Warren sheaf., 1899-11-09
DIVISION OF SAMOA.
United States, Great Britain and
Germany Come to Terms.
ACTION is TAKEN AT WASHINGTON.
BY the e-Agreement This Nation Is to
Control TutuiIn Island md Pam
go Pango Bay-Terms for the
Other Powers.


States, Great Britain and Germany de-
cided Saturday to dissolve the tripartite
agreement by which these three pow
ers control the Samoan islands. The
United States have by this decision been
guaranteed the possession of Tutuila
island and Pango Pango-or, as it is usu-
ally called Paga Pago bay. The dis
position of the remaining islands by
Great Britain and Germany is a matter
still pending. The decision to dissolve
the three-power compact was reached
Saturday alta joint meeting at the state
department of Assistant Secretary of
State Hill, Baron Won Schwarzenstein,
German charge d d'affaires, and Mr.. Tow
er, British charge d'affaires. The orig
inal draft of the convention proposed
by German and Great Britain was ma
terially changed by interlineation Sat-
urday. When the final touches were
put on the draft Chief Clerk Sydney Y
Smith was sent for and instructed to
have the convention engrossed. The
statement was made that the repre-
sentatives of Great Britain and Ger
many would meet next week at the
state department and sign the proto-
col.
/ American Claim Conceded.
This protocol is described officially as,
a tentative agreement, but the fact that
it will be ratified by Great Britain and
Germany shows conclusiyely that the
United States have gained their point,
which is that Great Britain and Ger
many shall cede to the United States
full control over the island of Tutui1a
and its bay of Pango Pango. Officials say
that the protocol just agreed to was a
condition precedent to the ratification
by Great Britain and Germany of any
agreement they contemplate as to ex-
changes of territory in Samoa for ter
ritory elsewhere. So far as the United
States are concerned, it is held that the
long-looked-for partition of Samoais an
accomplished fact by reason of the i'm
portant action taken Saturday.
Terms for Other Powers.
State department. authorities say
that Great Britain and Germany have,
yet to arrange between them the terms
on which each will surrender its inter
ests to the other power. The failure of
these two powers to agree has been the
result of these causes: -
1. The original draft of the convention
submitted to Great Britain by Germany
was opposed by the United States because
in effect it would make Germany the one
power in control, as it was proposed that
England should retire and the United
States be restricted to Pago Pago harbor
g. The Australian, New Zealand and the.
solomon and Gilbert islands interests. (all
British) protested to the home government
against Great Britain Withdrawing from
Samoa.
3. The great German commercial inter-
ests in Samoa objected to Germany's aban-
donment of the islands, and especially
Upolu and the town of Apia. One of the
chief objections was that Germany would
lose the most important and the best and
canal, with the exception of Hawaii
While the American diplomats prefer
not to know what terms have been
agreed upon between Germany and
Great Britain, it is hinted that England
will be forced to remain in the Samoan
group, while Germany will override the
objections of the German commercial
organization in Samoa and take over
the Solomon and Gilbert islands from
England, with the additional gain that
England shall guarantee Germany's
colony in southwestern Africa.
Says a Deadlock Exists.
London, Nov. 6.-The Berlin CORE
spondent of the Standard says: .'The
Samoan negotiations have reached a
deadlock. Germany does not consider
that the Gilbert and Solomon islands
would adequately compensate her for
waiving the German claims, An agree
ment, however, would easily be ar
ranged, if Great Britain would cede in
addition her portions of New Guinea:
pTc DIT ANTI fD.nr.o1D