Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-01-19
SAMOAN WAR.
Fighting Between the Natives
Over the Successor to
King Malieota.
GERMANY VIOLATES TREATY
Reported Mt Washington That Her Con
sui Has Aided in Seizing the Supreme
Grave America will Maintain
its Rights Against Germany.

Melbourne, Victoria, Jan 1S--Advices re-
ceived here from Samoa to-day under the
date of Jan H. say there has been lighting
there owing to the decision of Chief JUS
ticc Chambers in favor of Malieota Ia
nus, ore of the candidates for the throne
in succession to the late King Malieota. 1t
is added the native followers of Mataafa,
a rival aspirant to the kingship were vic
torious. Seventy-three men were killed
or wounded.
Washington, Jan. 1S-The situation in
the Samoan Islands Is realized here to be
ful of gravity. For some time past there
has been all exchange of correspondent e
between the three governments party to
the treaty of Berlin respecting the choice
of successor to the late King Malietoa
ana some of the friction developed owing
to the strict adherence of the United
states government to the terms of the
treaty. The statements in the despach
from Apia are not regarded here as con-
elusive for the reason that they are in
conflict with the provisions of the treaty.
If as reported Ranel, the president of
the municipal council at Apia. and the
German consul RoZ have seized the Su-
preme Court and pronounced themselves
practically dictators, it is said here that
they have violated tho treaty absolutely.
The functions of the president of the
municipal council are clearly defined by
the treaty and the last advices received
here were to the effect that President
Ranel had been granted leave of absence
and intended to visit New Zealand. 1t
was also understood that his successor
had hecn selected and it was thought was
on his way to his post. The chief justice
under the treaty is the court of last re-
sort under any circumstances and more
over, the treaty in terms provides dis
tinctly that in cases of any dispute be-
tween the foreigners in Samoa that dis
pute shall he referred to the chief justice
and his decision shall he final. The treaty
expresses the idea that this provision is
to guard against hostile outbreak. There
fore it IS scarcely believed here that the
president of the council would thus de-
liherately violate the plain treaty provi-
sion.
1t was known hero that the British and
~ erican consular officers at Apia have
been acting in accord in the present in
volved political situation there and al
though the interests of the United States
may not be compared with those of Ger
many yet their rights under the treaty
arc equal, and it may be stated they will
be maintained.
The report that the three consuls have
joined in a provisional recognition of Ma
taafa could not be reconciled with the
open disagree nent with the terms of the
treaty as to the choice of n king that such
action would involve the power of settling
disputes of this character being As already
stated, solely lodged in the hands of the
chief Justice who by the way is in this
case an American"
The attest adviccs of the government
here were to the effect that the chief JUS
tice had this particular dispute under
consideration it having been regularly re-
ferred to him in accordance with the
terms Of the treaty. Ills decision in al
probability would he regarded as binding
by the government of the United States