The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-06-13
Copyright by Associated Press.)

Copyright by Associated Press.)
Berlin, June 1e-The cession Of the
South Sea islands to Germany focused
attention during the week. A curious
feature was that while on receipt OF
the news, the press as well as every
body at first expressed satisfaction,
this changed radically as the week ad-
vanced and the terms of the bargain
became known.
Not only did the radical and the So
cialist press seveSTly criticise the terms
as exOrbitant and far beyond the value
Of the islands, but large portion of
the press rejecting the views of other
parties, aid the same. According to the
latest official statistics, German trade
in the islands for several years has
not exceeded 200 marks yearly and no
German exports have been sold there
for some time.
After listening to the statements Of
the minister of foreign affairs, Baron
Won Buelew inEthe reichstag, the criti-
cism became severe.
The Frankfirt Zeitung says: '"The
text of the agreement shows the Span
iards retain all the advantages of own
ership, retain full liberty for the cler-
ical orders, have a coaling station in
each group of the islands and are put,
commercially, on the same footing as
the Germans, while Spain merely cedeS
TO Germany the OnuS of the cost Of the
administration and receives an exorbi-
tant price, which probably no other
power would have paid"
- foreign office official who was en-
powered to speak for the minister of
foreign affairs, Baron Won BueleW, said
ito the correspondent here of the Asso
ciated Press that he fully expected to
see the reichstag pass the appropria-
tion of the purchase money by q large
majority, adding that the freisinniges
and socialists will be the only parties
to vote against it, though the centre
might make its approval conditional.
The bill for the appropriation will
provide for the administration OF the
new possessions and it is said the tar
iff understanding with Spain is only
of a general nature, Germany and
Spain admitting each other among the
favored nation clauses.
The news i'll the Morning Post and
other London papers to the effect that
Germany offered the United States a
cable station in the Caroline islands
confirms what the Associated Press
correspondent cabled some time ago,
but no such offer has been renewed
recently
1t is a fact we'll known to the Ger
man and American governments that
Spain, at the beginning of the war, Of
fered to sell to Germany all her pos
sessions in the far east, including the
Philippine islands. Germany then re-
piled substantially that she could not
accept the offer as Spain no longer had
the islands to give away, but adding
that Germany would agree to take all
Spain's possessions in the South sea,
which the United States left her, off
her hands. This conditional bargain
was made during the early stages OF she
war and was renewed in the autumn
at the end of hostilities. 1t has now
been ratified. Theoffer to exchange
cable stations will probably be renewed
as soon as Germany's title to the Car
oline islands is perfected.
SATISFACTORY NEWS FROM
APLA.
The foreign office officials confirm
the correspondence to the Associated
Press of the release of Herr MarQuardt
and Herr Hofnagel, the Germans at
Apia, Samoa, who were arrested in
connection with the disturbances
there.
All the official reports from Apia
lately are to the effect that things are
assuming a promising aspect and it is
confidently expected here that the COM
settlement.
THE PEACE CONGRESS.
The Hague. June 1O.-The chief dele
gates 10 the peace conference met to-
day to discuss Germanys complaints
against the secrecy imposed upon the
delegates and the consequence Of mis-
leading reports published, and it is un-
derstood that Count Munster, head of
the German delegation, was instruct
ed to propose that the protocols for
the plenary sittings of the committees
be published Immediately after they
are drawn up.
The American delegates tell the repre-
sentative here of the Associated Press
that they are still confident of adop-
:tion of some of their chief projects for
arbitration, but the preliminary dis
cussion yesterday Indicates the impos
sibiiity of maintaining them all. For
instance, it is impossible to carry the
proposal that the judges of the arbi-
tratlon tribunal be elected by the high
est court of justice of each country as
some European countries do not possess
a JUDICIAL organization permitting such
procedure. 1t is expected that the
likeliestm come will be that each
country W. be free to choose the man
ner of nominating its own judges.
The Americans propose to insist upon
a permanent tribunal if this is impos-
sible. They hope to obtain, at any rate.
the institution of a permanent COM
mission.
THE BRUSSELS CONFERENCE
SECTION.
The Brussels conference section met
today, Professor F. de Mertens of the
Russion delegation, presiding.
NJ Bfhound, one of the French dele.
gates, submitted Article II of rhe con-