The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-04
THE .EfrRE OF SAMOA.
NEGOTIATIONS GONG on Nv LONDON
AND WAsHINGToN.

Germany May Surrender Her Interests to
Grent Britain In Exchange for Islands
In Microne.in-The United States Desires
Actual Possession of Tutuila Island.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 3.-The Samoan ncgotia-
tions have reached a point whore definite So
luton OF the problems confronting the tripar-
lite powers is not likely to be long delayed. 1t
may come at any time for each OF the three
governments now thoroughly understands the
desires OF the Others and all realize that post
ponemcnt OF a final settlement may leai to
trouble that will cost more than the entire
group Is worth The present arrangement is
| altogether unsatisfactory. While the consu!s
OF the three powers are considered as the actual
heads OF the Samoan administration. there Is
| no telling what may happen TO bring about
| change that will reopen the embarrassing
| questions that confronted Great Britain. Ger
| many and the United States after the Mataafa
uprising OF last January Realizing that the
| future OF Samoa must be determined quickly.
| the parties to the proteetorate are striving
| earnestly to reach n mutual understanding.
and thsre il a confident feeling that they will
| succeed
| The main question Mt issue in the negO''a-
| lions IL whether Germany or Great Britain
| shall surrender its interest in the protector
| ate. II appears to he understood between
those two countries that the United States
| shall retain it, hold in the islands. SO far
| everything N the current diplomatic eS-
| changes has been very satisfactory to this
! Government. Germany there II reason to be-
| lievc. Ia considering the question whether II
will be TO her advantage to accept cer;ain con-
! cession. from Great Britain In return for the
! transfer Of Germanys interest to that country,
| or to retain her hold in the grouu. IL is not
| too great an ASSUMPTION. in view OF the present
| status OF the negotiat ions, that Germany has
! about concluded to transfer her Samoan rights
| to Great Britain. II territorial equivalents are
secured elsewhere than in the Navigator group.
From what can b. learned here. on the author
| ity OF men with Information Oh the subject.
the diplomatic situation is this;
| The three governments have agreed that
continuance OF the tripartite protectorate is
imprscticabl. and dangerous. Tn. is an en-
dorsemsnt Of the opinion expressed By the
| samoan Commission. consisting Of q repre-
| sentative Of each 81 the three powers. II has
| been agreed. also. that Il partition OF the
| islands among the parties concerned. with the
| understanding that each shall assume actual
| possession and ownership over its share OF
| territory. 10 tho best method OF settling the
| problem. The United states desires actual
| possession OF the island OF Tutuila and GER
| tain privileges elsewhere rs tnelr snare anu
have 40 Informed the other two powers. which
| appear to have acIuiesced in that PROPOSE
ton This leaves to Great Britain and
Germany the division OF the other
islands. in which. however. the United
| States will have a voice. although not seeking
| 10 obtain share OF that remaining territory.
| In the negotiations proposition has been adj
vanced for dividing the remaining islands into
two parts, one TO go to Germany. the other to
Great Britain. Another proposition is to trans
| fer all the remaining Islands to Great Britain
| or Germany. the country securing them TO
compensate the other country for the surrender
OF its interest. There Il no reason TO DOUBT the
statements made in Berlin that Germany has
under consideration the ndvisahity Of with
drawing from samoa II Great Britain will give
| her substantial territorial cunccssiOns in
| Micronesia. that widespread South Sens archie
| pelago OF small islands Of which Germany al
ready controls large part.
The negotiations are being conducted. rrin-
cipally in London and Wash ngton. Berlin 10
| taxing little active part in them, although. OF
course. the attitude ot the German repre-
sentatlves in England and America is de-
termred in that Capital. In London. Lord
Salisbury. the British Premier: Mr.. Chuate.
the United States Ambassador and Count
| Hntz'cdt. the German Ambassador. are en-
| gagged. and in Wash ngton the negotiations are
| being conducted by Secretary Hay, Mr. Mumm
Won schwar2cnstein. special envoy OF Ger
| many. and Sir. Tower. the British Chargj.
! Twenty conferences. more or less, have been
| held recently in regard 10 Samoan AFFAIRS be-
tween Mr. Hay. Mr.. ven Schwarzenstein and
| Mr. Tower. The two last named were at
the State Department to-day in consultation
with tho officials. The reason that the United
States want Tu,ua is that II contains the har.
Dor OF Page Page. where this Government IN
extending half million dollars to 1T the place
for use as "A coalng station. PaCo P,Go is tho
beat site in the entire group for the purpose. II
Is landlocked and has other natural advan-
tages Of protection against AN enemy. Agr~at
many people have the idea that Page lago Ia
owned absolutely by the United States. This
Ia an error. Under the treaty Of friendship
and commerce negotiated in 1873 with the
samoan Government the United States has
the free right to us" the harhor. This treaty
may he abrogated on twelve months notice by
any lawfully constituted native or other recog-
nzed authority in the islands
1t was suspected here that Germany purpose
in bringing Matnaia back to Samoa was to have
him abrognto the Page Pngo treaty II he were
made king. The present conditions in the
islands are such that some body calling itself
the samoan Government may suddenly pro-
claim authority and declare rho treaty at an
end. While the United States would not rscog
nizs such proceeding. declaration to that
effect might cause much trouble. and this Gov
eminent desires to obtain actual ownership ot
Tutuila in order to forever dispose OF the
chance that any such embarrassment could
arise.
HEROISH ~ 4 SIGNAL tower.