New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-23
THE NEW SAMOAN TREATY.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CONFERENCE AND
INSTRUCTIONS TO COMMISSIONERS.
THE SENATE MAKING PUBLIC THE TREATY AND


DOCUMENTS IN RELATION THERETO.
Washington, JAM 22.-The Senate to-day. in
secret session, resolved to make public the Samoan
treaty negotiated in Berlin last spring, and the
protocols showing the result Of each days meet
ing of the Commissioners. In transmitting the
treaty to the Senate, on January 6, the President
says: IL am pleased TO fnd in this General
Act. an honorable, just and equal set Element Of
the questions which have arisen during the last
few years between the three Powers having
treaty relations with and rights in the Samoan
Islands "
Secretary Blane's letter to the President 10
long. lie begins by rcciting the fact that, in
a confidential communication to the Senate on
February - last, President Cleveland gave reasons
why the appointment of the Treaty Commission
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 AMIGA
bic settlement of the Samoan question; that it
maintained its full equality of right in the dis
position Of these questions, but influenced as
much by anxious desire to secure TO the peo-
pie of Samoa the conditions of healthy pros
porous and civilized life, and bound to pro-
tcct the interests of its own citizens, and that
the President hoped and believed that the result
not the wish of any of the three Governments
to subordinate the rights of the Samoans 10 the
exigcncies of grasping commerce, or 10 the po-
litical ambition of territorial extension on the
part of any of the treaty Powers. The Commits
sioners were also instructed that the Conference
to be regarded as the continuation of the
efforts already made, and not as the initiation OF
a new conference on another basis. inasmuch as
the United States could not admit the conditions
to have been changed by ans subsequent occur
rences in the South Pacific.
The subjects as to which the Commissioners
were instructed fell under five heads First they
were asked to secure the restoration of the status
quo, i'm order to remove the disturbance caused
by the forcbe intervention Of Germany and the
deportation of Malictoa. This was to be
an ultimatum, however, which would close the
Conference Secondly, the organization of
stable governmental system for the islands, whereby
native independence and autonomy should be pre-
served, free from the control or prcponderatins
influence of any foreign Government. Thirdly,
the adjustment of land claims. Fourthly, the
prohibition of the sale of firearms and alcoholic
liquors Filthy, the question of municipal
administration of Apia as a foreign settlement,
under due reservation of eXtra-territorial rights.
The Secretary continues.
The protocols several sessions, herewith SUBJ
mitted discussion which took place on each OF
important heads and indicate the successive stages
by which views OF the three Governments thereon
came into harmony. The result is in thu main, entirely
in accord with under which the American
pcnpotcntares acted 1t is proper to observe that ina
matters respect Of which an agreement seemed most
dncu were the OF the status the for
nation stable Government, without the preponderance
OF influence the part Of any OF the treaty Powers and
the raising for the maintenance OF that Cow
ernment.
/ those he
unoualiAcd renewal which existed when the
conferences Of Washington were held was found In tho
reluctance Of Germany admit such situation as would
appear TO Mataafa. against whom she had declared
var eligible for the free choice OF the natives
asking. 1t is confidently believed that the
| nnal accord removes these difficulties, and
| the samoans themselves in the exercise Of
the n,edom which they are to continue to ENJOY appear
~ hay. effected a practical solution Of the matter On thu
second point danger of peponderatlng influence on
the part Of any Of the three Powers is obyiatsd by
taking the chief foreign adviser and Judge from neutral
Nation. The question has been adjusted Win
due regard limited resources Of the natives and
the obligation the three Powers to share in the bur-
don which by force it has been neces.
,ary to impose protection Of their common interests
/ and for the maintenance Of peace ana ofuer
Ia conclusion, the Secretary expresses the hope
that the act may he conducive To the goOd govern
| mont of Samoa under native autonomy and to
/ the lasting settlement of the NeAed questions
| which have agtated the three powers In their
| compleA relations 10 these islands.
Tho enclosures begin WIN the EiDl
signed at Berlin, June II, 1889, In regard To the
neutrality and the autonomous government ot
! the samoan Islands. and providing LOT the eluu
rioh,s therein of the three Governments ana their
| subjects Then follow the protocols OF the con-
| terence from April - until June Il. lhese
| show step by step. how the treaty was con-
! strur,cd The first four days proceedings were
devoted to the question of land titles, the eSiao;
! Iisbment Of \ Supreme Court, the municipal
! goycrumcnt of Apia and taxation and revenue OF
Samoa. L1
In the Gnh days session., while
the form of government was under CONSIDERATIONS
Coun, Herbert Bismarck. while accepting the
| uri1cipc of the election of the KING Salu tn"o
| he vas bound 10 make one exception IN 'ue pr!.oI
! of Notoafa on account of the outragcs commitieu
hv Notaafa.s pcoplc on German sailors Nm,s
dead and wounded on the field OF action. Inc
British representative considered the eNcep,loh "s
/ foir and said that peaceful election was hoo
| then possible and that the only solution OF ue
difficulty was the acceptance oi 'hc .,ine W.. ~
succession for the restoration ot the status IL IL
/ o,,d tho reinstatement of Malictoa. tount her'
/ hort accented fine suggestion and Mr.. Mason suS-
/ oostcd that il hc referred 10 the O"hlhh'lcc WI
| pcvision The protocols close with an eNpressoIi
~ tLc cstcem entertained by the British ana Amer
! loan commissioners for Count llerpert pIshaach.
,rlo rendered efficient S"r'.i"" as presdllS oiioer
with fairness and Importantly
, THE CONVENTION PUBLISHED IN bhhbiN'
perlin Ian 12-Thc "Rciclsanzeger' TO-DAY puo'
fishes the convention between Germany' treat hIi'"
/ and tbe United states concerning samoan AFFAIRS
.nich was concluded In Berlin last summer III Is
/ uublshed in both the German ana English teAt'
LaWYER INDICTED By THE GRAND JURY.
Richard j. Hairc lawyer, was indicted yesterday
hr the Grand Jury and appeared before Recorder