Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-15
Negotiated With Germany
and Great Britain.
AS TO SAMOAN ISLANDS
A Separate Treaty Was Drawn Up to
Cover Claims for Damages Sent In
King of Sweden and Norway Is
Named As Arbitrator.

the treaty negotiated between the United
States, Germany and Great Britain for
the adjustment of the questions between
the three governments in respect to the
Samoan islands, was made public today.
The treaty bears date at Washington,
December 2 1899, and after reciting it's
purpose to adjust amicably questions
! between the three powers in respect to
| the Samoan group and to avoid future
misunderstandings, proceeds textually
as follows:
"Article 1. The general act concluded
and signed by the aforesaid powers at
Berlin on the 14th day of June A. D.
1883. ana all previous treaties conven-
, tions and agreements relating to Samoa
are annulled.
Article IL. Germany renounces in
favor of the United States of America
all her rights and claims over and in
respect to the island of Tutuila and all
other islands of the Samoan group east
of longitude Ill degrees west of Green
Wich Great Britain in like manner re-
nounces in favor of the United States
Of America all her rights and claims
over and in respect to the island of Tu-
tuila and AL other islands of the Samoan
group east OF longitude III degrees west
OF Greenwich Reciprocally the United
states renounces in favor of Germany
all their rights and claims over and in
respect to the islands of Upolu and Sayaii
and all other islands of the Samoan
group west of longitude Ill degrees west
of Greenwich.
article III. 1t is understood and
agreed that each of the signatory DOW
ers shall continue to enjoy in respect to
their commerce and commercial vessels
in ali the islands of the Samoan group,
plivile res and conditions equal to those
enjoyed by the sovereign power, in all
ports which may be open to the COM
merce Of either of them.
Article ~. The present convention
shall h ratified as soon as possible and
shall come into force Immediately after
the exchange of ratifications.
I'm Iaith whereof, etc.
JOHN HAY,
''HOLLEBEN,
''PAUNCEFOTE"
a separate treaty was negotiated to
cover the provisions of the settlement of
claims in Samoa. 1t sets forth that the
three governments are "desrous of
erecting prompt and satisfactory set
tlement of the claims of the citizens and
subjects of their respective countries re-
siding in the Samoan islands on account
OF recent military operations conducted
there. anc have concluded a convention
for the accomplishment of this end by
arbitration.'
The king of Sweden and Norway is
made arbitrator. and he is not only to de-
terlnine the amount of claims, but is to
decide TO what extent the three govern
ments are bound to make good these
losses.
The nature of the claims to be ad-
Justed is set forth in Article ! of this
treaty as follows:
All claims put forward by American
citizens or Germans or British subjects
respectively, whether individuals or
companies. for compensation on account
of losses which they allege they have
suffered in consequence of the unwar-
ranted military action, il this be shown
to have occurred on the part of the
l'nite,l States, German or English Off
GERS, between January l last and the ar
rival Ct the Joint commission in Samoa,
shall be decided by arbitration in con-
formity with the principles of the inter-
national law or considerations of equity"
There is also a provision to the effect
that either of the three governments
named, with the consent of the others. |
previously obtained in every race, sub
nit to The king for arbitration similar
claims of persons not being natives
who are under the protection of that i
government and Who are not included in
the above e-mentioned categories.
The government provides for the ex-
change of ratifications four months from
the date of it's signing. which is the 7th /
Of November last. earlier if possible,