The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-06-15
THE WORK ENDED.
German, English and United States
Commissioners Sign the Agreement
in Reference to Samoa.
The Instrument not to be Made Public
Until Ratified by the United
States Senate.
Sanoas Autonomy Guaranteed, the People
of the Island to Elect Their own RuI-
ers and Levy Taxes.

| WAsHINsToN, June 14.-The agreement
between England, Germany and the United
States on samoan affairs was signed al
Berlin this afternoon IL will not be made
public until confirmed by the senate.
While it is called an agreement by the Off
GERS OF the state department, Walker
Blaine said this evening that he thought IL
would undoubtedly require ratification by
the senate. II the instrument signed were
one regulating the conduct OF two countries
towards each other, as for instance be
tween the United States and Samoa, II
would properly be designated as a treaty;
but where the instrument signed is 20
shape the conduct of three governments.
viz: the United States. England and Ger
many, towards a fourth party. Samoa, it is
held the proper nomenclature Is an agree
ment. at the same time. as il is a matter
affecting the foreign pOwers of the United
States, II is said il will need ratification by
the senate. and that therefore il cannot be
made public prior TO action by the senate.
The agreement was cordially approved by
all the members OF the conference and by
their respective governments. The best OF
feeling prevails at the termination of the
labors OF the commissioners.
BERLIN, June 14-AmeTica having sban-
dOned her principal objections to the agree
ment previously arrived at the plenipoten-
tiaries had only to make unessentiaI modi-
fications in the wording of the draft of the
treaty. The draft guarantees the autOn-
omY of Samoa under the Joint control of
Germany and America, England acting as
arbitrator in the event of differences
arising. The SamOans are TO elect their
own king and V1cerOy, and to be represented
in senate composed of the principal
chiefs and chambers elected by
the people. Samoa is TO have
the right of levying duties of
every kind. The treaty also stipulates
that the Germans shall receive a money in
demnity for their losses. A special court
will be appointed to deal with the land
question. The Americans made their ad
hesion conditional upon the ratification of
the treaty by the United States senate.
The status quo will, therefore. obtain In
Samoa until December. Phelps will carry
the treaty TO Washington. The treaty will
not be published until signed by the Ameri-
can government
KassOn, Phelps and Bates cordially
thanked Herbert Bismarck for the cOurte-
Gus manner IN which they were treated,
and they warmly praised the skill and tact
with which he had presided over the delib-
eratiOns of the conference. Sir Edward
Malet thanked Count Herbert on behalf of
the English delegates. Count Herbert in
reply said he hoped they had reached a
final solution of a difficult question.
LONDON, June l4.-The Posts Berlin
correspondent says the Samoan treaty ar
ranges for the restoration of MalietOa and |
for the appointment of German and Ameri-
can advisers 10 the king, with an English |
counsellor 10 adj ust the balance. The |
American delegates have the utmost con-
hdence that the treaty will be ratified by |
the United States senate.
The Berlin correspondent of the Times /
says the Americans have undoubtedly |
emerged from the Samoan conference with /
flying colOrs. Germany has 10 content her |
self with much less political predominance /
in Samoa than she claimed at Washington /
two years ago. This result is much more |
due 10 the firm attitude of Blaine than 70 |
any political leanings OF England toward |
the power which Il is her highest aim to
conciliate. The Times in an editorial on |
the Samoan agreement says: perhaps IL /
is as well that Prince Bismarck has been /
made to realize that where American in /
terests are concerned the American /
government Is very little af- II
fected by many of those con-
sideratiOns which restrain the action /
OF those European governments with which Il
he is more accustomed 10 deal. 1t is easy i
20 see there might be many reasons why il |
might be expedient for England 70 follow Il
the line of policy in regard to German ae- /
ton in Samoa which IL is natural and ne /
eessary for America to pursue. Ii is not /
less plain than even Germany must think i
twice or thrice before provoking a collision /
with America over such aquestion. There /
fore we rejoice at the influence of America,
so moderately and effeetually exerted."