Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-12-05
THE SAMOAN QUESTION.
Review OF the Happenings and the Set
Element of the Difficulties,

hevlew OF the happenings and the Set.
Element of the Difficulties,
Important events have occurred IN the
TO the laws and customs OF Samoa, Of a
successor to the late king, Malietoa
Laupspa. dsveloped a contest as to the
terms Of the general act, was to be decided
5udEmssnst ii favor Of Msiietoa Tanu,a she
active Intervention Of American and Brit
sh warships became imperative to restore
order, at the cost OF sanguinary encounters.
representatiyes Of tie United States. Ger r.
many and Great Britain was sent to
Samoa to investigate the situation and pro-
Forts a peaceful solution was reached for
the time being, the kingship being abolished
and provisional government established.
RecoMm endations unanimously made by
The commission for q permanent adjust
ment Of the Samoan question were taken
Under consideration by the three powers
they were examined the more evident 1t
became that a radical change was neces-
sary in the relations OF the powers to
The inconveniences and possible perils
of the trtpartite scheme Of supervision and
control n the Samoan group by powers
having little interest in common in that
quarter beyond commercial rivalry have
been once more emphasized by the recent
events. The suggested remedy of the
styled Q. tridomlnium, being the exercise
Of the functions Of soyyersignty by a
Ehe situation had become far more in
tricate and embarrassing from every point
Df view seI than It was when my predecessor,
condemned the participation in it of the
United States.
Tripartite Scheme Unsatisfactory.
The arrangement under which Samoa
was. administered had proved imprac-
ers concerned. To withdraw from the
agreement and abandon the islands to Ger
many and Great Britain would, not be
pelago. To relinquish our rights in the
harbor OF Page Pago, the best anchorage
In the PACIFIC, the occupancy Of which had
by the first foreign treaty ever concluded
bs regards the needs of our navy or the
the east We could not have considered
any. proposition for the abrogation Of the
tripartite control which did not confirm
national interests in the Islands.
Our Views commended themselves to the
other powers. .Asatisfactory arrangement
of Germany and of England, by virtue of
which England retired from Samoa, in
view OF compensations in other directions,
United States all their rights and claims
over and in respect to that portion OF the
bred and seventy-1rst degree Of west
longitude. embracing the Islands Of Tu-
tuila, Ofoo, Olosenga and Manua. I
transmit to the senate, for its constitutional
action. thereon, a convention which, be-
sides the provisions above mentioned, also
guarantees us the same privileges and con-
ditions In respect to commerce and COM
mercial vessels y all of the islands of
Samoa as those possessed by Germany.
Claims have been preferred by white res
dents of Samoa on account of injuries al
legged to have been suffered through the
acts of the treaty governments in putting
down the late disturbances. A conven-
tion has been made between the three pow
ers for the investigation and settlement
Of these. claims by neutral arbitrator, to
which the attention of the senate will be
invited.