The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-15
FOUR PENDING TREATIES.
TIE INJUNCTION OF SECRECY NOT
YET REMOVED By THE SENA TIE

Partition of the Islands Between tho
United States apd Germany-An I'm
portant Treaty With Great Britain.
WASHINGTON. Dec l4.-There are four
treaties now pending in the Senate from which
the Injunction OF secrecy has not been re-
moved. All have been referred to the Com
mittee on Foreign Relations. Probably the
most important OF these. from an interna-
tional standpoint. are the two concerning
affairs in Samoa. The Senate Committee. In
formal meeting held yesterday. determined to
take up this subject FIRST and dispose OF It before
proceeding to the others. The contents OF the
Samoan treaties have been. in measure Mt
least. anticipated. but THE SUMS able to make
public for the first time the text OF these i'm
portant conventions.
When Congress convened the President sent
to the Senate the treaties relative to the sette-
ment OF claims growing out OF the military
operations In Samoa. and the tripartite agree
ment for the partitioning Of those islands. The
text OF the binding clauses OF the treaty rela-
i've to the settlement OF all claims is as follows:
Article I.-All claims put forward by Ameri-
can citizens or German or British subjects.
respectively. whether individuals or compan-
les. for compensation on account OF losses
which they allege that they have suffered In
consequence OF unwarranted military action.
n this be shown to have occurred. on the
present American. German or British ofl-
GERS between the first OF January last and the
arrival OF the Joint Com mission In samoa.
shall be decided by arbitration. In conformity
with the principles OF international law or con-
siderations OF equity.
Article H. The three Governments shall
request his Majesty. the King Of Sweden and
Norway. to accept the Office OF arbitrator.
II shall also be decided by this arbitration
whether. and eventually to what extent.
either OF the three Governments Is bound.
alone or Jointly with the Others to make
good these losses.
Article III. Either OF the three Governments
may. with the consent OF the others. previous
ly obtained in every case. submit to the King
for arbitration similar claims OF persons not
being natives who are under the protection OF
that Government. aud who are not included in
the above m ntioned categorie5.
This convention bears date OF Nov. T. 1853.
and the ratincations are 10 be executed at
Washington four months from date. or earlier.
II possible.
The effective portions OF the treaty dividing
the Samoan Island between the United States
and Germany read as follows:
Article I. The General Act concluded and
signed by the aforesaid Powers at Berlin. on
the 14th day OF June. 1880. and all previous
treaties. conventions and agreements relating
TO Samoa are annulIed.
Article H. Germany renounces in favor OF
the United States Of America all her rights and
claims over and in respect TO the Island OF
Tutuila and all other islands OF the samoan
group east OF the longitude III degrees west
OF Greenwich.
Great Britain. in ike manner. renounces in
favor OF the United States Of America all her
rights and claims over and In respect TO the
Island OF Tutuila and all other islands Of the
Samoan group. east ot longitude | II degrees
Reciprocally the United States renounces in
favor OF Germany all their rights and claims
over and with respect to the Islands OF UIolu
and Savaii. and all other islands OF the Samoan
SiSSip west OF longitude -. west '' "fSe"'
Article III. It is understood and agreed that
tinue TO enjoy in respect to their commerce
and Commercial! vessels. IN all the islands Of
s ss sSSG Ss %a4
10 all ports which may be open TO the commerce
Article ". The political convention shall be
ratified as soon as possible. and shall come into
force Immediately after the change OF the rat-
There is also pending before the Senate an
ip portant treaty With Great Britalp relating 70
the tenure and dsPns!tion OF rea i e "a and
ton. March 2, 1850 and was Transmitted 10 the
Senate last Monday = Treaties Of similar ma
eyery nation OF, the worlt have long been in
effect. Tut this is the lrs: agreement o! the
Article / provides tina, where. on the death
OF any person holding real or personal prop
erty within the territories OF one Of tho con.
OF the land would pass To a citizen or subject
were he not disqualified by the, laws OF the
citizen or subject shall have three years IN
which to sell the property, and Il reasonable
ceeds OF such sale out 81 tho county with him.
without restraint or Interference, and exempt
h4n m h.a i'm
upon the citizens or subjects Of the country
from which these proceeds may be taken.
jects OF each power shall have full power u dis
pose OF their personal property within the ter
ritnries OF the other by testament. &c. and their
heirs. being citizens or subjects OF the other
country. whether resident or non resident,
shall succeed TO their property. take posses.
sion themselves, or through agents acting for
them. and dispose OF such property at their
Article III STIMULATES that in the case OF tho
death OF any citizen or subject % the two ma
tons. without having In the country ot his
deseass any EnowR heirs 81 sesiamegtaTy Hxe
| authorities are directed to at once notify the
| nearest consular Office OF the nation 10 which
| sary Information may be conveyed TO the per-
| sons Interested. The right is given this con-
ali 20 on 6eha T
| heirs or creditors until they may be otherwise
Article " provides that the s,lpulatons OF
this convention shall not he applicable 10 any
| OF the colonies OF Great Britain until notice to
| that effect shall have been given on behalf Of
| euch colony by the British Am bassador at
! Washington 10 the United States Secretary Of
State within one year OF the date OF exchange
OF the ratification Of this treaty, L Y under
| stood that under this provlsionthe British Cow
| ernment can give notice OF adhesion on behalf
| OF any British protectora.e or sphere Of intlu-
| ence' or In behalf of the Island OF Cyprus, in
| virtue OF the convention OF June 1. 1878 be-
tween Great Britain and Turkey The pro.
visions OF this convention are to extend TO and
| apply to any territory or territories pertain min G
| to or occupied by the United States beyond the
| seas only upon notice 10 that effect from the
| American Am hassador at London.
| Article " accords to the subject oi each
| nation the enjoyment OF all rights that are. 81
| more thatimay be, accorded the most favored
| nation. In all that concerns the right oi
| acquiring. or possessing or disposlng OF every
| kind OF property
Article VI. puts the treaty into effect ten days
after the day upon which the Publications are
| exchanged and maintains II In force for q
| period OF ten years. In case neither OF the
| contracting parties shall give notice to thu
| other, twelve months before the expiration o.
| this ten-year period OF an intention 20 terml
nate the convention. II is TO remain in force unit
| one year from the day on which either party
| shall give notice ~ its dissolution. The rlgh
| separately to terminate the treaty. so far as Il
! may relate to any colony on giving twelve
| months notice. Is retained.
tNlaINt Han, - 40 80 30 ha