Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1890-01-30
rnE sAMnAN rnEArY.

ffEbtueut-AhG LhttGE's EnuOfsc-
ment of the treaty.
WAsHINGToN, Jan. 22.-The Senate to-
day in secret session resolved to make
public the Samoan treaty negotiated in
Berlin last spring, which has already
been published, and the protocols show
inc the result Of each days meeting OF
the commissioners. In transmitting the
treaty to the Senate on January 9Th the
President says; II anu pleased to ind in
this general act m honorable, Just and
equal settlement o. the questions which
have arisen during the past few years
between the three powers having treaty
relations with and rights in the Samoan
Islandsn
Secretary Blaine's letter to the PresI.
d Mt is very lengthy. He begins by rocit
ing the fact that in confidential commu-
nication 10 the Senate, on February 27th
last, President Cleveland gave reasons
why the appointment Of the treaty com.
missioners should be left to the incoming
administration. The secretary speaks of
the Instructions given to the commission
srs, saying they were told that the United
States desired speedy and amieabie set
Element Of the Samoan question; that it
maintained its equality of right in the
disposition of the questions, but was in
hneuced Rs much by an anxious desire to
secura to the people Of Samoan the
conditions OF healthy, prosperous
and civilized life, and was bound
to protect the interests OF its own citi-
zsns, and that the President hoped and
believed that the result OF consultation
would be to prove that it was not the
nj a1 of mn ~ Ahrna ~ p ~,
subordinate the rights or the 5amoans TO
the txigencies Of q grasping commerce or
to the political ambition of territorial
extension on the part of any of tue treaty
powers. The commissioners were also
instructed that the conference was 10 bs
regarded az the continuation Of the forts
already made, and not as the initiation of
new conference On another basis, mas.
much as the United States could not
admit tho conditions to have been
changed by any subsequent occurrences
in the South Pacific.
The subjects as to which the commits.
sioners we're instructed fell under five
heads:
First. They were directed TO ask tho
restoration OF the status ono, in order to
remoye She disturbance caused by the
forcibla intervention OF Germany and
| the deportation OF MaliatoR. This was
not to be au ultimatum, however, which
would close the conference.
Second The organization OF a stable
COVE nmentRl syste i for the islands,
whereby native independence and auton-
omy should be preserved free n m the
control Or prep uderating influence of
any foreign government.
Third. The adjustment OF land claims.
Fourth. The prohibition OF the gale of
firearms and alcoholic liquors.
! Fifth. The question OF q municipal ad-
minissrstion OF AptA as a foreign settle
ment under due reservation Of extra
territorial rights.
The secretary says: The protocols of
the several sessions herewith submitted
! show the discussion which took place on
each Of the Important heads and indicate
tho successive stages by which the yisws
4 OF the three governments thereon came
4 INTO harmony. The reault is, in the
4 main, entirely i'll accord with the instruc.
lions under which the American plenipo.
tentieriss acted. II proper to unserV We
4 that the matters IN respect of which nm
4 agreement seemed most difficult we're the
restoration Of the status quo, the form =
tion Of stable government withou. the
4 prepan GRANGE OF influence on the part oil
any OF the treaty powers, and the raising
Of revenue for tine maintenance OF that
! government.
As to the first OF these points, the chief
obstacle TO an unqualified rate Of the
status which existed when the conference.
OF Washington were held was found IL
the reluctance Of Germany to admit Buct
situation Gs would appear to leave
hlRtaafa, against whom she had declar I'D
war, eligible for the free choice of the
natives asking. 1t is confidently believed
that the final accord removes these diff
calties, and the Samoans themselves IL
the exercise OF the freedom which they
ars TO continue to enjoy, appear to have
effected practical solution Of the matter
On tho second point, the danger OF
preponderating influence on the part o.
any one of the three powers is obyiated
by taking the Chief foreign adviser and
judge from nuusral nation. The revenue
question has been adjusted with due
regard 70 tho liElite1 resources OF the
natives and the obligation Ut thu thre,
powers to share In the burden which, by
torto OF circumstance, it has been nee
essary 20 impose IN protection OF theil
common interests and for the mainte
nance Of peace and order.
In conclusion the Secretary EXPRESSES
the hope that tho net may b. conducive
to the good government OF Samoa under
native autonomy aud TO the lasting settle,
nlent OF the yexed questions which have
agi,aIGd the three powers 10 their com.
ptX relations TO theAs islands. The en-.
n hafyftI
al Berlin, June l4th last in regard to the
neutrality and the autonomous govern
ment Of the Samoan Islands, and psoyid
liz for the equal rights therein OF the
three governments aud their subis9ts,
then follow the protocols of the confer.
eRce from April 18th unit! June 18th.
These show, step BY step, how the treaty
was constructed.
The first four days proceedings were
devoted TO tie questions of lind titles.
the establishment OF supreme court,
the municipal government of Apis and
taxation anu revenue of Samoa. II tie
hfth days session, while the form Of
government WAS under consideration.
Count Bismarck, willis accepting the
principle OF the election of the King, said
that he was bound to make one exception
III the person Of MGtasfa, on account OF
the outrAges committed BY his people on
dead aud wounded German sailors lying
on the field OF action.
The British representative oonsiiere
tho exception o. fair, and said that !
peaceful election was not then possible,
Eni that the only solution OF the difficulty
was tho acceptance Of the Amerissn sug
Reslioa for tue restoration OF tho atatn.
quo and the Reinstatement Of Malietoa,
Count bismarck accepted the suggestion
% henaitl AID hLr. Ksaaon suggested
that it bG referred TO the committee on