Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-06
SAMOAN COMMISSION
Three Governments NoWConsider-
ing Its Membership
DR. SCHMIDT GERMAN CHOICE
This SEEMS TO Be indicated by
Berlin Announcements,
LORD SALISBURY STILL WARY.
He Doesn't Wish to be Placed In
Position Demanding Recall of
Present British Representatives.
Such Proposal once Rejected.
LORD SALISBURY STILL WARY.

| dsIetment Tor high commission ha,
progressed TO a point where the thre,
governments are exchanging notes as I,
the members of the commission. Thi
Is accepted as an assurance that Lor,
Salisbury accepted not only the prncipl,
OF the commission, but the commission
itself. as the consideration of the British
delegate would hardly be entered upor
unless the commission yas assured Tn,
| published report that three commissioner.
would be named from each country /.
without foundation, as such plan ha:
! never been considered. There will be
one from each country, of about the
same relative rank or standing.
The semi-oficial announcement that
| the German Government will not ap.
point either Consul-General Rosenthal
or Consul-General Rose as it's repre-
sentative on the commission, taken
IN connection with the declaration of a
purpose Of selecting an official Of the ranl,
of Consul-General for the place has tend
ed to confirm the belief OF the officials
here that the intention is TO name DIR.
Schmidt as the German Commissioner.
DIR. Schmidt is now a privy councillor and
a director in the Foreign Office at Berlin.
OF matters connected with Asatic and
Samoan policy. He was consu-General
Of Samoa at Apia until four years ago.
when he was withdrawn, at the instance
Of the United States, owing to his atti-
tude toward Mr.. Mulligan, the United
States Consul-General there.
POINT STILL OPEN.
One point in the negotiations appears
to be open, and may occasion some
difficulty. This is as to the future status
Of Chief Justice Chambers, and Consuls
Rose, Of Germany; Osborne, Of the
United states, and Maxse. Of Great
Britain. IL would be quite acceptable 10
Germany il all Of them were withdrawn.
but when this proposal was made some
time ago, IL was distinctly rejected. Now.
however. the High Commission may have
such enlarged powers that I'm effect the
chief Justice and the cOnsuls will have
their authority curtaied, il not entirely
cut off.
In some well-informed quarters il is
said this is the real cause of Lord Sails
bury's very mature consideration of the
plan. as he is believed to be averse to
any project which. even Indirectly. will
result In the retirement Of all the present
officials. and the virtual acceptance of
Germany's original proposal that all be
Withdrawn.
MAJORITY RULE OR UNANIMITY?
BERLIN, April 5.-The negotiations
between the German Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Baron Nonbuelow: the United
states Ambassador. Andrew ID. White.
and the British Ambassador, Sir Frank
&. Lascelles. continue. The representa-
tive of Great Britain still favors the ma
jorty rule within the proposed Samoan
commission, Germany wants
according 10 the Berlin act.
and the United States acquiesces in the
latter.
Minister White said to the correspond |
ent here Of the Associated Press. II be- |
lieve England will yield To unanimity. |
The delay in deciding is probably due 70
Lord Salisbury's absence. As a compro- |
mise, | offered that each Power appoint |
three commissioners. with seven 10 de- |
eide, but this met with small favor. Ger |
many's idea is that it will not be diff |
cult to secure unanimty within the com |
mission If the commissioners are in |
structed TO be conciliatory.
RETURN TO STATUS QUO ANTE.
"Ofcial dispatches from Washington |
say the American representatives at Sa- |
noa have been instructed to proceed eau |
tiously and return 10 the status quo ante. |
All other reports, such as that the United |
States and Great Britain will hold Ger
many responsible for the deaths of the |
JluejacketS during the recent fighting, |
ire baseless."
SITUATION IMPROVED.
LONDON, April 6.-The Berlin cOrre-
spondent of the Times says:
"In official circles the Samoan situation
: considered much improved, and it is
now confidently expected that Great Bri-
ain will accept Germany's proposal re-
yardlng unanimty in the investigation
'CmmissiOn."
MUCH NEGOTIATING YET.
NEW YORK. April 5.-The Commercial
advertisers London correspondent cables
O-day as follows:
Though the three governments desire
o expedite matters i'm the arrangement
+ the personnel Of the Samoan Commits
ion. ii will probably require some weeks
D settle the preliminaries, with Wash
lgton the seat Of the deliberations
OltNttliE lbiA anu IfilNif 4DFfHllSd- |
ion and subsequent negotiations, the
,nglsh Foreign Office is especially anx-
,us to arrange a modus vivendi for tenn
orary administration that Will also avert
lrther proceedings by the admirals and
onsuls. on the ground that al Muscat
nd elsewhere Lord Salisbury has had |
npleasant experience.
ESTRAINING HINTS TO GERMANS.
Word comes from Berlin that the new
erman representative. now en- route for
imoa. carries restraining hints 10 the
erman traders there. The German For
gn Office also finds precedent In Bis
arcks condemnation OF acts OF the
erman Consul len years ago In Samoa
lat will aid II in dealing now with 6
afreI and Rose and I'm soothing sensitive /
erman opinion. The ultimate German S
m is n friendly division Of the Islands. {
which proposition Berlin believes I
merica will not object, II its coaling sta !
)n is secured. !,
Angry German attacks are aimed now :
ore at England than at America. mainly 4
ON irresponsible German journals. Al T
vance must be made FOR German su- h
over colonial commercial I
ialries. :