, 1889-05-23
GERMAN GOSSIP.
The Work Of the Conference
Progressing FayOrably.
England Takes no Hand, but
Holds the Balance.
The Americsn commissioners socisll
Leonised aud Honorsd -gh. Ger
mau Press IL How1ing.


York Associated Press --rne fourth ses.
sion of the Samoan conference was held
yesterday. The meeting was called to
order shortly after 2 o'clock by Herbert
Bismarck, who has presided at all the
meetings in accordance with the estab-
lished custom that the highest repre-
sentative of the country in which
the conference Is held shall preside.
The proceedings were almost entirely
for nal. They consisted chiefly in listen
ing to the reports of the various sub.com.
mittees, which have been holding daily
sessions ever since the conference met At
these meetings the real work of the con-
ference 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 pre-
valent is this feeling in Berlin that the
Berlin Press and other Influential papers
10 Germany complain of the success Of the
Americans. While the great secrecy in
regard to the proceedings is maintained
and heretofore nothing much beyond
the fact that meetings had been
held was kNown IL can nov
be stated that excepting the question OF in
demnity for German sailors killed and be-
headed by the Samoan, and one or two
other minor points, the work of the COM
mission Is over. II is thought that the
restoration Of Malietoa to power IL as
sured and that the half uipartate govern
mint IN Samoa, for which the Amer an
commissioners contested against the Ger
man plan for Que representative selected
by the three poaers, VIII surely be put
into fleet. Ii IL also more than likely
that tho com uilssio Das decided in favor
of
THE ABSOLUTE INDEPENDENCE
of Samoa soon as as people there demons
trated their ability to 90 alone. The in
demnity question Is yet to come up. 10
may prolong the meeting some weeks, but
this IL believed TO be the on,y point upon
which there is likely to be a serious con-
test.
The question Of Kleins connection with
the affair in which German sailors were
killed. has never come up. Nor is there
any likelihood OF It's dong SO. Neither
will the commission hear testimony of
any kind. During the past meetings
of the conference the committees
the only points OF difference have been be.
tween German and American committees,
e'he attitude of the English members being
Neutral. Their influence has been geuer-
0ly cast with view TO 3, ttling the ques.
tion IN expeditiously as possible. They
hafe, however, been strongly in favor of
having q Protestant for king of Samoa,
which Is thought to indicate their
PREFERENCE FOR MALIEToA,
who was trained in an English Protestant
college.
The most important work of the con-
ference has been done by what is known
as the working COMMITTEES, consisting of
DIR. krauel, assistant secretary of state for
Germany. and Scott and Bates, and te
which Crone ard Phelps were added as
advisors. Ihs tirst was named on &C.
count of bis long experience in British
ommercial affairs. aud the last named be.
cause his long experience in America
with the tariff and of hts exper.
ience in esablishiDR government
out of the discordant elements in
Louisiana. The duty of this committee
has been the preparation of NJ terial for
the general conference. 10 this class was
plan to settle the disputes concerning
land titles in Samoa. German, French
and American inhabitants in Samoa have
been
ACQUIRING LAND 50 FAST
in Apia that little remains for the natives
and It is claimed that their titles in many
instances are doubtful, as the land VIA
given to them by irresponsible natives in
exchange for liquor and tritles.
This committee Was also entrusted with
the work of settling the form of govern
ment at Apia. 1t is rumored that the
plan agreed upon is that America, Ger
many and England shall each appoint rep.
resentatives, and that three more mi mbers
Of the board of control shall be chosen by
the rate payers. No liquor shall be sold
to the natives, although foreigners can
have such stores az they choose in their
private houses, Fire arms are only to be
sold to the government and then only
under certain restrictions which prevents
their use except for keeping peace
A plan Tor giving Samoans revenue has
also been devised which provides for re-
establishment their right to impose
iEpORr AND EXPORT DUTIES,
which right is taken from them by the
Samoan treaty. II 10 understood that rep
resentatives of the three governments
have expressed their confidence OF being
able to obtain from their government this
concession 10 help the Samoans. The
stay 1t the American commissioners
IN Berlin is being made very
pleasant. They are overwhelmed
wish social attentions from distlngui he'd
residents. One OF the pleasantest incl
dents which has occurred was the call they
made on Prince Bismarck at his request,
which WAS u special mark of considers stiop,
as the prince being in feeble health rarely
goes out or receives any one.
To representative of the Associated
Press. who called on him to-day, Mr..
Phelps said: "The proceedings Of the
conference | cannot disclose, but !
may say through you to America that
nothing 10 interfering with the succ. ssful
conclusion of our labors, but the
THE CRY or THE EUROPEAN PRESS
that Germany is giving up everything.
l'his charge il persistently made, uud il
naturally irritating our col.borers. More-