The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-03-01
SEPARATION OF
THE TRIDOMINIUM
Necessary Tor the Pacific Government
Of the Samoan Group.
HAS NOT STOOD THE ORDEAL
Germany Willing for The Berlin Agree
ment to be Dissolved.
THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE BY TREATY
But Unless it Is Accomplished the Ger
man Government is Determined
That No Diminution of the
Rights be Permitted.
HIS CAN ONLY BE DONE BY TREATY

Berlin, February 2S.-In the reichstag to-
day Baron Won Buelow, the mir. ster of for
eign affairs, speaking of Germany's COM
mercial relation with foreign countries,
said Germanys trade relations with South
America were satisfactory. With reference
to Cuba, the minister said the German
firm of Schneider & Fisher claimed 2,50),O00
marks, and the firm of Lobecks, their sue
cessors, claimed 100000 marks conpensa-
tion for losses during the war, while there
were other claims aggregating 5000
marks. 1t would not be easy, the minister
pointed out, to secure redress, but the Ger
man government would support the claims
as much as possible and would endeavor to
see that the Germans did not come off any
worse than others.
The foreign minister then discussed the
question of Samoa, saying by the general
act of 1889 the triple rule of Germany,
Great Britain and the United States was
established over those islands. IL the con-
dominion is wont to lead to unpleasantness
this would be still more the case with tri-
dominium.
No Lack OF Erection
Since the act came into force, he con-
tinued, there has been no lack of friction
between the representatives of the differ
ent powers, which was due to the disorerly
character of the population. AS early as
1891 a deep-rooted ferment showed itself
in Samoa, and in 1893 civil war broke out
between the followers of Malietoa and Ma
taafa, and, having the Intervention of the
nd ri tich
was deported. A fresh insurrection,
which broke out in 1884, was ended after
the German and British ships had inter-
vened. In the overthrow Of Tomazez last
year, the three consuls proposed that Ma
taafa be brought back, and Malietoa con-
Cured.
At this juncture Malietoa died, but the
three consuls decided that his death was no
impediment to the recall or Mataafa, who
returned on board a German warship to
Samoa for installment as successor to Ma
lietoa. There is an opposition party who
proclaimed Tanu, who was still m nor. a
candidate for the throne. Both parties ap-
pealed to the decision of the chief justice,
who pronounced in favor of Tanu. Open
fighting ensued resulting IN Mataafa's VIC
tory. Three consuls, the foreign minister
then asserted, recognized the fait accom-
pllu, ana provisional SoNeiHiShS "e''
formed from Mataafa's followers.
The minister of foreign affairs then said:
1.-THE final settlement of the succession
rests with the powers. I refrain from de-
livering a decisive judgment on the whole
course of events in Samoa until the writ
ten reports arrive and are closely exam
ined. But hold strongly to the hope that
we shall succeed in disposing also of these
latest troubles in Samoa, with due protec-
ton for German rights and interests and
in a manner which corresponds with the
friendly relations existing between the
three governments concerned.
Rests with the Powers
''That things in Samoa require readjust-
ment is a principle acknowledged on all
sides. 1t cannot be denied that the trl-
dominium has not stood the ordeal. We
are prepared on our part to consent to a
clean separation IL the other powers con-
sent, but as long as this agreement does
not exist we shall hold to the act of 1899
and we shall not allow the rights which
that act gave us to be curtailed; or our
interests suffer diminution. But we shall
also respect the rights aceruing to others
by virtue of the Samoa act"