The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-05-05
THE SAMOAN CONFERENCE
THE COMMITTEE PREPARES THE
DRAFT OF A PROPOSAL
To Constitute a Court to Decide Ques-
lions of Land Tenure in Samoa-The
English Commissioners in sympathy
With the Americans.

copyright 1889, by the New York Associated Prcssl
BERLIN, May A committee OF the Sa-
moan Conference hes prepared the draft OF
a proposal to constitute a court to decide
questions of land tedure in Samoa, The
court is to consist of a representative OF each
Of the interested powers and two Samoese.
Complications connected with existing ten
ures threaten to impede progress until the
committee relegates the settlement of the
questions TO be proposed to the court.
Messrs. scwell and Brandeis have
been present daily at the sittings.
Mr.. sewcll proved the untenable
character of a number of German land
claims and further showed that the extent
Of land claimed by foreigners as bought or
coded was in excess of the area of the
islands. Mr. Brandeis gave evidence on the
validity of German land titles, and said he
desired TO be heard on the losses OF German
planters. The committee declined TO con-
slider such losses as involving q question
of indemnity. The English and Ameri-
can delegates express satisfaction at the
progress so far made, and all sides are hope
full that the convention will be concluded
early in June. The attitude OF the English
delegates will assist in the solution of the
question. Before the conference II was sus-
pected that the entente between Berlin and
London would tend TO throw the balance
against the American policy but develop
ments since the opening Of the conference
warrant the belief that the English delegates
---1idvb been instructed TO join with the Amer
lean representatives in opposing German
pretensions to special rights.
The report that Messrs Sewall, Parker and
Buckingham are not recognized officially
and are socially ignored are untrue. On tho
contrary they are well received everywhere
The banquet TO be given by the American
commission at the kaiserhof Hotel on
Wednesday will be a brilliant affair. There
will be present besides all the members OF
the conference, the full diplomatic corps OF
all countries having representatives at
Berlin.
The report Of DIR. Knappc ex German
Consul at Apia. was issued today. II il q
lame defense OF his own conduct. In il DR.
knnppo charges the adherents Of Mataafi
with miding the German planters and de
scrbes his efforts to induce the insurgents
10 abandon their positions which encroachCt
upon the plantations. lie says the disor
ders In Samoa were partly due 20 American
Indictment. The general tenor OF the re
port and It's publication ut the present June
Bismarck 20 persist In his indemnity de
mands. An appendix 20 the report give
the American Consuls cdict prohibiting ia,
supplying OF spirits TO sailors DR.. Knapp
complains that toy flags and handkcrchicis
on which are imprinted the American color
and the portrait Of the President Of III,
United States, have been hoisicd promis
cuously over native houses since the out
break OF the civil war In Samoa
lie also says that American aud Brit
ish flags were hoistcd on plots Of lam
pledged by the rebels" in lieu OF cash pay
mcnt for arms aud ammunition. The com
mander OF the British cruiser az Apa, h
says, declined TO support claims 10 land thu
pledged.
The Samoan conference sat to day from
until 500 o'clock. Tho land report was ia
subject under consideration.
Mr.. Pcndlcton, the retiring United STATE
Minister, and his daughters, will leave BET
lin on Monday.