The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-04-06
JOINT HIGH COMMISSION.
ihey VIII he Appointed by the Three
Powers Interested to Settle the
Troubles In Samoa.

commission to settle the entire Samoa
trouble has been practically agre,
upon by the United States. British ar
I. German governments Lord Salisbury
absence from London alone della,
formal acceptance by Great Britai,
e though in his absence Sir Thomas Sa,
derson and Mr.. Villiers, VIII
are understood to be sp,
cially familiar with the Sa
moan question. have approved tn
. plan for commission. The Unite
States has informally expressed its an
proval, and the formal acceptance. il !
learned from the highest quarter. will
follow speedily. AS the proposition
emanates with Germany her approval
OF course is assured. This high com
MISSION 1T is felt, affords pacific so
luton to the whole trouble at the mo-
inent when Samoan affairs began tc
LOOK the most threatening
The new plan has been fully gone
over by Secretary Hay and the British
and German ambassadors here and it's
essential details worked out. Each
nation IS to be represented by one
member on the commission. 1t is to
have practically unlimited AUTHORITY
without the necessity of referring its
decisions back 10 the several govern
mentS for approval. 1t is felt that bv
conferrlng such complete and final
authority on the high commission the
danger will be obviated of any further
deadlocks and delays. Still another
important provision under considera.
ton is that King Oscar of Norway
and Sweden, shall be the umpire in
case the three high commissioners
should fail to reach a determination. I
The plan of inviting King Oscar TO
referee disagreement meets
the approval of the British |
and German authorities and will
doubtless be approved by the United
States as a means of insuring fnalitv
OF decision, though it is not known
Just how far this has been considered
by the Warrington authorities.
King Oscarw agreed upon between
the United States and Great Britain \,
hnal arbitrator in connection with
me proposed Anglo-American arbitra-
ION treaty, as well as in the Vene-
.uela matter He is also mentioned
n the treaty OF Berlin as the :
me to name chief justice of Samoa q
case the three signatory powers fail
agree on a chief justice. 1t was this {
hat led to the suggestion of his name
t the present time 20 act as final arbi- d,
'ator. The expectation is that the >
things of the commission will h
IN Samoa where, for the time o
eng they will have complete au- h
lorlty over the whole range OF h
lmoan affairs, so far as the high COM 6,
ission may think fit to act in order 70 :,
lily restore order, and establish af- r.
-lrs on stable basis. 1t will require "
treaty TO bring the commission into 81
.istence, as the acceptances of the ~
nited States and Great Britain will ar
mplete the agreement. IN
IL is understood that the men select IN
for the mission will be of high A,
'ndinS so as to give added weight th
d dignity to their findings, such for no
stance. as the consul general of Ger on
my, whose jurisdiction covers the Ia,
ole range of Pacific affairs lie is a is
n of complete information on Sa. flo
q" anu other racine island subjects, de.
well as man of political to
uence. The United States =
British commissioners. it is ex,
ierStood' would be drawn from the lie,
lie high rank with a view, however. ne;
heir information on international FIJI
tiers of this character rather than Ma
ir political standing. the
showing that the acute phase Of me,
Samoan question is past. Baron con
" ~" ''Nl HOSIS' HTSJ secretary tina
ermany' left here Friday night for nea
York, whence he sails on the 9th the
London and Berlin. lie has been alta
most active factor throughout ann
Samoan controversy, having made tact
question a special study and low,
being able to render the ambassa- Am,
material assistance. His influence and
times has been toward maintain reoc
he friendly relations between the Stat
countries and overcoming the next
IS of irritation. His trip to Lon pres
and Berlin has no significance alon
ever in connection with Samoan this
IS, but is entirely personal after be b.
ravity of the affair had passed. in a
. pines
II