The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-05-19
PEACE IS ASSURED.
Berlin Conference VIII Reach
A Satisfactory Settlement.
THE EMPEROR is MUCH IRRITATED
Over the Miners Strike in Westphalia-U
4 Protective Tariff-The Employers Are
Rich, the Employees Poor.

BERLIN, May 1S.-The fourth session of
the Samoan conference was held yesterday.
The meeting was called TO order shortly
after , o'clock by Herbert Bismarck,
who has presided at all the meetings, in
accordance with the established custom
that the highest representative of the gov
eminent of the country in which confer
ence is held shall preside. The proceed
ings were almost entirely formal. They
consisted chiefly in listening to the reports
of various subcommittee which have
been holding daily sessions ever since the
conference met. At these meetings the
real work of the conference has been tran
sacted, and as nearly as can be learned, the
American committee has succeeded in car
rying every important point they set out
to obtain. Indeed, so prevalent Is this feel
ing in Berlin that the Berlin press and
other influential papers in Germany com
plain of the success of the Americans.
While the greatest secrecy in regard to
the proceedings is main ned, and hereto
fore nothing much beyond the fact that
meetings had been held was known, it can
now be stated that excepting the question
of indemnity for the German sailors killed
and beheaded by the SamOans, and one or
two other minor points. the work of the
COMMISSION IS over. IL - lLlOuSuJ llldO CLlC
restoration of MalietCa to power is assured,
and that half t-ipartite government in
Samoa for which the American commits
sioners cOntended against the German plan
| for one representative selected by the three
powers. will surely DE put into effect. 1t
is also more than likely that the commission
has decided in favor OF the absolute indie
pendenCe of Samoa, so soon as the people
there demonstrate their ability to go alone.
! Il iS n nm
II may prolong the meeting some weeks,
but this is believed to be the only point on
which there is likely to be any serious CON
tests.
The question of klein's connection with
the affair in which the German sailors were
killed, has never come up, nor IS there any
likelihood of its doing so. Neither VIII the
commission hear testimony OF any kind.
| During the past meetings of the conference
and commission the only points of difference
have been between the German and Amerl-
can commissions. the attitude of the Eng
| lish members being neutral Their lntiu-
ence has generally been cast with view
to settling the question as eXpeditlously as
possible. They have, however, been
strongly in favor of having d Protestant
! for King Of Samoa. which is thought to in
dictate their preference for Malieto2, who
was trained in an English Protestant col
! lege.
! The most important work OF the confer
ence has been done by what is known as
working committee, consisting OF DR..
Kravel assistant secretary Of state Tor
Germany and Scott and Bates, and TO
which Grove and Phelps were added as
advisers. the first named on account of his
long experience in British commercial
affairs. and the last-named because OF his
long experience in America with the tariff
and of his experience in establishing gov
ernment ont of the discordant elements IND
Louisiana.
The duty Of this committee has been the
preparation of material for the general
conference. In this was a plan to settle
disputes concerning land titles in Samoa
The German, French and American lnhab-
itants of Samoa have been acquiring land
so fast in Apia that little remains for the
natives. and it is claimed that their titles
in MANY instances are doubtful, as the land
was given to them by irresponsible natives
in exchange Tor liquor and tribes. IhlS
committee was also entrusted with the
work of settling the form of government
at Apia. 1t is rumored that the plan agreed
upon is that America, Germany and
England shall each appoint representatives
and that three more members OF a board OF
control shall be chosen by the rate payers,
and that no liquor shall be sold to the ma
I tives although foreigners can have such
stores as they choose in their private
houses. Fire arms are to be sold only by
the government, and then only under Ger
tain restrictions which prevent their use
except for keeping the peace. The plan for
giving the Samoans revenue has also been
devised, which provides for the re-estab
lishment of their right to impose import
and export duties, which right is taken
| from them by existing Samoan treaty.
1t is understood that the representatives
haN a
their confidence of being able to obtain
from their governments this concession to
help the SamOanS.
The stay of the American commissioners
in Berlin is being made very pleasant.
They are overwhelmed with social atten-
tions from distinguished residents. Oneot
the pleaSauteSt incidents which has Oc
Cured was the call they made on Prince
Bismarck at his request which was a
special mark Of consideration, as the
Prince, being in feeble health, rarely goes
out or receives anyone.
To a representative Of the Associated
Press who called on him to-day, Mr.. Phelps
said concerning the proceedings of the con-
| ference: 81 cannot disclose anything, but
may say, through you to America, that
nothing is interfering with the successful
conclusion of our labors but the cry of the
European press that Germany is giving up
everything This charge is persistently
made and is naturally irritating our co la
borers Moreover. it is not true that mu
tual concessions have been made. Ger
many is more willing than America to yield
anything that would insure Samoan indie
pendence and give the natives a better
chance This is the prime impulse of the
German as well as of the American delega-
ton"
The best indications that the conference
iS nea1.inp a successful close is found in the
fact that the Emperor has invited all the
members to a reception at the Schloss on
Monday. Only few DAYS ago that dele
gates were informed that an audience
could not be given earlier than the 9th in
slant. The proceedings at yesterdays sit
ting showed such progress toward an as
sured settlement on every point that Prince
Bismarck has decided to expedite the re
ception.
The Emperor, impatient at the delay in
bringing about peace between the miners
and employers has directed the president of
Westphalia 10 convey to the mining
companies his emphatic desire to accelerate
the compromise. 1t is reported that the
president has resigned, the Emperor blam-
ing him for allowing affairs to drift and
also for sending out false alarms as to en-
counters between the strikers and the mill
tary
DR.. Hentzpeter, who is now by command
of the Emperor making tour of the strike
districts in order to hear both sides, is
charged to warn the mine owners that the
government will resent their action II they
refuse to grant the essential claims of the
men, The power of the government to
make the employers feel the weight of its
displeasure lies at hand.
The mine owners have obtained during
recent years many favors. They have Sc
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