The morning news., 1899-04-05
SALISBURY GIVES ASSENT.
AGREES TO COMMISSION TO SET
TIE SAMOAN MIDDLE.

NO Difficulty Anticipated i'm Arrang-
ing the Details of the Commission.
No Selection of an American Rep
resentRtiVe Yet Made-May he No
Radical Changes in the Treaty.
SOIf Says the Prevailing Feeling Is
Satisfactory.
Washington, April 4.-Lord Salisbury has
accepted the plan proposed by Germany
for the settlement of the Samoan trouble
by the appointment of . tripartite com
mission.
The acceptance Is Of the broad principle
only, and the details of the arrangement
are yet TO be agreed upon.
AS the United States has already accept
ed the general proposition, there Is no
longer doubt as to the organization OF the
commission.
1t is not believed here that there will be
any difficulty In arranging the details of
the commission plan for the settlement OF
the Samoan trouble arising from reluc-
tance on the part of the British govern
ment to throw aside the Berlin treaty. The
state department does not expect that 1t
will be necessary to go far outside of the
lines of that convention to secure a salts
factory adjustment Of the present difficult
ties.
As there appears to be an apprehension
that the proposed commission may not
be limited in its functions sufficiently 10
meet the British ideas, il may be said that
the plan in contemplation safeguards all
essential points.
1t is proposed that the commission shall
visit the Islands, make a careful inquiry
into existing conditions and then apply
such remedial measures as may seem to be
necessary to insure tranquility. 1t will be
distinctly understood that whatever the
commission does in that line will be purely
temporary In character, and subject to the
approval of the three governments. parties
to the Berlin treaty.
May BE Changes in Treaty.
Then the commission will be expected to
frame a scheme for submission to and ap-
proval by each of the three Powers for
the future government of the islands. in
voving perhaps some more or less radl-
cal changes In the original Berlin treaty
Neither of the three governments, there
fore, chances the loss of any substantial
interest in the Samoan group by accept
ing this commission plan, and this Is
probably the explanation OF the announc-
ed acceptance by the British government
of the principle of the commission plan.
The President has not yet made Sc
lection of the commissioner who shall rep
resent the United States government, but
a decision is expected very soon. He
has before him several names of persons
who rank high as publicists or as experts
In international practice. Prominent
among the latter is Thomas w. Cridier,
the present third assistant secretary OF
state, who has been suggested principally
because of his thorough familiarity with
the subject, having made a study of sa-
moan affairs from the date of the Berlin
meeting, ten years ago.
DIR. Wilhelm Solf, the newly appointed
president of the municipal council of
Apia, had busy day to-day, comforting
with officials, government and diplomatic
and taking the preliminary steps In the
rapprochement of the three governments
concerning the islands.
DIR. SOIf on the situation.
During to-day a representative of the
Associated Press saw Dr. Solf and talked
with him on current Samoan affairs.
Il am glad TO observe the most salts
factory feeling prevailing In Washing
ton" said DR.. Solf "and l am confident
the German and American authorities
would have little or no difficulty in arriv-
ing at a most harmonious understanding
on Samoa.
So far as 1 am concerned my duties
are not of political character, and INV
instructions, received before leaving Ber-
lin, are, in effect. 10 use every
endeavor to promote good feeling
between the three powers and TO avoid in
every way possible cause for disagree
ment. Naturally. am deslrous of reallz-
ing that high aim and of assisting in the
quiet and orderly administration of sa-
moa."
DR.. Solf was asked as to his visit TO
London en- route here, and the general feel
ing entertained in British official circles
He said he had met Mr.. Joseph Chamber
fain, secretary of state for colonial affairs
and Mr.. Vllliers, under secretary of state
whose special province is Samoa. Their
expressions were most friendly, and a GEN
eral sentiment was evinced to have an end
TO the perpexing differences over Samoa.