The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-06-03
THE SAMOAN CONFERENCE.

1 lie SUI COIilLAt4LCCC VI LAlC AJtAA-4CtlL4
Conference, has decided that the /
Municipal Council ofApia shall com .
prise six members Germany, Eng
land and the United States, each to
appoint a member, and the other
three members to be elected by resi- |
dents of Apia. This decision dis
pleased the British Commissioners,
who call it Phelps compromise.
Phelps, although not a member Of
the subcommittee, was asked to at
tend its last meeting.
The fourth session Of the Samoan
Conference was held on May 18th.
The meeting was called to order by
Herbert Bismarck, who preside5 at
all the meetings, in accordance with
the established custom that the
highest representative Of the govern
ment of the country in which a con
ference is held shall preside The
proceedings consisted chiefly in lis
tening to the reports Of the various
subcommittee which have been
holding daily sessions ever since the
Conference met. At these meetings
the real work OF the Conference has
been transacted, and as nearly as can
be learned the American Commits
sioners have succeeded in carrying
every important point they set out
to obtain. Indeed, so prevalent is
this feeling in Berlin that the Berlin
press and other influential papers in
Germany complain Of the success Of
the Americans.
VIII lie the greatest secrecy in re
gard TO the proceedings Is main
tanned, and heretofore nothing much
beyond the fact thai meetings. have
beer held was known, it can now be
stated that, excepting the question
of indemnity for Coma sailors
killed and 6eh6aded by the Samoans,
and one or two other minor points,
the work Of the com mission : over.
It is thought that the restoration OF
MaietOa 20 power ; assured, and
that the plan for tripartite govern
ment in SamO~, for which the Amer
lean Commissioner contested against
the German plan for one representa-
tive selected by the three powers,
will surely be put into effect. 1t Is
also more than likely that the com
mission has decided IN favor OF the
absolute Independence of Samoa as
soon as the people there demonstrate
their ability to go alone.
The indemnity question IS yes to
come up. 1t may prolong the mee1i
ing some weeks. l4tt IL z,I IL .'''t tbo,,
w - 1ss.'sst a Serious contest. The
Question of KIein's connection with
the affair In which German sailors
were killed has never come up, nor
is there any likelihood OF It's doing
so. During the past meetings OF the
conference and committees, the only
points of difference have been be
tween the German and American
commissioners, the attitude of the
English members being neutral.
Their influence has generally been
cast with a view of settling the ques-
ton as expeditiously as possible
They have, however, been strongly
in favor of having a Protestant for
King Of Samoa, which IS thought to
indicate their preference for OIalie-
tOa, who was trained III an English
Protestant college.
The most important work of the
conference has been done by what is
known as the working commission.
consisting of DR.. Kranel, Assistant
Secretary of State for Germany, aud
Scott and Bates, to which Grove and
Phel ps were added as advisers.
The committee was also Entrusted
with the work of settling on a form
of government at Apia. 1t is rum
ored that the plan agreed upon is
that America, Germany and Eng
land shall each appoint a representa-
tive and that three more members Of
the Board Of Control shall be chosen
by the ratepayers. No liquor shall
be sold to natives, though foreigners
can have such stores as they choose
in their private houses. Firearms
are only to be sold to the Govern
ment, and then only under certain
restrictions, which prevent their use
except for keeping the peace. The
plan for giving the Samoans a rev
enue has also been devised, which
provides for taa re-establishmeDt Of
their right to impose import and !
export duties, which right is taken
from them by the existing Samoan .
treaty.
The stay of the American Com .
missioners in Berlin Is being made /
very pleasant. They are over I
wheImed with social attentions from /
distinguished residents. One Of the .
pleasantest incidents which has oc I
cured was a call they made on
Prince Bismark at his request, which /
was q special mark Of consideration. .
as the Prince. being in feeble health,
rarely goes out or receives any one. (
To (. Representative Of tie Assoc .
ci&tad Press Ny. Ehclos said:
I'll proceeding o. tup conferences .
/ caDGOI disclose. hut 7 may say
through you to America that nothing
is Interfering with the successful .
conclusion OF our labor but rbe cry