The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-06-18
THE SAMOAN CONFERENCES,
Completes Its Work on the Plans Out
lined BY the American Government
The Text Of the Treaty.

/ Samoan treaty. The leading clause
/ in the treaty insures the absolute
autonomy Of the Samoan islands,
| guaranteeing to the natives not only
a predominsung influence in every
| governmental body, but restricting
the treaty powers from Representa-
ton In the Samoan council or
ministry.
Secretary Bayard favored such q
representation. The treaty further
provides for d sort Of advisory
council TO consult with the native
hing whenever necessary. In view
Of the large commercial interests Of
the United States and Germany,
each of these countries viii be al
lowed 8 fuIl-fedged member. but
England'S representative will act
only in the character Of an arbiter
or umpire when the German and
American ministers fail to agree.
\ land court or commission is pro
vided by the treaty, whose business
il viii be to examine into the titles
Of Samoan real estate, settle the
many disputed claims that foreigners
have been setting up in Samoa, and
generally to set at rest all questions
as 10 the ownership Of land both by
foreigners and natives Of the islands.
The conditions Of the Government
Of the islands are provided for, and
IN this feature Secretary Bayard's
proposition to the first Samoan Con
ference has been virtually adopted
as 9 whole The islands are to be
governed by a native King and vice
King. elected by the Samoans.
These two officials, together with the
chiefs OF the Samoan families or
clans. viii compose an upper house
Of the native Legislature. The
treaty guarantees the restoration of
the status quo ante and the rehabih-
tatiOn Of AIaEetoa as King Samoa.
4 separate COaling station Is aIlOt-
ted 10 each power in which ships Of
war shall be at liberty to enter, TO
anchor and 10 remain there TO take
IL supplies and to repair, and each
Government shall be at liberty to
make there, at its own pleasure. all |
such contrivances or arrangements |
Is may be useful for ships Of war
and their officers and crews. 1t l. !
agreed that each power may erect /
buildings on the shores Of the said /
harbors for storing coal or any /
other supplies for ships Of war.
The English commissioner left for |
London TO submit the draft Of the .
treaty to his Government personally. |
He expressed himself as thoroughly /
satisfied During the latter part Of /
the discussion Eugland's influence
was steadfastIy thrown on the side
Of the United States.
4 synopsis Of the articles comPos-
ing the treaty, called by Mr. Phelps
20 the Secretary Of State, shows that
the American Commissioners have
secured all that the State Depart
partment Of the Government has
been cOutendiDg for, all that Score
tary Bayard demanded at the confer
e1ca held in Washington two years
ago. and all that Secretary Blaine
instructed his commissioners, Messrs
Phelps. kassou and Bates, to insist
upon.
The most delicate question the
members OF the commission were
called upon to consider was in con
uecti0n with the damages which Bis
uarck declared the German Govern
meut would exact Of the SsmOans
for the losses alleged to have been |
sustained by German subjects at the
hands Of natives. The policy Of the
United States was made clearly ap-
parent.
While the commissioners were not
prepared 10 resist IN toto the de-
uands that Germany may make
upon the Sau0ans, yet an emphatic /
protest was ordered TO be entered |
against any attempt upon the part
Of Germany to levy such indemnity
upon the Impoverished natives as
shall. IN effect, give the Imperial
Government practical mortgage
upon the Islands, thus enabling
Germany 70 accomplish by this
means that which she has thus far
failed to do
The subject Of the formation Of q
native government for the Samoan
Islands was Cauvasssd at some length /
before the commissioners left Wash /
iugton. Their instructions on this
point did not bind them 10 the pro-
position submitted by Bayard, upon
which the last Conference split.
Bayard's scheme Of government
provided for the election OF King
and vic=king. and Z council TO be
composed Of native chiefs elected for
life by the Inhabitants, There was
10 be { minority. so to speak, CON-
posed Of five members, the King and
Tics-king. both Of whom should be
native Sam0ans, and three Ministers,
one to be nominated BY each Of the
three treaty powers
The scheme provided also for E
legislature OF two houses, the upper
house to be known as the Taimua
and the lower house q the Fsipule
The upper house was TO consist Of
King. Uce-hing, three Ministers re-
presenting the three treaty powers,
and chiefs elected for life by the
people Il VIII thus be seen that
plan involved z preponder-