Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-06-19
HOW AMERICANS EMERGE FROM
THE SAMOAN CONFERENCE
commsnts Of the London Press

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serve the .trietest seereey with regard %
their decisions, until the final act IL sub 4
feItted to the sepate at Washington, but 1
there can b. no doubt that Americans I
have emerged from this conference with 4
aying colora, and that Germany has had
to content herself with the prospect Of
much lea. political performance on the
island. than .he claimed at Warrington
two years ago. This resuIt il would APP I
pear. (. much more due TO the firm and In /
. xorabie attitude Of Mr.. Blaine. than to
any political leanIngs Of England toward
the power which it il her highest aim TO
c0nciliate."
Al the London papers comment, edi-
torislly, upon the treaty. The Daily
News says. Mr. Phelps leaves tonight
for Se~ York, and, although he denies
II. il l. believed that he will be appointed
American ambassador at Berlin The
fr.t point decided on il the maintenance
Of absolute autonomy Of the native popu-
lat ion. 10 y hich il secured the right Of
choosing it, King and yiceroy. A. 1t IL
Almost certain that Melietoa will De re-
elected American and German repre-
.entatiyes will BE- attached to the king A.
advisers, while an English representative
will act a. arbitrator IN case Of Disagree
ment- The native Government j. To
have sole control Of the administration,
-. g. IN int I'VE
duties Each of the three powers is 10
have coaling stations allotted 10 il and
anchoring places.
The Standard Gays THE United States
government made It's adhesion to the samoan
treaty conditional upon its ratification by the
Senate. and as this cannot take place until
December DeIt the status quo will be main
tanned in the islands until that time The
treaty guarantees an autonomous adminl-tra-
lion of the Samoa islands under the joint
control Of Germany and the United States
Great Britain acting ~ arbitrator IN the
event of any difference arising The Samoans
will, under the new treaty. elect their own
king and yiceroy. and ~ll be represented by
A Senate composed Of the principal chief, and
Chamber elected by the people Samoa
will have the right of levying duties of every
df scr ption, and the treaty also stlpulates
that the Germans shall receive money in
ds mnity for their losses For the settlement
Of the land question special court will be
appointed
The Times says. 1t cannot be denied
that the action of Samoa has on many oc
cs.ions been high.han ed, impolitic, and in
consistent alike With treaty obligations and
the interests Of other powers. IL is per
hsp. as we'll. therefore, that in this particu
lar case Prince Bismarck should have bee II
made to realize that where the lnteres SITS of
the nited States are concerned the Amer
can government is very little affected by
many OF those considerations which necesss-
rily restrain the action of those European
governments with which she is more accus-
toned TO deal. 1t is not less plain that even
Germany would be compelled to think twice
or thrice before provoking a collision with
America over such a question as that of
Samoa and We cannot but rejoice, there
fore. that the influence of the United States
has been so moderately and yet so eifectually
oIerted
Admiral Porter looks with suspicious
eyes upon John Bulls mancuyers 81 the
Pacific coast. IN an article in America
he SAYS: ~ do not hesitate to say that
the bate rapid movement of the British
government in 7trengthing their naval
depot at E-quimalt and building heavy
works commanding the Strait of fuca,
indicate n policy antagonistic to the Unit
ed States, viz; TO obtain possession of
that territory which they claim in ISIS.
At that time the British conteuded for
given them the command OF our entire
Northwestern coast. Now. although the
British have 4 prominent position and aC-
tually command the Strait of fuca, vet
they cannot control the islands to the
eastward of the Strait of llaro or Admi-
rally Inlet or Puget Sound unless
We are willing they should do 50"
The Admiral il of the opinion that ''thc
nation with whom we wonld be most like
~ To go to war is Great Britain, for the
boundary between the two nations is of
such vast cxtent--a mere geographical
line, marked with piles of stone, which
time will soon oblitcrate-and we are so
curiously interviewer that when Washing
ton Territory begins to fill up and over
How, aud our people encroach on the ter
ritory of Great Britain, with their numer-
Gus Chinese inhabitants, there will no
doubt arise sufficient provocations of warto
which, il We remain in our present defence
less state. the British would not object. The
very fact that Great Britain is building
up naval station at Esquimalt, in con
neetion with the Canadian Pacific Rail-
road so heavily subsidized by them,
"must he considered an offensive act, for
under present circumstances of peaceful
between the two countries, such
extensive preparations do nd seem neces-
sary." The Admiral adds that England
never fortified position without an in
tention to dominate over every place
where her guns can reach. and hence
where she undertakes to fortify the i'm.
portant point commanding the waters of a
ueighboring state 1t is incumbent on that
state to do likewise" The Admiral is i'm
pressed with the blindness of his country
men in permitting "a great and graspiug
rival To establish powerful naval station
right between Us and our siOns in
Alaska without taking any steps ourselves
in the same dirpction:' especially when
there Jay no doubt the British will event
mol tv fnrfif,- no TsIn II u