Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-05-19
tcoPYKIeHT, 1859, BY NEW YORK ASSOCIATED
PRESS.J

ICOP1IIGHT, looS, BY NEW AOhh ASSOCAAAAD
PREss.J
BERLIN, May 1S.-The fourth session of
the Samoan Conference, which was held
yesterday, took place in the small room of
the Department of Foreign Affairs, in
which the other three meetings have been
held. The apartment is furnished with ex-
treme simplicity. There is space for little
besides a long table, at which the Commits
sioners sit
The meeting was called to order shortly
after 2 o'clock by Count Herbert Bismarck,
who presides at all the meetings, in accord
ance with the established custom that the
highest representative of the Government of
the country in which a conference is held
shall preside. Count Herbert sat at the
upper end of the table just back of plain
little desk, which the late Emperor Fred
erick used during his brief reign.
He was asnked by two colleagues. Next
to Baron Won Horsteiu, who sat on Count
Herbert's right, came Mr.. Kasson, then Mr..
Phelps and then Mr. Bates, the American
Commissioners At the other end of the
table the two secretaries of the commission,
Beuckleck, a secretary of the British
Foreign, 0fice, and II. Stemlech, of the
German Foreign Office, were busily en-
gaged recording the proceedings
ALL READY FOR BUSINESS.
At Count Herberts left was DR.. Kranel,
1e third German Commissioner. Then
lowed Sir Edward Malet, Mr.. Scott and
:. Grove, the English representatives, in
order named. None of the commissioners
e in uniform or court DRESS but all wore
ack frock coats.
The proceedings were almost entirely for
al. They consisted chiefly in listening to
ereports of the various subcommittee,
have BEEN holding daily sessions ever
ce the conference met. AT these meet
lgs tho real work of the conference has
Men SFSdcted, and as nearly as can be
learned, the American Commissioners have
succeeded in carrying nearly every impor-
tant point they set out to obtain. Indeed,
so prevalent is this feeling in Berlin that
the Berlin press and other influential papers
in Germany complain of the success Of the
Americans
While the greatest secrecy in regard to
the proceedings is maintained, and hereto
fore nothing much beyond the fact that the
meetings had been held was known, it can
now be stated that, excepting the question of
indemnity for sailors killed and held by the
Ssmoans and one or two other minor points,
the work of the commission is about over.
MALIEToA WILL BE KING.
1t is thought that the restoration Of Ma
lietoa is assured, and that the plan for a
tripartite Government in Samoa, for which
the American commissioners contested
against the German plan for one representa-
tive selected by the three powers, will sure
ly be put into effect. 1t is also more than
likely that the commission has decided in
favor of the absolute independence of Samoa
as soon as the people there demonstrate their |
ability to 60 alone.
The indemnity question is yet to come up. |
1t may prolong the meetings of the confer |
ence some weeks, but this is believed to be |
the only point on which there is likely to be |
a serious contest. 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 will che commission hear testi-
mony of any kind. During the past meet |
ings of the conference and the committees
the only points of difference have been be-
tween the German and the American CON-
missioners, the attitude of the English men,
bers being neutral.
THE ENGLISH IDEA.
Their influence has generally been cast
with view of settling the question as ex-
peditiously as possible. They have, how
ever, been strongly in favor of having a
Protestant for King of Samoa, which is
thought to indicate their preference for
Malletoa, who was trained in an English |
Protestant college.
The most important work of the confer
ence has been done by what is known as the
working committee, consisting of DR.. Kra-
mel, Assistant Secretary of State for Ger
manv, and Messrs. Scott and Bates, and to
which Messrs. Grove and Phelps were
added the first named on account OF his long
experience in British affairs, and the last
named because of his long experience in
America with the tariffs. and of his expert
ence in establishing Government out of
the discordant elements.
The duty of this committee has been the
preparation of material for the general con-
ference. In this class was a plan to settle
disputes concerning land titles in Samoa |
The German, French and American inhab-
itants of Samoa have been acquiring lands
in Samoa so 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 bv irresponsible natives
in exchange for liquor and trifies.
FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
This committee was also entrusted with ..
the work of settling the form of the Govern
neut at Apia. 1t is rumored that the plan |
agreed on is that America, Germany and
England shall each appoint representative
and that three more members of board of
control shall be chosen by the rate payers.
No LIQUOR shall be sold to natives, although
foreigners can have such stores as they choose
in their private houses
Firearms are only to be sold to the Gov
.rnment and then only under certain re-
strictions which prevent their use except
for keeping the peace. A plan for giving |
the Samoans a revenue has also been de-
vised, which provides for the re-establish
ment of their rights to impose import and {
export duties, which right is taken from
them by the existing Samoan treaty. S
It is understood that the representatives
Of the three Governments have expressed
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