New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-16
THE BERLIN AGREEMENT.
SUMMARY OF POINTS 1T IS SUPPOSED 10
CONTAIN.
NOMINAL MONEY INDEMNITY 10 GERMANY
MATAAFA TO BE DEPosED AND MAL1EToA
REsToRED-PRovIDNG FOR AN
ADVISORY CI1IrNcI1.
ADVISORY COUNCIL.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !


Washington, June I5.-Th0ug gh the State De-
Iartment continues 70 observe the most rigid
silence concerning the document signed ia Berlin
yesterday, there Is good for believing that
the treaty agreement, or protocol or by whatever
name the document is TO be known hereafter SET
| ties at least four points:
tlrst-The restoration OF Malietoa now in exile
on one of the islands OF the Marshall group TO the
throne occupied by him for nearly fifty years.
Second-The payment of small indemnity, only
nominal in fact, TO Germany by the Samoans In
order to Offset The injury German national pride
received In the butchery of score more Of It's
trained officers and sailors by handful of untu-
tored savages.
Third-lhe establishment Of land court, be-
fore which all conflicting claims in regard to real
estate hell by private individuals corporations
on the island shall be submitted bV the contend
ing parties. The composition Of tlis court Is
matter of some speculation, but il is assumed that
IL will be made up of an equal number OF repre-
sentatves Of the United States and OF
Germany the place OF an umpire in case
Of disagreement being awarded to the
representative OF Great Britain Such an arrange
ment, it is believed, was made because subjects
Of Great Britain have little no interest in Land
matters In Samoa, and their representative may,
therefore, be supposed to be an altogether dis
interested party. Nest OF the claims 10 land In
the islands are preferred with more or less Justice
by Americans and Germans, each accusing the
other OF having obtained claims either by fraud
and colluSiOn, by the sale Of whisl1ey and
firearms at extortionate rates
Fourth-The establishment Of an Advisory Coan-
Gil to tho King, composed Of seven men, one each
TO he nominated by the United States, Great
Britain and Germany, one to be appointed by
the King and three 20 be chosen by the natives.
Such council on its face shows o majority Of
natives, but IL can easily be imagined that under
favorable conditions il may easily fall under the
influence Of any OF the foreign representatives
II he should succeed in hOodwinking his colleagues
Minor matters considered in the protocol refer
to the prohibition Of the sale Of arms and liquors
to natives The mode anu manner, too, of
electing Vice-king are considered. Mataafs,
however, is LEFT out in the cold. Upon this one
point 1t Is understood, the German Government
insisted from the be ainnin2 and while IL made
efforts probably to secure a substantial money
indemnity, IL rather yielded that point than agree
TO what seemed like condoning Mataaia's attack
upon the German forces. Less, it, is believed,
Germany could not well insist upon in view of
the strong public opinion which hacks in that
country every attempt on the part of the Gov
crnment 10 vlndicate National honor" and mor3
especially the reputation of the Army and Navy.
The question whether the document Just signed
is 10 lie regarded in the hight OF an agreement, or
protocol, treaty, still remains an open one.
Whether treaty or not however. It is not likely
10 be made public-at least ofleialIy-unni after
it has been considered by the Senate