Morning journal and courier., 1890-01-23
News by Telegraph
GLADSTONE's OPINIONS.

1GLADSTONE'S OPINIONS,
 Turning of a Large Plan
 ing Mill In Boston.
 THE SAMOAN TREATY.
 A Full Statement Concerning the Basla fSetslemeRt-COunt Bismarck Com. pltmented for Ills Efficient Aid. WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-The Senate today in secret session resolved to make public the samoan treaty negotiated in Berlin last spring, which has already been published, and the protocols showing the result of each days meeting of the commissioners. In trans- naitting the treaty to the Senate on January 6 the President says:
 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 Sa- moan Islands.
 Secretary Blaine's letter to the President is very long. He begins by recitin0 the fact that in confidential communication to the Senate on February 27 last President Cleve- land gave reasons why the appointment of the treaty commissioners should be left to the incoming administration. The secretary then speaks of the instructions given to the commissioners, saying they were told that the United States desired speedy and arni- cable settlement of the Samoan questions, that it maintained its full equality of right in the disposition of these questions, but was influenced as much by an anxious desire to secure to the people of Samoa the conditions of healthy, prosperous and civilized life, and was bound to protect the interests of its own citizens, and that the President hoped and believed that the result of consultation would be to prove that it was not the intent of any of the three governments to aubordi- nate the rights of the Samoans to the exigen- cies of grasping commerce or to tho politi- cal ambition of territorial extension on the part of any of the treaty powers. The com. mtssioners were also instructed that the con- ference was to be regarded as the continua- tion of the efforts already made and not as the initiation of 8 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 commissioners were instructed fell under i've heads.
 First-They were directed to ask the re- storation of the status quo in order to re. move the disturbance caused by the forcible intervention of Germany and the deporta. tion of Malietoa. This was not to be an ul- timatun, however, which would close the conference
 Second-The organization of stable poy- ernmental system for the islands whereby native independence and autonomy should be preserved free from the control or pre- donderence of any foreign government.
 Third-The adjustment of land claims.
 Fourth-The prohibition of the sale of firearms and alcoholic liquors.
 Fifth-The question of municipal ad. ministration of Apia as foreign settlement under due reservation of extra-territorial rights.
 The secretary says: "The protocols of the several sessions, herewith submitted, show tho discussion which took place on each of these important heads and indicate the suc. csssive stages, by which the views of tho three govsrnmsnts came into harmony. The result is, In the main, entirely in accord with the instructions under which the American plenipotentiaries acted. It is proper to observe that the matters in respect of which an agreement seemed most difficult were the restoration of the status quo, the formation of a stable government without the preponderance of influence on the part of any kind of the treaty powers and tho rais- ing of revenue for the maintenance of that government.
 As to the first of these points, the chief obstacle to an unqualified renewal of the status which existed whom the conferences of Washington were held, was found in the re- luctance of Germany to admit such situa- tion ns would appear to leave Mataafa, against whom she had declared war, eligible for the free choice of the natives as king, I, is con- fdently believed that the final accord removes these difficulties, and the Samoaps themsslyes in the exercise of the freedom which they are to continue to enjoy, appear to have effected practical solution of the matter.
 On the second point, the danger of prspon- derating influences on the part of any of tho three powers, is obviated by taking tho chief foreign advisor and judge from neutral nation. The revenue question has been ad- justed with due regard to the limited re- sources of the natives and the obligation of the three powers to share in the burden which by force of circumstances 1t has been necessary to impose in protection of their common interests and for the main tenance of peace and order.
 In conclusion the secretary expressss the hope that the act may be conductive to the good government of Samoa under native autonomy and 10 the lasting settlement of the vexed questions which have aRitated the three powers in their complex relations to these islands.
 The enclosures begin with the general act signed at Berlin, June IA, 1889, in regard to the neutrality and the autonomaus govern ment of the Samoan Islands and providing for the equal rights therein of the three gov- ernments and their subjects. Then follow the protocols of the conference from April % until June IA. These show step by step how ktrA days proceedings were devoted to the quee. tions of land titles. the establishment of a Supreme court, the municipal government of Apia and taxation and revenue of Samoa. In the fifty days' session, while the form of government wss under consideration, Count Bismarck, while accepting the principal of the election of the king, said that he was bound to make one exception in the person of Mataafa, on account of the outrages committed by his people on dead and wounded Germans lying dead and wounded on tho field of ac- tion. The British representative considered the exception ss fair and said that peaceful election was not then possible and that the only solution of the difficulty was tho. accept ance of the American suggestion for s re- storation of the status quo and the rSiDl,sate- ment of Malisto a
 Count Bismarck accepted the suggestion as sensible and Mir. Kasson suggested that 1t bo referred to the committee on revision. The protocols close with an expression of tho esteem entertained by the British and Amer ican commissioners for Count Bismarck who rendered efficient service as presiding officer with fairness and impartiality.
 Bids. for Naval Vessels. WAsHINaToN, Jan. 22-Btds were opened at the navy department at noon to day for the construction of thres new vessels for the navy, two 1000 ton gunbosts and an 800 ton practice boat for the naval acadamy. The