, 1890-01-23
THE SAMOAN TREATY.
The Senate Resolvesto Make
1t Public.
SECRETARY BLAINE'S LETTER
His Instructions to the Commis-
sioners Given in an Accom-
panying Document.

WAsmiNGroS, Jan. eth, senate to-
day, In secret session, resolved to make
public the Samoan treaty negotiated in
Berlin last spring.
Secretary Blainc's letter to the presi.
dent, accompanying the treay, is very
long. He speaks of the Instructions
given to the commissioners, aging that
they were told that the Uuted States
desired q speedy and amicible settle
ment of the questions at isNe, that II
maintained its full equality of right in
the disposition of these auctions, but
was influenced us much by tie anxious
desire to secure to the peoph OF Samoa
the conditions of a healthy, prosperous
and civilized life, md was
bound TO protect the interests of its own
citizens, and that the president hoped
and believed that the result II the con-
sultation would be to prove hat II was
not the wish Of any one of th, three gov.
ernments to subordinate tn, rights OF
/ the Samoaus To the cNigenciei oil grasp
ing commerce. or the political ambition
/ of terri torial extension on tle rart OF
any Of the treaty powers. The COM
missioners were also instructed that the
conference was TO b. regaded as the
] continuation OF tuc blu NblltItllNt bll
another basis, inasmuCn as The United
States could not admit tha the condi-
tious been changed bv tny subse-
uucnt occurrence in the South Pacific.
The subjects as to which te commits
sioners were instructed are under i've
heads;
| First-Thcy we're directed to ask the
restoration of the status quo, in order to
remove the disturbance caused by the
. Lon. az "A
/ the deportation of NalietOa This was
not to be- however, an ultimItum which
would lose the conference.
/ ScCond-lhe rganilatiOT- OF n stable
governmental system for the Islands,
whereby tine native Independence and
autonomy should be- preserved, free
from control or the prepundtrsting in-
tiucnce OF any foreign government.
Ihird-Ihe adjustment of the land
claims,
Fourth-Thc prohibition ofthe sale OF
firearms and alcoholic liquors,
Fifth-Thc question OF thqmunioipal
administration OF Apia.
The secretary says Protocols of the
several sessions herewith submitted
show the discussion which todk place on
each of these important head, and indi-
cato the successive stages bywhich the
views Of the three governments thereon
the main, entirely IN accord with the
instructions under which the
| American pienipotentiaries acted.
/ II IL proper to observe
hat the matters, in respect TO which
= grcement seemed most diiidIlt, were
the restoration of the status Ip, the for
nation of stable government without
q prcponderanc, of influence on the part
of any OF the treaty powers, and the
raising OF revenues for the mdin ntenanco
OF that government.
"As to the hrst of these Tpints, the
! chief obstacle to the Unqualified re-
/ newai of the status was ioundin the re-
luctance Of Germany TO admit such a
situation as would appear to leave
Matdafa, against whom Sic lad
declared war, eligible for The free
choice of the natives " king.
II is confidently believed that the final
accord removes these difficulties and
that the -amoans them selves, b. the tx.
ercise of he freedom which they are Ia
continue TO enjoy appear to haze ELECTED
the practical solution Of the nttter,
"ln the second point, the Hanger oi
preponderating influence on ttn part oi
any OF the three powers is ObTiatCd by
taking the chief foreign adtiser and
Judge from neutral nation.
THE revenue question has been ad.
justod with due regard 10 the limited re.
sources of the natives, and the obliga.
tion of the three powers TO share in the
burden which, by the force OF circum.
stances, ii has been necessary tC
impose in protection Of their common
interests, and Tor the maintenance o
peace and order"
In conclusion the secretary eSpressc,
the hope that the act may be- conducive
TO good government in Samoa under q
native autonomy, and to the lastinl
settlement of the questions which have
agitated the three powers In their com
pleX relations to these islands.