The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-04
APPOINTMENT OF
COMMISSIONER
To Represent the United States In Sa-
moan Settlement.
RIGHT ONE is HARD TO FIND
He Lust Be Thoroughly Familiar With
the Situation.
EXTENT OF ARBITRATOR'S POWER
Is q Question Which is Puzzling the
Diplomats to No Small Degree
England's Consent to the
Plan Is Withheld.
EXTENT OF ARBITRAToR'S POWER

Washington, April 3.--The president and
Secretary Hay have been giving considera-
ton to the selection of the United States
representative of the Samoan committee.
He will not be member of either the sem
ate or house of representatives, according
to present lights. 1t is probable the effect
will be to find some person thoroughly IA
miliar with the issue likely to be presented
in the settlement of this Samoan dispute.
The question Is a complex one and hav-
ing generally dropped out of public notice
during the last ten years the number of
persons of the official class who are well
posted upon 1t is extremely limited. 1t Is
regarded as essential by the state depart
ment that the commission be appointed at
the earliest possible moment. In the alb
sence of an acceptance by Great Britain
of the commissions plan 1t has not been
possible to proceed to outline the instruc-
tions to be given to the commission 1t
does not follow by any means that because
the commission is appointed it is at once to
overthrow the treaty of Berlin under the
terms of which the three governments have
for ten years administered the affairs of
Samoa,
The Treaty May Stand
On the contrary, 1t is entirely possible
that the commission will be able to adjust
conditions at Apia and elsewhere in the
Samoan group to the terms of that treaty
and it Is conceived here that all needful re-
forms there and placing them on basis
that will insure a tranquil and satisfactory
administration of affairs, may be secured
through the adoption of some additional
I'll d. not
affecting the general principle of the tri-
partite control.
Many cable dispatches have been passing
between Washington and London In regard
to tbs. Samoan settlement The main point
is on determining exactly the extent OF au-
thority which the high commission Is to
possess. Lord Salisbury desiring all un-
certain points first cleared up and an exact
definition of what the commission is to do
before committing Great Britain. The
British government Is ready as the
United States or Germany to accept the
general principle of the commissioners, but
it wants to know in advance as to the pow
er of the commission.
England VIII Probably Agree
The Indications are that the British au-
thorities will give their adherence to the
agreement within u day or two, but 1t Is
stated there Is still a chance, though a
very slight one, that the agreement may
not be concluded.
The present are concentrated on three
main points, viz:
First-Is the commission to report, or In
It TO have executive authority TO admins
ter as web as to negotiate, and If SO what
Is the extent of it's executive power? Sec
ond, Will the action of the commission be
determined by majority, or will unani-
nous action be required? Third, II a ma
jority determination is arranged, what safe
guards are to be provided to insure unsni
nous execution? This last point-as be
tween majority OF unanimous action-is a
vexing one and Is the same ono which has
arisen as between tie consular officials In
Samoa, and 1t Is evident that Lord Sails
bury hesitates to assent to any agreement
which may renew this controversy An
agreement upon King Oscar as final arti-
traitor would obviate a deadlock, but this,
while proposed uno)iicially during the re-
cent discussions has not been assented to
officially, so that attention is still centered
on the issue between majority or unani-
nous rule.