St. Paul daily globe., 1889-02-09
PROTOCOLS SUMMARIZED.
They Show That Germany Wants
the Big End of Everything.

The protocols of the conference be-
tween the United States, Germany and
England, which began at Washington
July %, 1887, shows that at the first
meeting a memorandum was submitted
on behalf of the United States. 1t pro-
vided for the independence and auton-
omy of the kingdom of the island of
Som0a, for native king and respect
for native customs and traditions. 1t
further provided for constitution; also
that the foreign conSulS should retain
permanent Jurisdiction over their cOun-
trymen, and that each Of the treaty
powers could alternately keepa man-of-
war in Samoan waters four months III
each year, The German minister said
that Malietoa had VIGOROUSLY violated
his treaty obligations; that the SamO-
ans are incapable of maintaining peace
and order, and therefore he suggested an
ADVISOR TO THE KING.
this advisor to "act as the mandatory of
the three powers" He acknowledged
absolute equality of treatment in re-
spect OF commerce, navigation, juris-
diction and all other matters. The
British minister favored an interna-
tional land court and an unaitered con-
sular jurisdiction, as Malietoa and Tam
asese were then at war. At the confer
ence on July 2, Mr.. Bayard said he un-
derStood that all asreed upon the fol
lowing point: That there should be no
annexation of the islands by any treaty
powers; that the independence 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 cOuntrymen should be
preserved: that the present treaties be
maintained so far as the rights of the
three powers under them were con-
cerned; that means for the raising of
revenue for the support OF the govern
ment should be devised, and the ques
,tion of taxing foreigners should be con-
sidered; that land court should be eS
tablislied to settle titles, ETC. Mr..
Bayard said that Germany and Great
Britain proposed that there should be
only king and council of Chiefs The
United States would suggest a king.
council of chiefs and legislative
assembly, composed of representatives
elected by the people of the islands.
The German minister said if there was
such a legislative assembly as Mr..
Bayard proposed. it should have a con-
sultative and
NOT A DECIDING VOTE,
and with this understanding, he was
not opposed to such an assembly. Mr..
Bayard said that there were some other
points OH which the propositions of the
powers did not run so closely together.
The first was as to kiugShip. The
United States, in view of existing
treaties and declaration made by con-
suls, had proposed the continued recog-
milton OF Malietoa Lanpepa as king and
of Tamasese as vice king. The British
and German government proposed new
election. In this. for the sake of COM
ing to an agreement. he was disposed to
concur. The customs of the Samoans
Shonld prevail in it, and the result of
election should be announced to and de-
clared by the three consuls, who
should not otherwise participate in the
proceedings. Mr.. Bayard said his pro-
posal to let Malietoa remain as king had
been objected to by Germany and
Great Britain. The German minister
asked whether the newly-elected
king should not be approved by the
powers? Mr.. Bayard thought not. The
German minister said people might
nominate the king and the powers con-
firm him. Mr.. Bayard objected to this
on the ground that this would virtually
give the powers the choice of a king.
NIr. Bayard said that there had heen
proposition from Germany which had
met with a certain degree of recogni-
ton from Great Britain, that the power
having the greatest present commercial
interest should exercise preponderat-
ing influence. To that he (Mr. Bayard)
would object. At the conference on
July 0, the land commission proposed
by Mr.. West was discussed. Mr.. Bay
ard opposed it as
EMBARRASSING THE COURT.
The German minister coincded with
Mr.. West. At the fourth conference
held July 16, the German minister Said
that Mr.. Bayard had stated that if the
German plan were followed, it would re-
suit eventually in converting the islands
into German possession. Mir. Bayard
replied that he had understood the prop
osition of the British minister to be that
the three g0veriiniellts should alternate
in the appointment of the mandatory,
but that in consideration of its greater
interest, Germany should have the first
five years. He thought that the recog-
milton of preponderance of interest