第 20 节
作者:
闪啊闪 更新:2024-08-29 08:48 字数:9322
the word employed。 Germans declare besides that Scanlon was no
American subject; they declare the point had been decided by court…
martial in 1875; that Blacklock had the decision in the consular
archives; and that this was his reason for handing the affair to
Leary。 It is not necessary to suppose so。 It is plain he thought
little of the business; thought indeed nothing of it; except in so
far as armed men had entered the neutral territory from Mulinuu;
and it was on this ground alone; and the implied breach of Becker's
engagement at the conference; that he invited Leary's attention to
the tale。 The impish ingenuity of the commander perceived in it
huge possibilities of mischief。 He took up the Scanlon outrage;
the atrocity of the threatened pigs; and with that poor instrument
… I am sure; to his own wonder … drove Tamasese out of Mulinuu。 It
was 〃an intrigue;〃 Becker complains。 To be sure it was; but who
was Becker to be complaining of intrigue?
On the 7th Leary laid before Fritze the following conundrum: 〃As
the natives of Mulinuu appear to be under the protection of the
Imperial German naval guard belonging to the vessel under your
command; I have the honour to request you to inform me whether or
not they are under such protection? Amicable relations;〃 pursued
the humorist; 〃amicable relations exist between the government of
the United States and His Imperial German Majesty's government; but
we do not recognise Tamasese's government; and I am desirous of
locating the responsibility for violations of American rights。〃
Becker and Fritze lost no time in explanation or denial; but went
straight to the root of the matter and sought to buy off Scanlon。
Becker declares that every reparation was offered。 Scanlon takes a
pride to recapitulate the leases and the situations he refused; and
the long interviews in which he was tempted and plied with drink by
Becker or Beckmann of the firm。 No doubt; in short; that he was
offered reparation in reason and out of reason; and; being
thoroughly primed; refused it all。 Meantime some answer must be
made to Leary; and Fritze repeated on the 8th his oft…repeated
assurances that he was not authorised to deal with politics。 The
same day Leary retorted: 〃The question is not one of diplomacy nor
of politics。 It is strictly one of military jurisdiction and
responsibility。 Under the shadow of the German fort at Mulinuu;〃
continued the hyperbolical commander; 〃atrocities have been
committed。 。 。 。 And I again have the honour respectfully to
request to be informed whether or not the armed natives at Mulinuu
are under the protection of the Imperial German naval guard
belonging to the vessel under your command。〃 To this no answer was
vouchsafed till the 11th; and then in the old terms; and meanwhile;
on the 10th; Leary got into his gaiters … the sure sign; as was
both said and sung aboard his vessel; of some desperate or some
amusing service … and was set ashore at the Scanlons' house。 Of
this he took possession at the head of an old woman and a mop; and
was seen from the Tamasese breastwork directing operations and
plainly preparing to install himself there in a military posture。
So much he meant to be understood; so much he meant to carry out;
and an armed party from the ADAMS was to have garrisoned on the
morrow the scene of the atrocity。 But there is no doubt he managed
to convey more。 No doubt he was a master in the art of loose
speaking; and could always manage to be overheard when he wanted;
and by this; or some other equally unofficial means; he spread the
rumour that on the morrow he was to bombard。
The proposed post; from its position; and from Leary's well…
established character as an artist in mischief; must have been
regarded by the Germans with uneasiness。 In the bombardment we can
scarce suppose them to have believed。 But Tamasese must have both
believed and trembled。 The prestige of the European Powers was
still unbroken。 No native would then have dreamed of defying these
colossal ships; worked by mysterious powers; and laden with
outlandish instruments of death。 None would have dreamed of
resisting those strange but quite unrealised Great Powers;
understood (with difficulty) to be larger than Tonga and Samoa put
together; and known to be prolific of prints; knives; hard biscuit;
picture…books; and other luxuries; as well as of overbearing men
and inconsistent orders。 Laupepa had fallen in ill…blood with one
of them; his only idea of defence had been to throw himself in the
arms of another; his name; his rank; and his great following had
not been able to preserve him; and he had vanished from the eyes of
men … as the Samoan thinks of it; beyond the sky。 Asi; Maunga;
Tuiletu…funga; had followed him in that new path of doom。 We have
seen how carefully Mataafa still walked; how he dared not set foot
on the neutral territory till assured it was no longer sacred; how
he withdrew from it again as soon as its sacredness had been
restored; and at the bare word of a consul (however gilded with
ambiguous promises) paused in his course of victory and left his
rival unassailed in Mulinuu。 And now it was the rival's turn。
Hitherto happy in the continued support of one of the white Powers;
he now found himself … or thought himself … threatened with war by
no less than two others。
Tamasese boats as they passed Matautu were in the habit of firing
on the shore; as like as not without particular aim; and more in
high spirits than hostility。 One of these shots pierced the house
of a British subject near the consulate; the consul reported to
Admiral Fairfax; and; on the morning of the 10th; the admiral
despatched Captain Kane of the CALLIOPE to Mulinuu。 Brandeis met
the messenger with voluble excuses and engagements for the future。
He was told his explanations were satisfactory so far as they went;
but that the admiral's message was to Tamasese; the DE FACTO king。
Brandeis; not very well assured of his puppet's courage; attempted
in vain to excuse him from appearing。 No DE FACTO king; no
message; he was told: produce your DE FACTO king。 And Tamasese
had at last to be produced。 To him Kane delivered his errand:
that the LIZARD was to remain for the protection of British
subjects; that a signalman was to be stationed at the consulate;
that; on any further firing from boats; the signalman was to notify
the LIZARD and she to fire one gun; on which all boats must lower
sail and come alongside for examination and the detection of the
guilty; and that; 〃in the event of the boats not obeying the gun;
the admiral would not be responsible for the consequences。〃 It was
listened to by Brandeis and Tamasese 〃with the greatest attention。〃
Brandeis; when it was done; desired his thanks to the admiral for
the moderate terms of his message; and; as Kane went to his boat;
repeated the expression of his gratitude as though he meant it;
declaring his own hands would be thus strengthened for the
maintenance of discipline。 But I have yet to learn of any
gratitude on the part of Tamasese。 Consider the case of the poor
owlish man hearing for the first time our diplomatic commonplaces。
The admiral would not be answerable for the consequences。 Think of
it! A devil of a position for a DE FACTO king。 And here; the same
afternoon; was Leary in the Scalon house; mopping it out for
unknown designs by the hands of an old woman; and proffering
strange threats of bloodshed。 Scanlon and his pigs; the admiral
and his gun; Leary and his bombardment; … what a kettle of fish!
I dwell on the effect on Tamasese。 Whatever the faults of Becker;
he was not timid; he had already braved so much for Mulinuu that I
cannot but think he might have continued to hold up his head even
after the outrage of the pigs; and that the weakness now shown
originated with the king。 Late in the night; Blacklock was wakened
to receive a despatch addressed to Leary。 〃You have asked that I
and my government go away from Mulinuu; because you pretend a man
who lives near Mulinuu and who is under your protection; has been
threatened by my soldiers。 As your Excellency has forbidden the
man to accept any satisfaction; and as I do not wish to make war
against the United States; I shall remove my government from
Mulinuu to another place。〃 It was signed by Tamasese; but I think
more heads than his had wagged over the direct and able letter。 On
the morning of the 11th; accordingly; Mulinuu the much defended lay
desert。 Tamasese and Brandeis had slipped to sea in a schooner;
their troops had followed them in boats; the German sailors and
their war…flag had returned on board the ADLER; and only the German
merchant flag blew there for Weber's land…claim。 Mulinuu; for
which Becker had intrigued so long