The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-03
Will Preside Over Meetings of the
Samoan Commission.
STUDY THE SITUATION
ARRIVED AT APIA AND PRE-
PARE FOR WORK.
Welcomed by Both Tanu and Ma
taafa-Dr. Solf, President of the
Municipality, Arrives and Finds
Himself on the Horns of a Dill
emma-No Public Sessions.

San Francisco, June 2.-The steamer
Alameda, from Australian ports via
Apia, Samoa, and Honolulu. arrived
here today and brings the following
from the Associated Press correspond
ent at Apia, dated May 10:
The United States steamer Badger
bearing the commissioners of the Unit
ed States, Great Britain and Germany
arrived at Apia on May Is. The COM
missioners have elected Mr.. Tripp, the
American representative. chairman On
their arrival they received letters OF
welcome from King Malietoa Tanu, and
from Mataafa. Both letters were ac-
knowledged.
The commissioners are reticent as to
their plans and their proceedings. 1t
does not seem to be their purpose to
hold any public sessions. Up to date
they have been busily engaged in pre-
liminaries and careful study of the
situation. They have had interviews
with the three cOnSulS. the admiral and
captains of the British warships, the
chief justice and representatives of the
London Mission society and the Roman
Catholic mission. Their inquiries seem
directed To a thorough and exhaustive
examination of all concerned in con-
nection with the trial and proceedings
in the kingship matter.
Interview With the Kings.
This afternoon they are to have an in
terview with King Tanu and tomorrow
with Mataafa- Mataafa and five of his
chiefs are coming up to Apia at the re-
quest of the commissioners, and they
have guaranteed him a safe passage to
and from Apia- In connection with the
kingship proceedings, the commission
ers wrote, asking the chief justice if he
would forward them a copy of the
docket on file in the supreme court.
This the chief justice did. AT the same
time he, in writing, in formed the COM
missioners that he did so from a desire
to aid them in their Investigations;
that he claimed for himself and his
court, Notwithstanding the presence of
the commission in Apia, the full power
and functions of the court as exercised
in the past, and that his action must in
no way be regarded as abrOgating
those powers and privileges.
The supreme court decision in the
kingship matter was final, and was
subject to revision or alteration at the /
hands of the commissioners. The COM
in reply, were strictly nom
and simply acknowledged !
the receipt of the chief Justices letter. |
The chief justice has been informed by |
the chairman of the commission that |
the commissioners, while in Apia, do 1
lot intend, in any way, TO interfere with /
the powers or Jurisdiction of the su-
preme court. and that the court will 4
pursue the even tenor of its way
DR.. Solf's Dilemma.
DR.. Solf, who was nominated as pres
dent of the municipality, arrived by /
the last steamer from San Francisco.
He is on the horns of a dilemma. A
president sent out by the three treaty
powers, and yet he is no president. for
The reason that he was unable to get
nto Office and assume his duties before
The arrival of the commissioners Be
'ore he came to Apia he was informed
hat as there was only a provisional
government in Samoa, he had better
apply on his arrival to the cOnsuls to
De put into office. The Berlin treaty
'equires that the president shall be ap-
pointed by the Samoan government.
When he got to Apia he found Tanu
as king. and recognized by the
United States and Great Britain, but
lot by his own government. DR.. Solf
S an official on the foreign service list
# the German government. lie could
lot and would not be allowed to act i'm
il he had obtained his appointment.
But he could not, in the face of his
onsuls and governments attitude, ap-
'ly to and thereby recognize Tanu and
lis government. He waited the arrival
f the commissioners. They have su-
'erceded all hitherto existing authority
n Samoa, and as such do not see the
eceSSity at the present for president
)r. Solf applied for the secretaryship of
he high commission, but this will be
on Mr.. Morgan who came out
s Commissioner Trips private secre-
ary.