Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-23
THE SAMOAN TREATY.
Secretary Blaine Satisfied - How the
Conclusions Were Reached.

The Senate yesterday in secret session re-
solved to make public the Samoan treaty. ne
gotiated in Berlin last spring, which has already
been published, and the protocol showing the
result Of each days meeting OF the commission
ers. In transmitting the treaty to the Senate
on January 6 the President says: Il am pleased
to find in this general act an honorable. just
and equal settlement of the questions which
have arisen during the past few years between
the three powers having treaty relations with
and rights in the Samoan islands"
THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
Secretary Blaines letter to the President is
long. The subjects as to which the commits
sioners were instructed fell under FIVE heads:
First. They were directed to ask the restora-
tion OF the status quo in order to remove the
disturbance caused by the forcible intervention
Oh Germany and the deportation of Malietoa.
ms was not to be an ultimatum, however.
which would close the conference.
Second The organization of a stable govern
mental system for the islands whereby native
independence and autonomy should be pre-
served free from the control or preponderatlnc
influence OF any foreign government
Third The adjustment OF land Claims
Fourth. The prohibition of the sale of fire
arms and alcoholic liquors.
Fifth. The question of a municipal admins
tration OF Apia a foreign settlement under
due reservation of extra territorial rights.
THE RESULT.
The Secretary says: The result is. in the
main. entirely in accord with the instructions
under which the American plenipotentiaries
acted. 1t is proper to observe that the matters
III respect OF which an agreement seemed most
difhcult were the restoration of the status quo,
the formation of a stable government without
the preponderance of influence on the part of
any OF the treaty powers and the raising of
revenue for the maintenance of that govern
ment
1T is confidently believed" writes the Sec.
Rotary, that the final accord removes these
difficulties, and the Samoans themselves in the
exercise of the freedom which they are TO con-
tinue to enjoy appear TO have effected a prac-
] tical solution of the matter"
In conclusion the Secretary expresses the
nope that the act may be conducive to the
good government of Samoa under native auton-
omy and to the lasting settlement of the
vexed questions which have agitated the three
powers In their complex relations to these
islands.
Why MATAAFA WAS EXCEPTED.
The Enclosures giving details of the proceed.
ings OF the conference show that in the fifth
days session, while the form of government
was under consideration Count Bismarck. while
accepting the principle of the election of the
king, said that he was bound to make one ex-
ception in the person of Mataafa, on account
of the outrages committed by his peo-
pie on German sailors lying dead and
wounded on the field of action. The British
representative considered the exception as fair,
and said that a peaceful election was not then
possible and that the only solution of the Diff
Guilty was the acceptance of the American sug-
gestlon for the restoration of the status QUO
and the reinstatement of Malietoa. Count
Bismarck accepted the suggestion as sensible
aud Mr.. kasson suggested that it be referred to
the committee on revision. The protocols
close with an expression of the esteem enter
tanned by the British and American commits
sloners for Count Bismarck, who rendered eiii-
cient service as presiding officer with fairness
and impartiality.