The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-23
SAMOAN TREATY RIGHTS.
THE CONVENTION BETWEEN THE
POWERS MADE PUBLIC.


Instructions Given to the Comms
sioners from This Country.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23-The Senate TO
day, in secret session, resolved TO make pub
lie the Samoan treaty negotiated in Berir
last spring, which has already been pub.
lished, and the protocols showing the result
Of each days meeting Of the commission
ers. In transmitting the treaty to the
Senate on Jan. 6, the President says:
l am pleased to find in this general act ar
honoratle, Just and equal settlement of the
questions which have arisen during the past
few wears between three powers having treaty
relations with and rights in the Samoan Islands
Secretary Blaine's letter to the President
is very long. He begins by reciting the fact
that In a confident tial communication TO the
Senate on Feb. 81 last, President Cleveland
gave reasons why the appointment Of treaty
commissioners should be left to the incom.
ing administration.
THE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMMISSIONERS.
The secretary then speaks OF the instruc.
tlons given TO the commissioners saving
they were told that the United States de-
sired speedy and amicable settlement of the
Samoan question; that it maintained its full
equality OF right in the disposition of these
questions, but was influenced as mucl by
an anxious desire to secure to the people of
Samoa conditions of healthy, prosperous
and civilized life, and was bound to protect
the interests Of its own citizens, and that
the PRESIDENT hoped and bel evei that the
result or consultation would be- to
prove that 1T was not the wish of
any OF the three governments to
subordinate the rights of the Samoans to
the exigencies OF grasping commerce, or to
the political ambition of territorial exten.
sion on the part of any of the treaty
powers. The commissioners were also in
structed that the conference was to he
regarded as continuation Of the efforts
already made, and not as an initiation OF a
new conference on another basis, inasmuch
as the United States could not admit the
conditions to have been changed by any
subsequent occurrences in the South Pacific.
The subjects as to which the comm S.
sioners " ere instructed fell under five heads
l. They were directed to ask the restoration
of sdtlts oiIo in order to remove the disturbance
caused by the forcibie Intervention Of Germany
and the deportation OF Malietoa. This was not
to be an ulttmatum, however, which would close
the conference.
2. The organization Of a stable governmental
system for the islands, whereby native indie
pendence and autonomy should be preserved
free from the control or preponderating infiu-
ence OF any foreign government.
8. The adjustment Of land claims.
4. Prohibition of the sale of firearms and
alcoholic liquors.
D. The gu stion of the municipal adminstra-
ton OF Apia as foreign settlement under due
reservation OF extra territorial rights.
BLAINE's SUMMARY.
The secretary says:
The protocols OF the several sessions bere-
with submitted, show the discussion which
took place on each OF these important heads
and the views of the three governments thereon
came to harmony The result is 10 the main.
entirely in accord with the instructions under
which the American plenipotentiaries acted
1t Is proper to observe that the mattera IN
respect of which an agreement seemed most
dlf1cult were the restoration of the status gtLO
the formation OF stable government with
out preponderance of influence on the
ana the raising OF revenue for the
maintenance of that government As TO tho
first OF these points, the chief obstacle TO an
unqualified renewal Of the status which existed
when the conferences OF WASHINGTON were
being held was found IN the reluctance OF Ger
many to admit such a asituaton as would appear
to leave Mataafa, against whom she had de-
clared war, eligible for free choice of the
natives asking 1t is confidently believed that
the final accord removes these difficulties and
the Samoans themselves in the exercise OF the
freedom which they are to continue TO enjoy,
appear to have effected a practical solution OF
the matter.
AVOIDING PREPoEDERAHCE OF PowERA
On the second point the danger Of prepon.
deratinR influences on the part Of any one Of
the three powers is obvated by taking the chief
foreign adviser and judge from a neutral
nation.
The revenue question has been adjusted, with
due regard to the limited resources OF the
natives and the obligation of the three powers
to share in the burden which, by force of cir
it has been necessary to impose in
the protection OF their common interests and
fnr ~ m q tnp a mo- Of 1,.A Nr1n
la conclusion, The secretary expresses the
hope that the act may be conducive to the
good government of Samoa under native
autonomy and to a lasting settlement of
the vexed questions which has agitated the
three powe in their complex relations O
these islands.
THE ENCLOSURES.
The Enclosures begin with the general act
signel at Berlin, June IA last, in regard to
the neutrality and autonomous government
Of the Samoan islands, and providing for
equal rights therein OF the three govern
ments and their subjects Then follow the
protocols Of the conference from April 90
until June IA. These show step by step
how the treaty was constructed. The first
four days proceedings were devoted to the
question OF land titles. the establishment of
a supreme court, municipal government of
Apia, and taxation and revenues of
Samoa. In tho fifth days session,
while the form of government
was under consideration Count Bismarck.
while accepting the principle of the election
Of the king, said he was bound TO make one
exception In the person Of Mataafa on ac-
count of outrages committed by his people
IN dead and wounded German sailors living
On the field of action. The British repre-
sentative considered the exception as fair,
ind said that peaceful election was not
hen possible, and that the only solu-
ion of the difficulty was accept
lnce of the American suggestion for
he restoration Of status quo and the rein
atement Of Malieto&. Count Bismarck
accepted the suggestion as sensible, and Mr..
zass N suggested that it be referred to the
on revision. The protocols
losed with an expression of the esteem
by the British and American
for Count Bismarck, who
endered efficient service as presiding
ficer with fairness and impartiality.
PUBLISHED IN GERMANY.
BERLIN, Jan. 22.-The Reichsanzesoer to- |
ay published ths convention between
iermany, Great Britain and the United |
Itates concerning Samoan affairs, which |
vas concluded in Berlin last summer,
t Is published in both German and English.
Profit Sharing in the Mills,