The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-05-13
SAMOAN AFFAIRS.
Progress of the Convention at Berlin
Secret Sessions.
sailors Commended MataaTa's Reward
-EeIease Of AIaIietoa.
SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

-'AAA IVA eau 1 tillNAN'D ADII klDl4ltllt
The National Gazette says that
the Government, instead of avoiding
debate in the Reichstag on Samoan
questions, will give every facility for
such debate at the earliest possible
( moment.
The delegates to the Samoan con
ference were received on their ar
rival at Berlin by the attaches Of the
United States Legation.
A Samoan relief fund of 10000
marks has been forwarded to Prince
Bismarck from Hamburg.
NIessrs. Kasson, Phelps and Bates,
the Samoan Commissioners, called
on Prince Bismarck on April 9th
They are highly pleased with their
reception by Bismarck. The Chan
cellor was especially cordial to Com
missioner Bates, who explained that
his offensive article in the Century
was written long before his nomina-
| ton as a delegate He afterward
/ u ltNA ~ " lJLlNtI dN ib5 Dub was 100
late, as thousands of copies had al
ready been printed.
Prince Bismarck, who showed a
| perfect knowledge of Samoan affairs,
/ expressed hope that the conference
I would be brief
The National Gazette favors Won
Bars proposal to restore the
tripartite control and appoint a
nominal King Of Samoa, with an
outsider as an umpire.
The London Daily News thinks
the readiness with which Bates ex-
PLANTATION was accepted by Prince
Bismarck is a favorable omen for the
success of the Samoan Conference.
The German Foreign Office APP
pears to be assured of the early
termination of the negotiations.
The commission, however, expects
that the sittings will be protracted
for several months, especially if
charges against Klein, involving
claims against the United States
Government, are brought up. The
amount of indemnity for depre-
dations by SamOans is not likely to
give rise to any disagreement, being
merely question as to the accuracy
Of the claims presented. From the
nature of the communications be-
tween Herbert Bismarck and Ham
burg firms Interested in Samoa it is
5urmised that the indemnity will
take the form of extended land con-
cessiOns, supervised by a land court
composed of representatives from
Samoa, Germany, England and the
United States. The official papers
rather affect Indifference toward the
conference.
While Kasson was in London he
called on Salisbury at the Foreign
Office and had a two-hours' talk with
him about the Samoan difficulty.
There was mutual interchange of
views as to the best method of settle
ment.
The Cologne Gazette briefly con
cludes that a favorable result is al
ready assured. A strongly phrased
article in the Magdeburg Gazette.
the national Liberal paper, declares
that German honor requires the pun
ishment Of the assailants on Deem |
Der 18th, and it demands protection
for planters by permanent settle |
ment of the Samoan group on the |
lines followed by England in !
Egypt. The article misrepresents |
both official and public feeling. Her
bert Bismarck, after an informal |
greeting to the American delegates, |
held an official reception to all the |
commissioners. Kasson and Phelps !
have made favorable impressions on
German and English officials. The f.
idea prevails in the Foreign Office |
that Phelps will become chief of the |
American Legation.
The Conference Opened.
At the opening of the Samoan
Conference on April 10Th Count Her
bert Bismarck, In French, welcomed |
the delegates and expressed the
hope that they would reach a speedy
agreement. After a transaction of
the preliminary technical business,
among which was the adoption of
resolution that the proceedings be
with strict secrecy, the
sitting closed after an hour and a
half's session.
In his speech of welcome to the
COMMISSIONERS HERBERT bismarck
conveyed the cordial good will of
the Kaiser, and said he especially
desired an amicable settlement Of
the question. Germany cherished
no selfish or select schemes of an
neXatlOn or ACKNOWLEDGMENT in the
Pacific, especially among the Sa-
moan Islands, and was not disposed
to take any advantage of or make
any opposition to existing treaties,
out intended to remain faithful to
lhe!r terms. kasson, replying for
,he American members, said his
country hoped the impending ques-
ion would be settled upon the basis
If non interference and the preserv-
ltion of the autonomy of the Sa-
moan group. The conference then 5
appointed committees to deal with {
III the details of the subject and ad- /
burned to await the reports of
hose committees.
Emperor William received a per-
Onal report IF the sitting.