French, British, German, and American vessels routinely stop at Samoa by the late nineteenth century, as they value Pago Pago Harbor as a refueling station for coal-fired shipping and whaling.

The United Kingdom, Germany and the United States all claim parts of the kingdom of Samoa, and have established trading posts in the latter part of the nineteenth century.

The rivalry between these powers exacerbates the indigenous factions that are struggling to preserve their ancient political system.

Britain also sends troops to protect British business enterprise, harbor rights, and the consulate office in 1886.

There follows an eight-year civil war, where each of the three powers will supply arms, training, and in some cases, combat troops to the warring Samoan parties.

The United States had begun operations at the excellent Samoan harbor of Pago Pago on Tutuila in 1877 and formed alliances with local native chieftains, most conspicuously on the islands of Tutuila and Manu'a (which will later be formally annexed as American Samoa).

British business enterprises, harbor rights, and consulate office are the basis on which the United Kingdom had cause to intervene in Samoa.