The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-08-31
HAD TO RETURN.
The Land Commissioner on His Way
to Samoa to Settle Disputes.


w. L. Chambers, the United
States hand Commissioners in
Samoa, was a passenger on the
Alameda. He Is on his way to
Apia to settle some lard disputes.
The San Francisco Chronicle, in
speaking of his mission, says;
He was sent to Samoa TO settle with
the native Government of the islands
aud the represe natives OF the English
and German Governments the titles
to lands and harbOrs claimed by the
United States rs Government and
the citizens of this country who have
settled there. This duty he performed
to the satisfaction of all concerned,
securing to Uncle Sam the PangO
Pango harbor and to the American
residents the acres they had pur-
chased. This done, he left for home,
leaving England and Germany TO set
tie their differences As best they could.
No sooner had Mr.. Chambers arrived
here than Secretary OF State Gresham
sent for him, and said thai England
and Germany were unable 10 agree as
TO the rights of each country on the
sentative of the United States 10 re-
turn and help them out. In cOnse-
quence, Mr.. Chambers goes back to
Samoa.
England and Germany, however,
did not desire to see the United States
step aside so soon, as Com missioner
Chambers explained last night. They
thought from the indications that the
United States, or at least the present
Administration, wished to step aside
and practically let Samoa alone. The
latter was true, so Mr.. Chambers
saws, for it was the belief of Mr..
Gresham that through ex-COusul Sc
wall and Secretary of State Blaine
there had been too much jingOlsm
about our great interest in PangO
PangO and Samoa generally.
However, America couldn't well let
90, even though our land claims were
adjusted. The reason Of it Is, Mr..
Chambers says, that England and
Germany are very Jealous of each
other They don't know just where
the United States stands-that Is,
which it would be willing to favor, II
either, but any rate they want this
country to act as a sort OF arbitrator.
Our Government therefore consent
ed 10 an extension of 3 consideration
of the claims, in which Germany and
England alone are practically inter-
ested, aud Mr.. Cham bers Is going
back. He hopes TO have everything
wound up and be back here by Jauu-
airy Ist.
SsThere were in round numbers
when I went out there 8, 800 cases to
adjust" said Commissioned Cham
bers. ''Of these, probably 500 were
American. We disposed Of all the
claims but 81, which yet remain.
The land is good and rich down
there, and will grow anything that
can be produced in q tropical coUn-
try said he, ''bu5 markets are so far
away that freights consume the pro-
fits. Attention is being paid 10 spices,
ginger, indigo and other things hIther-
to grown in CeyIon and other parts OF
India One German family has
planted out over 1900 acres of India
rubber trees. We import S9.OOO,OOO
worth Of these products a year from
Singapore, and only sell Sl,0OO,OUo
worth Of our goods there. In time we
may get some Of these things from
Samoa.
'But the islands ara 5000 miles
away, and We have less interests
there than any other nation. Even
the French, who are far more nUuer-
Gus there than the Americans, and
who have much heavier interests, are
not represented in the tripartite gov
m ant -