Western Hemisphere 51
Around the time of the conference, Germany sent four warships to Apia in connec-
tion to alleged wrongdoings by the Samoan king. Germany declared war, had the king
deported, and placed a puppet king in his place. In December 1888, a detachment of
German soldiers was ambushed. The Germans vowed revenge and responded by set-
ting fire to rebel areas, destroying villages and even some American property. While
this was going on, a fleet of one British, three German, and three American warships
watched in the crowded Apia harbor. Before shots could be fired among the three, a
hurricane in March 1889 wiped out all but one ship (the British ship Calliope). With
that hurricane, the immediate crisis was abated.
With the immediate threat of conflict subsiding, the three countries’ representa-
tives met again, this time in Berlin. They agreed to a treaty on June 14, 1889, which
established tripartite control of Samoa while maintaining the outward appearance of
Samoan independence. US President Grover Cleveland, who returned to the White
House after a four-year hiatus, deplored this arrangement. A Samoan civil war in 1899
eventually ended this treaty.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from December 18, 1888. End Date changed
from March 16, 1889. Outcome changed from Unclear.
2 United States of America/300 Austria-Hungary
MID#121
Dispute Number: 121
Date(s): June 27, 1853
Participants: 2 United States of America/300 Austria-Hungary
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: Martin Kossta had been a Hungarian refugee to America who had alleg-
edly declared allegiance to the American government, intending to become a citi-
zen. He returned to Smyrna temporarily, and on June 22 was seized and held in an
Austrian brig-of-war. The next day, the American consul protested, and Captain
Stringham of a recently arrived American warship threatened to fire into the brig if the
Austrian ship attempted to depart. A report from June 29 stated that the captain had
left his ship close to the harbor as a show of force.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from July 2, 1853. End Date changed from July
2, 1853. Outcome changed from Unclear.
20 CANADA/41 HAITI
MID#4016
Started in October 1993. See the narrative in the 2 United States of America/41 Haiti
dyad dispute list.