The Portland daily press., 1890-01-23
IT is HONORABLE, JUST and EQUAL
Settlement Of the Samoan Question
by the Commission.
Result In the Main In Accord with the
American Position.
Views Of the President and the Sec
retary Of state.

public the Samoan treaty negotiated In Ber-
lin last spring, and already published, and
the protocols showing the result Of each
days meeting Of the commissioners. In
transmitting the treaty to the Senate jan
to find In this general act an honorable, just
and equal settlement Of the questions which
have arisen during the past few years be-
tween the three powers, having treaty rela-
tions with and right in the Samoan Islands" /"
Secretary Blaine's letter to the President
begins by reciting the fact that in a confideD-
tial communication to the Senate February
9th, last, President Cleveland gave the rea
sons why the appointment of treaty commits
sioners should be left to the incoming admin
istratiun. The secretary speaks OF the in
structions given the commissioners. saying
that they were told that the United States
desired speedy and amicable settlement OF
the Samoan questions. 1t maintained its full
equality and right In the disposition Of these
questions, but was Influenced as much by an
anxious desire to secure TO the people of Sa-
moa conditions "a = beatty, prosperous and
civTrlzeS LIE and was bound 70 protect the
interests Of it's own citizens. The President
hoped and believed that the result of the
consultation would prove it not the wish of
any of the three governments to sub
exis:encies Of grasping commerce
or to political ambition for territorial ex-
tension on the part of any Of the treatry
powers. The commissioners were in
structed that the conference was to be re-
garded as continuation Of the efforts al
conference on another basis, inasmuch as
the United States could not admit that the
conditions were changed by any subsequent
occurrences in the South Pacific. The COM
missioners were directed to ask the restora-
ton Of the status quo, In order to remove
the disturbance caused by the forclble in
teryention Of Germany and the deportation
OF MalietOa. This was not to be an ultima
tium, which would close the conference.
The organization of a stable governmental
system for the islands whereby native indie
pendrnce and autonomy should be preserved,
free from the control or preponderating in
the adjustment of land claims the
prohibition Of the sale of firearms and alco-
holic liquors, and the question of municipal
administration In Apia, as foreign settle
ment, under dua reservation Of extra terri
t0rial ris hts, were to be urged. The SecIe-
tary says: The protocols of the several
sessions, herewith submitted, show the dis
cussion which took place on each of these
heads, and indicate the successive stages by
which the views Of the three governmt nts
thereon came into harmony. The result. In
the main, Is entirely in accord with the In
structions under which the American pleni-
potentiaries acted. 1t is proper to observe
that the matters In respect Of which the
agreement seemed most difficult, were the
restoration Of the status quo. the formation
OF a stable government without the prepon-
derance of influence on the part Of any trea-
ty power, and the raising Of revenue for the
maintenance Of that government The chief
obstacle to the unqualified renewal of the
status which existed when the conference
of Washington was held, was found in the
relunctance Of Germany to admit such
situation as would appear to leave Mataafa,
against whom she had declared war, eligible
for the free choice of the natives as king. 1t
Is confidently believed that the final accord
removes these difficulties. as the Samoans
themselves, In the exercise of the freedom
they are to continue to enjoy, appear to have
effected practical solution of the matter.
The danger Of the preponderating influence
on the part of any one of the three powers
was obviated by taking the chief foreign
adviser and judge from neutral nation.
Inc revenue question was adjusted, with
due regard TO the limited resources Of the
natives and the obligation Of the
three powers to snare in the burden
which, by force Of circumstances, it
was necessary to impose In the pro-
lection Of their common interests and
the maintenance of peace and order"
The Secretary expresses the hope that the
act may be conducive to good government In
Samoa. under native autonomy, and to the
lasting settlement Of the vexed questions
which have agitated the three powers In
their complex relations to these islands.
The enclosures begin with the general act
signed IN Berlin, June l4th last, In regard to
the neutrality and autonomous government
Of the Samoan Islands, providing for the
equal rights therein of the three governments
and their subjects Then follow the proto-
coils of the conference fiom April 29th until
June l4th. 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
supreme couri, and municipal government
at Apia, and taxation and revenue for Sa-
moa. At the fifth days session,
while the form of government was under
consideration, Count Bismarck, while ac-
cepting the principle Of the election of king,
said he was bound to make one exception In
the person of Mataafa, on account Of out
RACES committed by his people on German
sailors, lying dead and wounded on the field
of action. The British representatives con-
sidered the exception fair, and said peace
ful election was not then possible. The only
solution of the difficulty was the acceptance
OF the American suggestion for the restora-
tion Of the status quo and the reinstatement
OF Malietoa. Count Bismarck accepted the
suggestion as sensible and Mr.. Kasson sug-
gested that 1t be referred to a committee of
revision. The protocols close with an ex-
preston OF the esteem entertained by the
British and American commissioners for
Count Bismarck, who rendered efficient SER
vice as presiding officer with fairness and
fmn nartialitv