The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-23
KINGSH|P IS ABOLISHED
Samoa Will Be Controlled by
Provisional Government.
MALlETOA HAS RESIGNED
Islands to Be Provided With a Governor
Who Shall Be Acceptable to
All the Parties to the
Treaty

Washington, June 22-The secretary
of state has received a dispatch from
United States Commissioner Tripp at
Samoa, saying peace has been restored
in the island; the commission has sus-
tanned the decision of Chief Justice
Chambers in the contested case of the
election of a king; that Malietoa Tanu
has resigned; the kingship was to be
abolished and provisional government
established.
The state officers in Samoa and lie
programme for the future proposed by
the committee are not disclosed in Mr.,
Trips brief cablegram In the view of
the state department most of this pro-
gramme is not final, but is subject to
Inc approval of the three governments,
party to the treaty of Berlin This is
true of the projected abolition of tine
kingship, an office especially provided
for in the treaty.
There is little doubt that our govern
ment will consent at once to this pro-
vision as soon as it is made apparent
that the governor of Samoa, who is TO
succeed to the control of affairs in Sa-
fnoa, VIII be selected in such a manner
as to insure impartiality towards the
residents. The fact that the commits
sion has unanimously sustained the de-
cis1on of the chief justice in disqualify-
ing Mataafa and seating Malietoa Tanu
on the throne is very gratifying to the
authorities here. Admiral Kautz' first
action on arriving at Apia was to de-
eide that Chief Justice chambers must
be sustained. The committee having
found that Mr. Cha horc, Jao;,;o,, 49, :,
right, 1t follows that the admirars ac-
tlon also was correct, and so the talk
or preference of claims against the
United States for damages resulting
from his action will come to nothing.
The British foreign office has for
warded to Mr.. Tow CT, the British
charge here, statement of the conciu-
sions reached by the Samoan commits
sion, including in part the text of The
proclamation abolishing the kingship
and establishing a provisional govern
ment. 1t states:
THE commission published a proc
lamation on June 10 reciting:
Whereas, the declaration of the chief
justice declaring Malietoa to be king is
considered by the high commission as
valid and binding, and
Whereas, the said Malietoa has vol
unfairly rendered his resignation as
king and the same has been duly ac-
cepted, and
Whereas. the high commission has
decided to abolish the Office of king of
Samoa, -. Us
proclamation is made for the estab-
lishment of provisional government
during the stay of the high commission
in Samoa" "a' 7'
Admiral Kauts reported his arrival at
San Francisco by telegraph to the navy
department, but made no report upon
Samoan affairs. This probably will be
committed to the mails His official su-
periors are fully satisfied with his con-
duct while at Apia.
The admiral retains his assignment
as commander in chief of the forces on
the Pacific station, and the Philadelphia
will be retained in commission, though
necessary repairs and docking will be
made at once.
There is a Disposition in all diplo-
matte quarters concerned in Samoa to
accept the action of the high commits
sioners as satisfactory, mainly because
the commission has been on the ground
has heard all evidence and is presum-
ably best able to determine the means
of adjusting the many conflicting in
terests.
Berlin, June 22.-An official dispatch
from Apia confirms the dispatch of the
Associated Press from Apia announc-
ing Malietoa Tanu's abdication in favor
of the Samoan commissioners, who
have appointed a provisional govern
ment composed of the three consuls.
An interesting point is the German con-
firmation of the statement that the
commission recognizes the competency
of the chief justice to select king.