat (the gold of Samoa.) If there was no payment offered or not enough offered, the finder kept the canoe.” This, the interpreter began to tell the Commodore, but the Commodore would not hear it, said he required no explanation, but merely wanted “yea or nay” from the Chief. The Chief said that as he was insisted upon to give an answer at once, he would like to consult his Counselors—two of whom were in the room, and the rest outside (some fifty yards distance, and, of course, not knowing what was going on inside.)

Those two counselors who were in the office began to talk to their chief, saying he had better ask once again for a fair hearing, and for the privilege of bringing his witnesses.

Here the Commodore became very much excited, and ordered the two men out or he would “turn them out.” These men were two of the Chief’s best counselors, and no definite answer could be given to the Commodore’s demand , without their opinion being expressed and consent obtained. The Commodore might just as properly forbid the President of the United States to consult his cabinet ministers on any important question, say, peace or war. The Chief told them to keep quiet and let the Commodore do as he liked, for it was very evident he did not intend to deal fairly with them. The Commodore did not allow the interpreter to tell him what passed between the Chief and these two men.

In fact, very little, indeed, of what the Chief said at any time was told the Commodore, the Interpreter always being stopped.

The Commodore pushed the question, “Yea or Nay.” In consequence of the peremptory manner of the Commodore, (so different to the cool impressive manner of Captain Bailey,) the Chief, who is an old man, became so confused and disgusted with what he considered a great injustice done him, in what the Americans boast of—liberty of speech—nor even the advice of his counselors; but would not say anything at all, but just sat quietly in his chair.

The Commodore, still very much excited, and indignant at the presumption of the counselors, to venture to speak to their chief in his presence, then stood up, and approaching the chief, said he would palaver no longer with him, but now took it for granted that the fine would not be paid; that his demand would not be complied with; therefore, as soon as his crew had finished watering the ship, and got all their firewood on board, he would fire a shell into the town (of the Chief,) and if the chief did not pay, he  would fire a broadside, and if not then paid, he would land a party to burn and destroy the whole point. No specified time was allowed the Chief. After this great harangue from the Commodore, the Chief was told to retire. Here the interpreter ventured to tell the Commodore some of the Chief's remarks, but the Commodore would not allow himself to be informed.

Acting upon the advice of a resident, the Chief and his people agreed to The Commodore’s demands in full. The Chief then returned into the consulate where the Commodore and Consul were still sitting, and told them their intention to pay the fine and bring the boards to the Consulate. The Commodore said he was very glad to hear it; that he would not allow Van Camp to pay them any salvage since they would not deliver the boards without compulsion. To this, the Chief replied that Van Camp had paid only one man who had brought his boards to him and had paid him so little that that was the reason why he had not been quite willing to give Van Camp the boards in question. And that Van Camp was so much in the habit of abusing the natives that his people were afraid to give him possession of the property, lest he refused to pay them anything at all.  The natives then went home to collect the fine, and in two or three days they sent the Commodore an invitation to attend a meeting of the Chiefs at Apia. Where? To receive the amount of their fine. Mr. Devoe and Mr. WT Pritchard were particularly asked by the Chief to attend and the foreigners as a body received a general invitation to be present.

At 11 o’clock the Chiefs assembled in Seumanatata’s house (the chief of Apia.) The Commodore and Consul were there at the appointed hour, also WJ Pritchard. The meeting was opened by the Chief Seumana, offering the Commodore thirty-six dollars, the amount pf the fine. The Commodore refused to accept it, because the boards were not yet delivered to the  Consul. At this moment Mr. Devoe entered the house, followed by Mr. Ford.  Seumana beckoned them to a seat immediately on his left, to which those gentlemen both went, Devoe sitting next to the Chief.

All at once the Commodore jumped from his chair and, pointing to Mr. Devoe, inquired of the consul who that person was. If it was not, the Council answered, it was. “What business have you here, young man?” asked the Commodore. Devoe answered “that he came at the invitation of the Chiefs, and if they ordered him to leave, he would go directly.” Commodore said. “I order you to leave, Sir. I will use you up, young man. You cannot play with me as you like. I will make you all right. Yes, I will use you up yet, young man.” Devoe replied, “that Commodore Mervin could do as he liked with him, and again repeated that he had been personally invited to attend the meeting by the Chiefs; he would leave as soon as they told him,( or words to that effect.) The Commodore then asked the Interpreter to enquire of the Chief, Seumana, if they wished Mr Devoe to be present. Seumana replied by asking Devoe to look on and hear what was said from the outside or the doorway, and in this way show his respect (alofa”) for them—(for the Commodore showed signs of leaving the meeting if Devoe did not.) Upon this Devoe said, “I will retire, Commodore Mervin, since the Chiefs request me.” With this he went home. Devoe showed not the slightest disrespect to Commodore Mervin, for he stood up to answer him, and used very respectful language; even the terms in which Devoe spoke were respectful. The Commodore then asked Mr Ford “if he was an Englishman.”  To which Ford replied in the affirmative. “Then leave the house, sir. I have no business with you, and you have nothing to do here.” Mr Ford said, “he came at the invitation of the Chiefs;” but at the same time, left the house in disgust.

Quietness once more obtained. There were a great many questions asked the Chiefs by the Commodore and consul. They of course, as usual, having all the talking to themselves, and the natives hardly able to get a word in sideways.

 The Commodore wandered from one thing to another and then returned to the first question of the meeting viz:  the refusal on the part of Commodore Mervin to receive the fine. The Chiefs arranged the matter by pledging themselves to have the boards all at the consulate by the next day. With this, the Commodore was satisfied.

About this time, one of the Commodore’s officers entered the house. He was at once ordered to place sentries from the frigate around the houses of Devoe,  Robinson and others in their neighborhood. To allow none of the crew from the ship to enter them and to arrest Devoe and take him on board. The exact words of the order I do not remember, but they were to the import above stated, particularly in reference to Devoe.

 The officer retiring the meeting once more was continued by the Commodore telling the Chiefs that he, “governed all the Americans residing on this island in virtue of his being Commodore and naval commander in Chief of the United States Naval Forces in the Pacific.”  The chiefs said this was a new doctrine to them, for they had been taught by the captains of all vessels of war that had ever visited this port, that they, the Chiefs, were the governors of all white men, as well as natives who resided on the island. The Commodore said, “You have no governments, no chiefs. Therefore, I am governor of the Americans because I am Commodore, the revising power. I can do undo all that American captains have ever done here.”

The Chiefs were confounded and astonished, but said they claimed, and would endeavor to maintain their right to rule their own island and all who resided on it. The Commodore told them he was hurt, that they did not observe his Sunday. The Chiefs replied that all vessels visiting their port changed their Sunday to the Sunday observed on shore. The Commodore said they ought to change the day; the Chiefs answered they would do that by and by, but not while he was here, for he had shown such a desire to govern their island and to dictate to them what they must do that they did not know if they complied with his request in this instance, what that would encourage him to demand next.  They said, God merely wants the worship of his people, and that was as acceptable on the one day as on another, that they could not respect the Commodore’s Sabbath, as he did not respect theirs in sending his boats for water while they were close by a church. After a great deal of talk about this little difference in the name of days, the Commodore ordered that no more canoes should go off to his ship. The Chiefs inquired if he meant to forbid them pulling about on their own waters. The Commodore answered hurriedly. “No.”

It was at last agreed that the Chiefs should put sentries on each point of the harbor to tell the trading natives not to pull near the frigate independence. Very little of these replies of the natives was told to the Commodore, for he very evidently had not the patience, much less the courtesy, to listen to what was said. One old chief remarked, however, that if the sailors would not beckon the natives through the portholes, they would not go alongside. And the same old chief wanted to know how the American people would like him to go to their country in his canoe and forbid them pulling about their own harbors. The Chiefs generally, again. Expressed their great surprise that the Commodore would not allow them a public trial or hearing in the case of Vandekamp in the cows and pigs. The Commodore told them he did not want to have any talk with them. About that matter, his mind was made-up on how to act, said the Commodore emphatically. Long before he came here to this island, he had his orders what to do here directly from his government. His course of actions and decisions were taken before he came here. Interpreter, to make no mistake, ask the Commodore if he understood him rightly and repeated the words before you came here. The Commodore reiterated the words. Before I came here, my mind was made-up. How to act in my orders were direct from my government. The console chimed in. Tell them you are the Commodore, the revising power, and the governor of all the Americans residing on this island, because you are Commodore. This was told to the Chiefs greatly to their astonishment.

The Consul then wished the Commodore to tell them that although they complained of him and of his harsh treatment of them, the Consul would have done much more than all he had done if he had American soldiers here to back him, and that the Commodore was determined to uphold him with his soldiers under any circumstances. The Commodore would not hear the replies of the Chiefs to these profound doctrines of the consul, but went on to say to them he wanted to put down selling liquors on this island, especially by Americans. The natives said if they wanted his assistance, they would ask it; but not until asked for, they did not want it; but if they thought proper, they would stop the sale of liquors, but not until the Commodore had sailed and was far away from their island, adding they were intruding on their rights by taking away men against whom they had no complaints whatsoever, but on the contrary the greatest respect.

Few only of the remarks of the natives were interpreted to the Commodore, the interpreter being always stopped by a request to tell them something from the Commodore.

At this stage of the meeting, the Commodore asked the Chiefs if they would sign a document he would draw up, giving him authority to take away Americans selling liquors on this island. The Chiefs replied they would not.

Here there followed a desultory and one-sided conversation:

Whenever a Counselor (native named “Tulafale”) would offer his opinion or advice to the chiefs, the Commodore would say “D—it!! I can’t have all this noise! I came here only to speak to the chiefs’ if this continues, I must leave.” The utmost decorum was observed on the part of the natives towards Commodore Mervin and the American Consul, during the whole meeting. Imagine the President of the United States and his Cabinet meeting a foreign Ambassador, and this foreign Ambassador, on hearing one of the Cabinet Ministers speak, to exclaim “D---it! I can’t have this noise!  I came here only to speak with the Chiefs, etc.”

The Chiefs told the Commodore he “might do as he liked, for they were weak, and he was strong with his big ship and thousand men; but they respected the American nation, and would communicate directly with the President”

After another desultory, and wandering conversation, the natives were told, from the American Consul himself, never again to pick up his property, even if they saw it all adrift out at sea; that if he liked to let his own property drift out to sea he could do so; but they were never again to save anything belonging to him.

The Commodore then said, “If you have any complaints to make against Mr. Van Camp, do so at once, and I will settle them on the spot.” The Chiefs replied that since he was so peremptory with them, and would not hear all they had to say on any subject whatever, but did all the talking himself, they respectfully declined to make any complaints at this particular moment, but with the permission of the Commodore, would prefer their many complaints against the Consul in writing, so that everything could be forwarded to the President (or great Chief of the Americans.) The Commodore said he did not want to have fifty communications from as many chiefs, upon the subject. The Chiefs said they knew enough of civilized customs into one communication. After more talking, the Consul and Commodore left the meeting.

The Chiefs were completely astonished at the manner of Commodore Mervin, and a conversation took place among the chiefs themselves to the following proport viz: they attributed the extraordinary manner of Commodore Mervin entirely to Mr. Van Camp. He is the origin of Devoe being taken away, Devoe being a store keeper, and too near Van Camp for Van Camp’s trading operations. They believed Van Camp wanted to possess Robinson’s land (being next to his own lot,) and hence the idea of having him taken away from this Island. They said Van Camp himself sold liquors, and how could he complain of other residents doing the same?

They also spoke with the greatest respect of Captain Bailey, and contrasted his mode of setting disputes among the natives and foreigners by appointing a jury of his officer, to hear the statements of both parties impartially, and he himself sitting as judge. The very great satisfaction Captain Bailey gave to both the natives and foreigners, was also spoken of; and every man considered him a man of honor, justice, and unbiased judgement.

Current Official Statement of the US Embassy at American Samoa

Establishment of Consular Relations, 1856.The United States established its first consulate in what is now Samoa at Apia when Jonathan S. Jenkins took up the post of Consul there on May 17, 1856. He had been appointed on December 31, 1855. Prior to this, the United States had a Commercial Agent at Apia as early as 1844.

As a note: in 1889 three  US Navy ships stood against three Imperial German Navy ships in Apia Harbor on the point of war over the island. A British warship, HMS Calliope, monitored the proceedings to insure all the proper rules of naval warfare would be observed. As the two sides maneuvered for advantage, a fierce typhoon struck the area, wrecking all the ships except HMS Calliope.  

And just because it's interesting, here's a site showing the types of Samoan tattoos.  The tattoos are specific to each individual expressing their personal belief and relationship to Fa'a Samoa, the Samoan language, customs and philosophy of Samoa. 

30 Samoan Tattoos