Evening star., 1899-04-04
ENGLAND WILLING
Agrees to the Principle Of a Joint
Samoan Commission.
DETAILS ARE YET TO Be SETTLED
Three Countries Negotiating in
AmcabIe Spirit.
THE VISIT OF DIR. SOLF

The German ambassador, DR.. Won Holle-
ben. accompanied by DR.. Wilhelm Solf, the
newly appointed president of the municipal
council of Samoa, called at the British em-
bassy today, and had an agreeable meeting
with the British ambassador. Sir Julian
Pauncefote. and Mr.. Elliott of the embassy
staff. The visit was mainly social, but it
served to bring about that better under
standing in regard to Samoa, which all
three powers are anxious to have take the
place of the friction and disorder prevailing
of late
Later in the day Sir Julian called at the
State Department and had a talk with Sec
retary Hay. Ii was at once conjectured
that the ambassador came to signify the
formal acceptance of Great Britain to the
plan of a high commission. But this was
correct only in part. While the British
government has approved the general prn-
clPle OF a commission, yet the question of
details as to the authority and power of
the commission remains to be settled before
the British acceptance of the concrete pro-
pCsal IS given.
on the other hand, the report coming
frcm an unauthoritative Berlin quarter that
Great Britain had decided not to accept the
commission plan is equally misleading.
The Principle Accepted
The status of the negotiations, as given
in the highest official quarters, is that the
principle of the commission is accepted by
all three powers, including Great Britain
but that the British government withholds
formal approval of the commission itself
until all the details of it's authority are
determined This, it is explained is in no
sense a delay of acceptance for no one
government has offered something which
the others must accept or raject. Instead
OF that, all three are moving forward in
tae most amicable spirit toward a common
understanding, each making its SUGGESTIONS
Tor the betterment of the plan and no ono
laying down certain limitations which the
CtherS must accept at once. Baron Won
hueiow' the German minister of foreign af-
idlfS' returned to Berlin yesterday for the
express purpose of meeting the British
ambassador there and clearing up such d.
talls as Lord Salisbury wishes to have
settled in advance.
Officials in Washington who orc i, H.
pest position TO know the progress of the
negotiations say there is every indica+ior
ttat they Will be satisfactorily closed he
IoIe ihe present week ends and the bipb
by that time lac'
The Scope OF the Commission.
The questions of detail still omen. ara
those relating to a majority decision by the
COMMISSION and as to the commissions
power TO alter or modify the Berlin tra9tv
ana the constitutional system under which
samoa Is being governed at present. This
iatter power. 1t is said. might determine
nc entire political future of Samoa and
y. iore conferring it OH commission the
l,,rn a9tnorltles desire to have it well
understood as to how far the future of the
iS!alldS can be made a finaIitv binding on
an three powers, by the commission.
ne German government has fnfcrrualIv
,I, ,r,,llealed VINO 1t will appoint as the Ger
man member of the commission He IS to
nave the rank of consul general, and is to
oe an ofhcIal familiar with Samoan affairs
Eol' however. Consul Rose of Samoa. OF.
at San Francisco.
DIR. soIf at the State Dep.rtment
Dr Solf visited Secretary Hav at tbe
State Department yesterday afternoon in
company with Ambassador Won HoIIahen
ard made a pleasant impression. It has
been arranged that he shall remain in
Washington for a few days. and during
that time he VIII have an opDorfunity- to
confer with the State peDartraent Officials
relative to Samoan affairs. 1t is honcd
Ii.at mlsunderstandings may be avoided i'm
IN" luture II perfect COMPREHENSION is
Ieacned IN advance of Dr. Solf's departure
Tor his post, of the exact ideas of each
party to the triDaTtite government at first
hand, and as he has already ,-fsitel the
british authorities in London. the way an
pears TO be now cleared for such an under
standing. 1t is said here that Admiral
hautz is fully sustained by the Navy De-
partment IN every measure that he has
taken, and inasmuch as 1t must be as
sumed that the admiral acted strictly in
accordance with his Instructions he will
be upheld in taking such steps as We're
necessary to maintain the peace and in
sure the safety of life and property in Sa-
moa 1t Is explained in administration cir
cIeS that the expression of regret that q
hostile collision had occurred was simply
an expression Of a feeling that actually ex-
listed. but it does not follow that it implied
any sort Of condemnation of the action of
the admiral. founded. as the action un-
doubtedly was. on a plain necessity.