The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-06
The Three Governments Exchanging Notes
as to Members Of the Body.
The Future Status of the Chief
Justice and Consu1s of the In.
terested Countries a Stumbling
Block to the Negotiations, Lord
Salisbury Not Yet Having Cons
sented to All of Them Being
withdrawn.

| WASHINGTON, April 5.--The Sa<
moan agreement for a high commis-
sion has progressed to a point whero
the three Governments are exchanging
notes as to the members of the COM
mission This is accepted as an assur-
| ance that Lord Salisbury accepts not
only the principle of the commission,
| but the commission itself, as the con-
sideration of the subject would hardly
| be entered upon unless the commission
| was assured.
| The published report that three Conn
missioners would be named from each
country is without foundation, as sucfH
plan has, never been considered. There
will be one from each country, of about
the same relative rank or standing 1t
is to insure this similarity of standing
that the three Governments are mutu<
ally discussing the names of commis-
| sionerS, the question being whether
they viii be military men or officials inn
the foreign service. Aside from this
desire to secure uniformity, there is
evidently some wish not to have any
one country name a Commissioner who
may be personally Objectionable by rea-
son of his previous activities in Sa-
moan disputes.
The German purpose to select a Con-
sui General as Commissioner is UNDER
stood to point to the nomination of one
of the privy councillors now attached
to the Foreign Office and in charge of
colonial affairs. He formerly served as
Consul General in Samoa. The British
selection of Commissioner has not
been conditional, however, upon the
American and German selection, so
that while this condition remains open,
no announcement of the name can be-
made.
This point in the negotiations ap-
pears to be open, and may still occa-
sion some difficulty. This is as to the
future status of Chief Justice Cham
bers and Consuls Rose of Germany, Os-
borne of the United States, and Mazse
of Great Britain. 1t would be quite
acceptable to Germany if all of Them
We're withdrawn, but when this pro-
posal was made some time ago it was
distinctly rejected Now, however, the
high commission may have such en-
larged powers that in effect the Chief
Justice and the Consuls will have their
authority curtailed if not entirely cut
off.
In some well-informed quarters it is
said this is the real cause of Lord
Salisburys very mature consideration
of the plan, as he is believed to BE-
averse to any object which even indi-
rectly will result in the retirement OF
all the present officials and the virtual
acceptance of Germany's original pro-
posal that all be withdrawn.
BERLIN, April 5.-The negotiations
between the German Minister of For
eign Affairs, Won Buelow, the United
States ambassador, Andrew d. White,
and the British ambassador, Frank
Lascelles. continue. The representative
of Great Britain still favors the ma
jority rule within the proposed Samoan
investigation commission, Germany
wants unanimity, according to the
Berlin Act, and the United States ac-
quiesces in the latter.
Mr. White said to the correspondent
here of the Associated Press: II be-
lieve England will yield to unanimity.
The delay in a decision is probably due
to Lord Salisbury's absence. As "a
compromise l offered that each Power
appoint three Commissioners, with
seven to decide. But this met with
small favor. Germany thinks that IL
will not be difficult to secure unanimity
with the commission If the Commits
sicners are instructed to be conciliatory.
Official dispatches from Washington
say the American representatives ar
Samoa have been instructed to proceed
cautiously and return to- the status
quo"