The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1889-02-14
THE QUESTION STATED.
Papers on the Samoan Case Sent to Con-
gress-The whole Question stated.

Tor official minutes) of the conferees Of the
conference on Samoan affairs, held in this
city in 1887, together with additional cor
respondence on the subject, were laid be-
fore Congress yesterday afternoon. In his
letter of transmittal President Cleveland
saws the Governments of Germany and
Great Britain have consented to their pub
ication.
The protocols of the first conference, at
which was present Secretary Bayard, Mr..
Alvensteben and Sir Lionel West, contains
the propositions of the three diplomats as
to the form OF Government that should be
provided for Samoa The Ger
man representative set forth that
Malietoa, having notoriously violated his
treaty rights with Germany, and having
but small minority Of followers among
the natives, Tamasese having the support
of a great majority. an election OF new
King must take place. Then, in order to
secure peace and order in the islands,
foreign represent ative should be appoihed
as advisor to the King, and to act as the
mandatory of the three treaty powers. He
also sugge ted a renewal of the principle
of absolute equality Of the three powers
on the islands.
Secretary Bayard suggested a scheme
of constitutional government for Samoa,
with a native legislature, securing its in
dependence and autonomy. including an
acknowledgment of Malietoa, as King
and Tamasese as Vice-KiDg.
The English Government, through Sir
Lionel West suggested an agreement
among the treaty powers that one of them
should, as the mandatory of the other two,
act as advisor OF the Samoan Government,
and In view of the preponderance of Ger
man interest there was willing to let Ger
many have the first term Of five years.
England agrees with Germany in acknowl-
edging the necessity fer the election OF
| new King. All the representatives pro-
posed the organization Of q land court or
| commission 10 settle the question OF titles.
| No discussion occurred at this conference.
At the second meeting Secretary Bayard
stated the points upon which he under
stood all were agreed.
Then followed long discussion of the
details of the Government to be created.
Secretary Bayard consented TO a new
election, but insisted it should be a nation
al election, free and unawed; that the
customs of the Samoans should prevail in
it, and that the result of the election
should be announced to and declared by
the three Consuls, who should not other
wise participate in the proceedings.
Sir Lionel West said he could assent to
that proposition. The natives must elect
a King and the election be free. Mr.. Won
Alvensteben inquired whether they should
not take into consideration the probability
of the natives not arriving at an election.
Should not a certain time he fixed within
which an election should take place. II il
should not take place within that time
then the three powers should agree upon a
King.
Mr. Bayard thereupon proposed to con-
tinue Maietoa in office, but Mr.. West and
Mr.. Won Alvensteben united in opposition
to this. The latter also inquired whether
the newly elected King should not be ap-
proved by the powers to which Mr.. Bay
ard replied in the negative, insisting that
there must be free election
Mr. Won Alvensteben then read formal
statement of the position of his Govern
ment, in which he says there is only one
course-to place one foreign officer at the
head of the Administration and to invest
him with sufficient powers to take meas
ures required for the maintenance of peace
and order as we'll as for the prosperous
development of commerce and intercourse.
Germany having the largest interest
should nominate the official. Mr.. Bayard
said the native Government was to pre-
serve it's own existence. The idea OF the
United States was that there should be an
equality OF rights between the powers.
Mr., Won Alvensteben said that was in
tended.
At the third meeting Mr.. West read a
paper in support of the mandatory scheme,
and said that the British Government was
| x.yil haf ha IN fat Tvs
should act as the mandatory of the
other two powers for the first term
of five years. At the next session Mr..
Bayard said he had not the slightest de.
sire to exercise any preponderance over
Germany and Great Britain, but he did de-
sire to see the native influence upheld by
the three powers equally and for CON-
mon purpose. He desired also to advert
to the importance Of the practical neutral.
ization of the islands.
At the fifth meeting Mr.. Bay ard declared
that the German plan would result in an
inequality which would grow larger, but
Mr.. West would not concede this point.
At the last session, on July 26, Mr.. Bay
ard, in reviewing the German proposition
said: 'The plan as proposed and ex
planned by Mr.. Won Alvensteben is sub
stantially a foreign autocratic govern
ment based on mercantile interests; anC
all experience has shown what must nee
essarily result from such All attempt
and that under it the defeat of the OBJ
jects we have all distinctly proposed il
certain. l do not see why we shoult
not recognize at the outset, and encourage
in Samoa a spirit of self-governing free
dom aud self-respect. Germany and tn
United States have heretofore given stroni
indication of their desire for this by thei
prompt disavowal of the arbitrary and un
author zed acts of their respective Consul
(Steubel and Greonbaum). Aud it is no
ticeable that the conduct of foreigners ha
been the cause of more disorder and dis
content in Samoa than any spontaneou
acton of the natives who, whenever the,
have acted improperly and immorally
would appear to have done so upon the in
stigation of some foreign agent. We Gu
not, therefore, condemn native self-govern
ment in advance, for it has not been tries
and plan containing such an element
entitled to favorable consideration, and I
be fairly tested. Would it not, therefore, /
we'll for us to adjourn this conference ur
til the autumn and thus give time to I'll
: Ministers OF Germany and Great Britai
to submit their protocols to their n
. spective Governments in order that il
. structions may be received by them of
more definite character, by means
: which we may be enabled to come to O
) agreement!" MIR. Bayard's proposition
adjourn until autumn was then agreed I
|
The Clayton Murder.
S LITTLE Rock Ark, Feb 9.-The bill a,
0 thorizing the Governor to offer s.. 600 (,
4 the apprehension of any notorious recel
l criminals. and whsh is designed to Gov