The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-06-28
SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

a Delay in Signing the New Treaty
The Treaty Received in Washing
ton June ia Gift to Mataafa.
(From Our San Francisco Correspondent
The delay in transmitting from Wash
ington the assent to the Samoan treaty
originated in rumors that Blaine desired
the revision of several points. Inquiries
at the Foreign Office and at the English
ambassadors ELECTED the information
that nothing occurred that is likely to
retard the exchange of signatures or re-
quiring further reference to the Commit
tee on Plenary Conference.
Blaine has been in communication
with Phelps regarding verbal amend
ments to the protocols, which were sub
mitted to Count Herbert and Sir Edward
Malet and accepted without comment
The official irritation over Blaine's
cautious scrutiny of the protocols is abat-
ing, with the growing recognition of the
Justice and value which America places
upon final and decisive settlement of
the Samoan question.
The Impotence of the German Foreign
Office to close the matter has not FASTENED
the action of Lord Salisbury any more
than it has of Blaine. The English Com
missioners do not attach the slightest
importance to the dilatory procedure of
their Foreign Office, declaring that as
soon as the Washington Government
cables "Sign," Lord Salisbury's assent
will be ready.
Blaine has asked concerning the ar
rangements for the return of Malietoa,
and it is settled that the electoral deci-
sion of the natives will be made some
time after Malietoa is reinstated.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE protocol
of the Berlin Conference reached Wash
ingtOn at an early hour last evening
arriving in New York via the steamship
Vera, which left Bremen on the 1st
instant.
1t was not opened by Secretary Blaine
until this morning. A little later, when
the Secretary drove around from the
State Department to the Cabinet meet
ing at the White House, he carried the
document with him. He also carried
several books containing the diplomatic
correspondence relating to Samoan mat
tiers.
Pending the official consideration of
the complications which appear to be in
ment nothing definite can be learned
about the ultimate instructions to our
Commissioners.
Mr.. Blaine spent several hours in con-
versation with the President tonight
about the subject, but the conference
ended without the President having
reached conclusion. The more the
President reflects upon the eXaction of
the German Government in regard to
Mataafa, the less disposed is he to ap-
prove it. The United States Govern
ment has just resolved to acknowledge
the heroic zeal of Mataafa and his sub
jects in giving aid to our shipwrecked |
sailors at Apia, hence the Administra-
ton does not feel disposed to commit |
the United States to declaration that |
this same King should be Inundated for I
the lives of his own people as
would be the case if this country Joined |
in exacting an indemnity-no matter |
how small it might be-for the killing of
the German sailors.
BERLIN, June 11.-That the DELAY on
he part of the United States in signing
he draft of the proposals made by the
German conference is causing uneasi-
less in official circles here is officially
denied.
Inc cause OF Inc delaV Is TO De found
n the refusal of the Washington Gov
rnment to grant the demand of Ger
many for an indemnity on account of the
ttack on the German forces in Samoa.
In any case Germany will make no
nrther concessions.
The Samoan Conference will reassem-
lie on Thursday.
National Gift to Mataafa.
In recognition OF the valuable services
endered by King Mataafa in saving life
nd property on the occasion of the hur. /