Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-08-08
NOW THEY RECEIVE GUNS.
Samoan Commissioners Accomplish Things
Said to e Utterly Impossible.

Chicago, Aug. "A special to the
Tribune from San Francisco. says:
Bartlett Trip and Baron Sternberg.
the American and German members Of
the Samoan commission, which arrived
in the city. Sunday, on the L. S. ship
Badger, will leave for Washington. to-
night. On board the Badger are $500
rifles which the commissioners took
from the followers of Mataafa and
Malietoa, Tanu. In speaking about
these arms Mr.. Trip said:
'The commissioners on their arrival
at Apia, May Is last. saw at once that
the natives would have to be disarm-
ed il peace was to be restored and the
commission placed in a position to ac-
complish' anything definite. All the
white people on the islands. including
the naval officials and the missionaries,
thought disarmament was impossible.
The commissioners made up their
minds to have it done. Mataafa and
his followers We're sounded on the sub
ject. They We're told that the Malie-
toa Tanu people would also be COM
PEELED to give up their arms if they did
so. Negotiations were carried on
quietly but in a determined manner
1.-The Mataafa people wanted to
know if they would receive pay for
their guns. We had no power to re-
imburse them. We promised. however.
that after peace was established and
we returned home. that they would be
compensated for their arms or the lat
ter WOULD be restored to them.
On May 81 last, the Mataafa people
surrendered to us 200 guns. General
surprise was expressed at their action.
The Malietoa Tanu faction a day later
surrendered their arms, the latter in
Guiding 100 rifles from the English
man-of-war at Apia. The Mataafa
people soon came in with the remain
wer of their weapons. The commits
siOners recommend that the natives be
paid for their guns.
Now as to the form of government
the commissioners have decided upon
for the Samoan islands, we think we
have accomplished something definite.
/ cannot talk about what we have
agreed upon. Only three copies of the
proposed form of government are in
existence. They are in the possession
of three commissioners and are intend
ed for their respective governments.
While in a general way some of the
features of the proposed form of gov
eminent are known, it is not true that
the document has been given out for
publication here or anywhere else.
THE proposed government provides
70. a white man as administrator of
the island-the governor general, in
other words. He will take the place
OF Samoan king. Much of the
trouble in the islands has been due to
the fact that the natives have always
had an elective instead OF a hereditary
king. The natives realize that fact
themselves. Malietoa have resigned as
king, that troublesome proposition is
now at an end By having white ad-
miniStrator in supreme control 1t is the
hope of the commission that peace will
be permanent in the islands. There
also will be consular representatives.
but their authority will be more cur
tailed than at present. The natives
will be allowed local seif.government.
The idea of the commissioners is to
let the natives govern themselves as
far as possible.
1--WE believe that the government we
have recommended meets with gener-
al approval on the part of the natives.
The three drafts or copies we have are
signed by - Mataafa chiefs and like
number of MalietOa men. BY drafting
the scheme we visited every district
and island save Manua. Some chiefs
from the latter island were seen. In
all the districts meetings were held,
where we exchanged views with the
natives. Many good suggestions were
obtalned in this way. Finally big
council was held. On that occasion $50
chiefs met u.s. There was an equal
number from the Mataafa and Malie-
toa factions. 1t was a unique and pic
turesque gathering"