The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1889-06-11
THE SAMOAN CONFERENCE.
Completes Its Work on the Plans out
The Text of the Treaty.

gives the salient features of the
Samoan treaty. The leading clause
in the treaty insures the absolute
autonomy of the Samoan islands,
guaranteeing TO the natives not only
a predominating influence in every
governmental body, but restricting
the treaty powers from representa-
ton in the Samoan council or
ministry.
Secretary Bayard favored such a
representation. The treaty further
provides for a sort of advisory /
council to consult with tbs J.
1.trru and rents COlleCIeu' nat1va
i .aiIla Whenever necessary. In view
of the large commercial interests of
the United States and Germany,
each of these countries will be al
lowed a full 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.
A land court or commission IS pro
vided by the treaty, whose business
it will 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 to the ownership of land both by
foreigners and natives Of the islands.
Of hn
| of the islands are provided for, and
| in this feature Secretary Bayard' 5
proposition to the first Samoan Con
ference has been virtually adopted
as a 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, will compose an upper house
| of the native Legislature. The
treaty guarantees the restoration OF
the status quo ante and the rehablIl,
tation of Mahetoa as King of Samoa.
A separate coaling station IS alIOt-
ted to each power In which ships Oh
war shall be at liberty to enter, to
anchor and to remain there to take
in supplies and to repair, and each
Government shall be at liberty to
make there, at its own pleasure, all
such cOntrivances or arrangements
{ as may be useful for ships OF wal
and their officers and crews. 1t Is
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 fol
London to submit the draft OF the
= treaty to his Government personally
He expressed himself as thoroughly
-. satisfied. During the latter part 0.
) the discussion England's influence
3 was steadfastly thrown on the side
3 Of the United States.
!, A synopsis of the articles cOmpos
;. ing the treaty, called by Mr.. Phelp
= to the Secretary of State, shows tina
t the American Commissioners have
$ secured all that the State Depart
r partment of the Government ha
] been contending for, all that Secre
q tary Bayard demanded at the confer
: ence held in Washington two year
2, ago, and all that Secretary Blain
instructed his commissioners essrs
4 Phelps, Kasson and Bates, to insis
|. upon.
!, The most delicate question tn
!, members of the commission wer
t called upon to consider was in cor
!. pection with the damages which Bis
J. marck declared the German Cover
# ment would exact of the Samoan
for the losses alleged to have bee
, sustained by German subjects at th
h hands of natives. The policy OF tn
q United States was made clearly al
parent.
is While the commissioners were nc
ia prepared to resist in toto the d'
~ mands that Germany may max
upon the Samoans, yet an emphati
n protest was ordered to be entere
ID against any attempt upon the pa
* of Germany to levy such indemnlt
upon the impoverished natives I
J. shall, in effect, give the Imperl
le Government a practical mOrtgae
Is upon the islands, thus enablln
Germany to accomplish by tn
ar means that which she has thus Il
ly failed to do.
IS The subject of the formation Of
n native government for the Samoa
islands was canvassed at some Iengt
of before the commissioners left Was
DO ington. Their instructions on tn
e, point did not bind them to the pr
As. position submitted by Bayard, upC
ed which the last Conference split.
Bayard's scheme of governme
ed provided for the election of Xii
and vice-King, and council to
re composed of native chiefs elected t
Ia, life by the inhabitants, There W
Is. to be a minority, so to speak, COZ
as posed of five members, the King al
Sc vice King, both of whom should
ID. native Samoans, and three Minister
ut one to be nominated by each OF Il
RS. three treaty powers.
ut The scheme provided also for
in legislature of two houses, the upp
1T house to be known as the Ialml
ne and the lower house as the Faipul
he The upper house was to consist OF
King, vice King, three Ministers !
ng presenting the three treaty powel
ed and chiefs elected for life by t
es. people. 1t will thus be seen til
en- Bayard's plan involved prepondt
en- ance of native influence. 10 IL
I'VE the German Minister objected.
We Another important feature IN I
10