The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-04-16
TUE BERLIN COMMISSIONERS,
The InstFuCtiORs They are UndOF-Ameri-
can Rights Must be Inslsted Upon,

| can bABhtS must ne AhblSNeu pPoh'
WAsuISaToS, D, G., April l5,-Con'
gressman W, W, Phelps, ex.Mipistel
Kasson and George H. Bates, the United
States delegate to the Samoan commits
sion, ACCOMPANIED by Lieutenant Parker
ex. Consul General Harold NJ, sewell and
Messenger John T, G, Butler, left for
Berlin BY the Umbria Saturday morning.
Two hours before their departure q
special messenger from the State Depart
ment handed to Mr., Phelps large en-,
velope bearing several red seals, The
messenger had gone from Washington
by the night express, and the envelope he
carried contained the official instructions
to the sapoan commissioners, Previous
to the departure OF the commissioners
for New York several conferences with
Secretary Blaine were held at the State
Department, but the final instructions
were the subject OF protraCted and ex-
haustive discussion at the Cabinet meet
ing on Friday. After IN agreement was
reached they were redrafted and intrust-
ed to special messenger for delivery,
The instructions viii! be guarded with
great care by the commissioners to pre-.
vent their Publication, but New York
World correspondent has secured an &C.
Curate abstract showing the rowers and
limitations prescribed for the guidance
OF the gentleman who are To represent
the United States in the coming confer,
ence.
The conMissloners arc instructed to
insist upon the absolutely autonomy OF
the native government In the Samoan
This Is the most important
point 10 be Considered and its observance
is made a sine qua non OF any agreement
to be arrived at.
Though the note Of Prince Bismarck
extending the invitation stated that
"any supposition that Germany would
not feel satisfied with q neutral position
in the Samoan islands was untounded,"
yet in the last conference Mr., Alven-
sleben, the German Minister, insisted
that the treaty power having the largest
Interests should not be ex-
cluded from efficient control Of the
Samoan Government. Mr., Bayard was
moved to remark that the German Min
ister's proposition meant absolutism, lie
inquired il the German Minister would
agree to strike out Germany eud insert
England OF the United States. Mr..
Alvensleben would not consent. MIR.
Bayard renatk0d that In the German
plan "the preponerating interest" was
the beginning, the middle and the end
Of the whole scheme.
Secretary Blaine takes his cue from
Mr.. Bayard aud makes OF paramount i'm
portanCe the same consideration that
Mr.. BayarJ regarded as oVershadowing
all others. In arguing for tho absolute
autonomy pt the Islands tho Com.
ore directed to emphasize the
fact that no preponderanCe OF CONNER
Cial interests should weigh to the extent
OF warrantinR an assignment OF author
ity or influence with the native Govern
ment to any representative power. The
Commissioners arc instructed not to
admit, under circumstances, the u.s.
sumption 80 arrogantly made by Prince
Bismarck that the Representatives Of
the United States in Samoa have been
any ways resnonsble for the deplorable
condition Of affairs there.
In u letter to Secretary Bayard, Prince
Bismarck said on this point: at is re.
markable that on that remote realm Of
islands, where neither America or Ger
many has political interest To defend,
we. are exposed to the continued Ill will
OF series Of American representatives.
Should my supposition be right, that
those difficulties have their origin in the
personal disposition of the American
representatives in Apia, and not In their
instructions, am convinced that the
American Government will cause the
necessary redress to take place.
This assumption OF Prince Bismarck
the Commissioners are directed to con-
trovert with Emphasis and to make It ab.
solutely plain, without ambiguity Of Ian.
guage, that the United States will not
Tor one monent entertain the idea Of Its
responsibility for damages alleged to
have been suffered by German subjects
or by the Imperial German Govern
ment, owing to the state Of war prevail
ing in Samoa.