Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-02-14

the new king must take place. Then in
order to secure peace and order in the
Island foreign representative should be
appointed as advisor to the king, anu to
act as mandatory of the three treaty
powers. He also suggested renewal of
the principle of absolute equality of the
three powers on the islands. Secretary
Bayard suggested a scheme of copsti-
tutlonal govern ment for Samoa with a
native legislature, securing its independ-
ence and autonomy, including the &C
knOwledgement of MalictOa as king
and Tamasese as vIce-king. The En-
glish government, through Sir Lionel
West, suggested an agreement among the
treaty powers that one of them should, as
mandatory of the other two, act as ad-
visor of the Samoa government, and in
view of the preponderance of German
interests they were willing toilet Germany
have the first term of five years. At the
second meeting there was a long discuss
ion on the details of government to be
created. Secretary Bayard consented 10
the new election, bat insisted that 1t
should be native election, free and un-
awed. Sir Lionel West essented.
Mr.. Won AlvenslebeD inquired whether
which the election should take place. If
it should net take place within that time
then the three powers should agree upon
king. Secretary Bayar1 therein CON
proposed to continue Maietoa in office
but West and Won Alvensleben were IN
opposition. The latter also inquired
whether the newly elected king should
not be approved by the powers, TO which
/ in ha ~
that there must be a free election. Won
Alvensleben then read a formal statement
of the position of his government, in
which he Gays there is only one course
| left-to place one foreign officer at the
head of the administration and invest
him with sufficient powers TO take the
measures required for the maintenance
/ of peace and oder, as well as for the pros
| porous development of mmercial inter
| course. Germany, having The largest
interests, should nominate the official
West assented to this. Bayard said that
| the native government was to preserve
It's own existence. At the fourth meeting
| Bayard said be had not the slightest desire
to exercise any preponderan2e over Ger
many and Great Britain, but ne did desire
| to see native influence upheld by the
/
purpose. He desired also to revert tC
the importance of practical neutraliza-
| ZION of the islands. At the fifth meeting
Bayard declared Germany's plan would
result in inequality, which would grow
| lare er. but West would not copcede this
! point. Al the last session, on July &c n
| Bayard in reviewing the German prOpo-
sitlon, said: "The plan as proposed and
explained by Won Alvensleben, is sub
stan6iaily foreign autocratic gov IN
| ment, based on mercantile interests
and all experience has shown
what must necessarily result from such
an atte mi pit, and that under it the defeat
of the object we have all distinctly pro-
| posed, is certain. [ do not see why we
should not recognize at the outset and
encourage In Samoa a spirit of seIf-gov-
erning freedom and self pect. Ger
many and the United States have hereto
fore given strong indications of their
desire for this by their pornpt disavowal
of the arbitrary and Unauthorized acts
of their respective consHls, Steubel and
Greenbaum, and it is noticeable
that the conduct of foreigners had been
the cause of more disturbance in Samoa
than auy spontaneous action of the ma
elves. Would 1t not, therefore, be we'll
for Us TO adjourn the conference until
autumn, and thus give time to the minis
tiers of Germany and Great Britain TO
submit the protocols TO their respective
govern ments in order that Instructions
may be received by them of more def
mite character, by the aid of which we
may come TO an agreement?
Bayard's proposition was agreed to.