Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-06-03
NOT A SOFT SNAP.
DR.. soIf Is on the Horns of a Dilcm-
ma-Hax Title, but No
Office

SAN FRANCISCO, June 2-The steamer
Alameda, from Australian ports via Apia.
Samoa, and Honolulu. arrived here to-day
and brings the following from the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent at Apia, dated
May 10:
The United States steamer Badger, bear
ing the commissioners of the United States,
Great Britain and Germany, arrived at
Apia May IS. The commissioners have
elected MIR. Trip, the American repre-
resentative, chairman. On their arrival
they received letters of welcome from
King Malietoa Tanus and from Mataafa.
Both letters were acknowledged The
commissioners are reticent as to their pro-
| ceedings. 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 situ-
alton. They have had interviews with the
three consuls. the admiral and captains of
the British warships. the chief of police
and representatives of the London Mission
Society, and the Roman Catholic mission
Their inquiries seemed to be directed to
thorough and exhaustive examination of
all concerned in connection with the trial
and proceedings in the kingship matter
This afternoon they are to have an inter-
view with King Tanu and tomorrow with
4
are coming up to Apia at the request of
the commissioners. and they have guaran-
| teed him a safe passage to and from Apia-
Chief Justice Is Firm.
In connection with tho kingship pro-
ceedings, the commissioners wrote asking
| the chief justice if he would forward them
a copy of the docket on file i'll the supreme
court. This the chief justice did. At the
| in inf ha
commissioners that he did so from desire
| to aid them in their investigations; that
| he claimed for himself and his court, not
| Wlthstanding the presence of the commits
| sion III Apia, the full power and functions
OF the court as exercised in the past, and
that his action must in no way be re-
| Sarded as abrogating those powers or priv
| ileges.
| The supreme court decision in the king
ship matter was final and not subject to
| revision or alteration at the hands of the
commissioners. The commissioners in re-
ply were nen-commital and simply ac-
knowledged the receipt Of the chief JUS
tlce S letter. The chief justice has been in
| formed by the chairman of the commission
| that the commissioners while in Apia do
not intend in any way to interfere with the
powers or jurisdiction of the supreme court
and that the court will pursue the even
tenor of its way.
Soils Peculiar Position.
DR.. Solf, who was nominated as presi-
dent of the municipality, arrived by the
last steamer from San Francisco. He is on
the horns of dilemma-a president sent
out by the three treaty powers and vel
he Is no president for the reason that he
was unable to get into office and assume his
duties before the arrival of the commission.
ers.
Before he came to Apia he was informed
that as there was only Il provisional gov,
ernment in Samoa he had better aDpiV on
his arrival to the consuls to be put into
office. The Berlin treaty requires that the
president shall be appointed by the Sa-
moan government. When he got to Apia
he found Tanu installed as king and rec
ogniZed by the United States and Great
Britain. but not by his own government.
Dr. Solf is an official on the foreign service
list of the German government. He could
not and would not be allowed to act until
he had obtained his appointment-but he
could not. in the face of his consul's and
the governments attitude, apply to and
therebJs recognize Tanu and his govern
ment
He waited the arrival of the commission
ers. They have superseded all hitherto ex-
listing authority in Samoa and as such do
not see the necessity at the present for a
president.
Dr. Solf applied for the secretaryship of
the high commission. but this will be con-
ferred on Mr.. Morgan. who came out as
Commissioner Trips private secretary.