The Russellville Democrat., 1889-02-14


 ton over their countrymen, and that each of the treaty powers could alternately keep a man -of-war in Samoan waters four months in each year. The German Min ister said that Malietoa had notoriously violated his treaty obligations; that the Samoans are incapable of maintaining peace and order, and therefore he sug- gested an advisor to the King, this ad- visor to act as the mandatory of the three Powers. He acknowledged absolute equality of treatment in respect nf con- merce, navigation, jurisdiction and all other matters. The British Minister favored an international land court and an ulterior consular jurisdiction as the kings were at war.
 The conference of July Mr. Bayard said he understood had agreed upon the following point: That there should be no annexation Of the islands by any of the treaty powers; that the independsnc of the islands was to be preserved, with equal right of commerce and navigation for the subjects of the treaty powers; that the native government was to be estab- lished and assisted to maintain itself /; that the present jurisdiction of consuls over their own countrymea should be pre- served; that the present treaties be main- tained so far as the rights of the three powers under them were concerneds that means for the raising of revenue for sup port of the government should be devised, and t.e question of foreigners should be considered; that land court should be established to settle titles, etc.
 Mr. Baysrd said that Germany and Great Britain proposed that there should be only council of chiefs. The United States would suggest king. council of chiefs, and legislative assembly, com posed of representatiyes elected by the people of the islands. The German Min ister said If there was such a legislative assembly as Mir. Bayard proposed, it should have consultative and not a de- ciding vote, and with this understanding he was not opposed to sDch an assembly.
 Mir. Bayard said that 6here were some other points upon which the propositions of the Powers did not run 30 closely to- gether. The first was as to the kingship. The United States in view of existing treaty and declaration made by Consuls, had proposed the continued recognition of Malietoa Lanpepa as King, and of Tanasez as Vico- King. The British and German govern ments proposed new election. In this, for the sake of coming to an agreement he was disposed to concur. The customs of ths Samoans should prevail in 1t and the result of the election should be an- nounced to and declared by the three oonsuls, who should not otherwise partic- ipate in the proceedings.
 Mr. Bayard said his proposal to let Malietoa remain as King had been ob- iected to by Germany and Great Britain. The German Minister asked whether the newly-eIected King should not be ap- proved by the powers; Mir. Bayard thought not. The German Minister said the people might nominate their King and the powers confirm him. Dir. Bayard ob- jected to this. on the ground that this would virtually give the powers the choice Of a King.
 Mir Bayard said that there had been . proposition from Germany which hal met with a certain degree ot recognition from Great Britain, that the power having the greatest present commercial interest should exercise a preponderating inffn ence. To that he (Mr. Bayard) would ob feet.
 At the conference on July the com mission proposed by Mr. West was dis cussed. hr. Bayard opposed it as eTnbar- rassing the court. The German Minister coincided with Mr. West.
 At the fourth conference. h cid July 1G, the German Minister said hat Mr. Bay ard had stated that if the German plan were followed. it would result eventually in converting the islands into German possession. Mir. Bayard replied that he had understood the proposition of the British Minister to be thG; the three gov ernments should alternate in the appoint ment of the mandatory, but that in con- sideration of it's greater interest, Ger many should have the first five years He thought that the recognition Of pre- ponderance of interest would weaken the neutrality of the islands. The German Minister said that 4r. Bayard's plan for 9 cooperation o. the three Powers had been tried in the municipal board of A pis and had proved fail urs there. He quoted from the report of Mfr. Thursson as follows: "The great object of Ss- moan party when seeking to gain an as- tendency Is intrigue for foreign support, and hence much of the trouble has risen" The cooperation of the two other Powers, the Minister said, with the Power having the predominating interest would bring about the result that all de- sired.
 On July q the fifth conference was held The land title court was discused al great length, and during the discussion the question of control came up again. MT. Bayard agkEd if be expressed the views of the British Minister when he said that the mandatory scheme did not in- Yolve the recognition of any prepoDder- ance of interest, which he thought ougin not to be taken into account in dealing with the matters before the conference.
 Certainly" said Mir. West. The German Minister interposed the objection that he could not allow the adoption of e plan which would at any time throw the control O, the islands into the hands Of either Of the two countries whose interests were less than thoFe of Germany.
 Mr. Bayard said that the proposed land commission was the cornerstone Of the arrangement; but in the plan prpsosed by Germany, the prepsnderanee of inter ests were tO be the beginning. and the middle. and the end of the whole thing. Mir West said that hs could not see ii in that way.
 Al the conference on July 2e, the Ger man Minister read a pspc. in which he defined the meaning Of the memorandum read al the conference 10 be that Ger many, having the largest interest in Ra- moa claims to be infrustsd by the other two Powers to ezaeise the efficient con- tr0l there, as well for her own interest as for those of Great Britain and the United States
 Mr. Bayard asserted that the plan Of the German Miu1ster was foreign auto cratic government based On mercantile interests. Mr. Bayard favored an ad- 50urnment until the autumn, in order to give the governments of Germany ana Great Britain time to consider the proto- c0ls.
 AN EXCELLENT PLAN. reIsphaale Connection fs be Made A4o1x