Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-09
The Protocols of the Samoan Conferens
Finally Made Public.

l
The Protocols of the Samoan Conferences
Finally Made Public.
| WASHINGTON. February Sth-The Presi-
dent to-day transmitted to Congress the
| proposal of Bismarck for the resumption of
the conference on the basis of native inde-
pendence and equality of rights among
| treaty powers, and the Presidents res ponse.
! Accompanying the Samoan correspond
ence were six protocols or reports, of the
six conferences which were held In this
| city between Secretary Bayard Sackyile
! West and Baron Won Alvensleben the
| German Minister. These memorandums
have never before been made public, but
| in the correspondence on Samoan affairs
| transmitted by the President to Congress
from time to time during the past two
years the points of difference between rep
resentatives of the three Governments-as
| developed at these conferences-have in
others forms been published. The protocol
OF the first conference, on June %, 1887.
/ shows that Bayard submitted the follow
| ing plan for the government of Samoa:
| The independence aud autonomy of
| Samoa shall be preserved free from inter
| ference from any foreign power. The be-
| ginning of the organization of the new
! Government will be the recognition of a
native King. This Office has been filled
| for many years by the election of the head
of the MalietOa family, and these elections
| should be recognized by the treaty powers.
4 written constitution should be adopted
i as follows: The inhabitants should choose
| by election the Chiefs to form the Council
| of the King. The constitution should pro-
| vide for Legislature, which should con-
| sist of the Kings Councillors and Legisla-
tive Assembly. A municipal Government
| should be formed for Apia, without inter
ference by foreign Consuls. a native
| Court should be organized, the sale Of
| liquors and deadly weapons should be pro-
] hibited, Land Commission organized to
inquire into land titles, customs and tom
mage duties should be levied and man Of
war kept in the harbor to maintain peace
| Won Alvensleben, on the part of the Ger
man Government proposed a new election
| for King and Government carried on
| without the assistance of native Council
| 4 foreign representative should be ap.
| pointed as adviser to the King. This ad-
wiser, who would have the influence of a
Prime Minister, to be appointed by the
! Power having preponderating interests in
Samoa, the appointment to be made with
the consent of the other two Powers, and
| the term of Office to last five years. An
| International Court should be established
| to settle the disputes of foreigners As the
German interests outweigh the other inter
ests, Germany should appoint the first ad-
wiser to the King.
| Lord Sackville favored Germany's plan
of an adviser to the King, with certain
notifications of more diplomatic than real
| importance.
In the protocol of the second Samoan
| conference, July 2, 1887 Bayard said. it
was understood that all agreed that there
should be no annexation of the islands by
any of the treaty Powers that the indie.
pendence of Samoa should be preserved,
and that the native Government was TO be
assisted to maintain itself. AT this meeting
the plans of government proposed by each
| Power at the first meeting were discussed
| by the conferees, each one advocating the
| plan which he proposed. The conference
adjourned after a short session, no action
being taken.
The third protocol contains memoran-
dunn of the discussion between the three
representatives respecting the powers to be
conferred upon the proposed native Coun-
| Gil and Land Court. At this conference
| Lord Sackville expressed a willingness to
| give Germany mandatory control for five
years, and thereafter make the control
/ alternative, with the consent of the other
| two Powers.
The fourth protocol related to discus
sion of the meaning of the term "manda-
tory control" Lord Sackville pointed out
| the difference between the meaning of the
phrases alienation and rotation " of
/ control. Mr.. Bayard objected to the Ger
man plan, and Mr.. Won Alvensleben OBJ
| jected to Mr.. Bayard's plan for q council of
five. Bayard renewed his statements re-
specting the organization of Land Com
mission and Land Court, but he did not
consider that question indispensable to
| final negotiations
In the protocol of the fifth conference
Bayard said that in the protocol OF the
second conference ii was agreed that there
| should be native election Of King with
out foreign interference. He had first pro-
| posed the election of a King and Vice
King. The proposition for the election of e
| Vice King was agreed TO. The powers OF
the Faipule were discussed, and there was
an interchange of opinion respecting the
construction of Land Court and Com
mission and the composition of the same,
its membership, duties, etc.
| The conterees also discussed a scheme
for the creation of mandatory foreign
power IN the islands, but reached no agree.
ment.
The last protocol, dated July Doth, con-
sists of paper read by VonAlvensleben,
which brought the negotiations to close.
He reviewed the proceedings of the former
/ v,
| having the largest interests in Samoa
should be intrusted by the other two Pow
ers to exercise control. This mandatory
! scheme was based upon the argument that
there could be no stable native Government
unless controlled by one common organ OF
the three Powers.
Mr.. Bayard insisted upon the mainte-
nence of the independence and autonomy
OF the islands, to be preserved free from the
preponderating influence of any foreign
Power. Bayard continued that the British
Minister had said the object of the three
| Governments in sending Commissioners to
Samoa was 10 maintain the autonomy and
! independence of Samoa, under native
| Government. This being the case, Bayard
says he listened with regret to proposition
| that suggested an inequality OF control. He
regarded with disfavor the plan 10 place the
real control OF Samoa in German bands
subject to the approval, of the other two
Powers. 1t would follow that the Power in
control could maintain its authority in.
definitely.
As the British Minister agreed that the
powers having preponderating CONNER
cial interest should assume control, il fol-
lowed that Germany would rule theislands
The British Minister was willing that the
Germans should have mandatory control
for the first five wears, but no assurances
could be given that at the end OF tha,
period 1t might not be renewed. According
TO Bayard, if-ss stated By the German
Minister-Germany could not be expected
to remain more or less excluded from the
efficient control OF the country, and placing
the power of the adviser of the King in the
hands of representatives of power other
than Germany would mean German exclu-
sion, then be was unable to see why the
placing those powers in German control
would not exclude the other Powers He
claimed that the acceptance of guarantee
from any one power for the government ol
the islands was not in the direction of pre-
serving the autonomy OF the islands He
reaffirmed his preference for a single judi.
cial tribunal of final Jurisdiction, to consist
OF five members, to be appointed by the
King. three members on behalf of the
treaty powers, and two of the Kings selee
tion. He concluded by processing to ad-
lourn the conference until autumn, as nc
agreement seemed probable
This proposition was agreed to, with the
! understanding at the time that the nego-
tions were not broken OFF.
BAYARD AT BAY.