The times., 1899-03-22
THE SAMOAN QUESTION.
Statement of Germany's Position by
Councillor Won KusSerow.


Councillor Won kusserOw.
Berlin, March 21.-The question of Ger
man relations with the United States is
still being actively canvassed in the press
OF the capital and other centres of the En-
pre- The leading journals, with the ex-
ception OF few extreme exponents of the
agrarian party, are unanimous in ac-
knowledging and endorsing the marked
Improvement that has taken place recent
ly, and which is generally regarded as due
to the brilliant diplomacy of Herr Won
Holleben, the German Ambassador at
Washington.
Aside from the pending economic differ
ences between the countries. the chief
! question at issue is for the present the Sa-
moan difficulty. though 1t is confidently
assumed that satisfactory settlement will
be arrived at also In this matter. Regard
ing the future of Samoa. Herr Won Kusse-
row, Privy Councillor an acknowledged
authority on Samoan matters. has made
the following statement which. though
representing the German point of view,
will not fail to attract considerable atten-
| tion from Americans interested in the So
| luton of the Samoan question. According
i to Herr Won Kusserow, an Improvement
OF the present state of things can be ex-
pected only from revision of the act of
| Berlin, which should at least establish a
new regulation OF the treaty provisions
pertaining to the competency and author
| ity of the Chief Justice OF Samoa, of the
President OF the Municipal Council, and TO
the relations Of the Consuls representing
the powers conjointly involved in the con-
dominium.
| 1t is the view here as expressed by
semi official newspapers. that revision
can be dispensed with only on condition
that it can be shown that, in future, I'm
equal or opposite interpretations of the
treaty on the part of the several officers
charged with its application can be pre-
cluded by resort to joint and uniform in
structions for their guidance
| For the purpose Of maintaining the COM
mon protectorate it would. however. be ab-
| soluetly indispensable to come to a firm
| settlement regarding the material support
| to be awarded in future TO the govern
ment OF the King recognized by the pow
ers. AS to the definite solution of the Sa-
moan question, which could only be found
in the disseminating of the condominium,
Germany would in no case whatever re-
nounce her claim to the fruits Of thirty
years work in cultivating the islands,
both under heavy expenditure and the con-
tinual protection of the German navy.
Whether this solution be feasible at pres
ent or not, Herr Won Kusserow does not
state. partition of the islands among
the three treaty powers does not meet
with his approval, even if-what he con-
siders matter Of course-the Isle OF
Upolu would fall to Germany. The great
Hamburg houses interested in the trade OF
the islands are, moreover, of the opinion
that partition of the islands would like
wise cause all kinds Of complications But
il the joint proteetcrate of the three DOW
ers should be continued they ought to be
bound to strictly comply with the obliga-
tons entered into in 1889, no matter what
sacrifices might be imposed upon them. In
any case. he says that an agreement ought
to be concluded providing for the speedy
disarmament and the lasting prevention of
a new armament of the natives.