The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-05
STATUS OF THE
SAMOAN DISPUTE
al Three Powers Have Partially Agreed
to Arbitration.
CONSENT OF GREAT BRITAIN
Is Being Partly Withheld Until Plan Is
Fully Explained.
QUESTIONS OF DETAIL STILL OPEN
The German Government Has Infor-
mally Signif1ed Who 1t Will APP
point as Member of Commits
sion-Will Not be Rose.
QUESTIONS OF DETAIL SILL OPEN

Washington, April 4-The German am
eassador, DR.. Won Holleben, accompanied
by DR.. Wilhelm Solf, the newly appointed
president OF the municipal council OF Sa-
moa, called at the British embassy today,
and had an agreeable meeting with the
British ambassador. Sir Julian Pauncefote,
and Mr. Elliott of the embassy staff. the
visit was mainly social in character, but
il served to bring about that better under
standing in regard to Samoa which all
three powers are anxious to have take the
place of the friction and disorder prevail
ing of late.
Late in the day Sir Julian called at the
state department and had a talk with Sec
rotary Hay. 1t was at once conjectured
that the ambassador came to signify the
formal acceptance of Great Britain TO the
plan of high commission. But this was
correct only in part While the British
government has approved the general prin
ciple of a commission, yet the question OF
details as to the authority and power of
the commission remain to be settled before
the British acceptance of the concert pro-
posal is given. On the other hand the re-
port coming from an authoritative Berlin
QudIlSt that 1Itdl IDilldlI ieu uSSiuSu liol
to accept the commission plan is equally
misleading. The status of the negotiations
as given in the highest official quarters is
that the principle of the commission is ac-
cepted by all three powers, including Great
Britain, but that the British government
withholds formal approval OF the commits
sion itself until all the details of its au-
thority are determined.
No Delay of Acceptance
This it is explained, is in no sense de-
lay Of acceptance, for one government has
offered something which the others must
accept or reject. Instead of that, all three
are moving forward in the most agreeable
spirit toward a common understanding,
each making its suggestions for the better
ment of the plan and no one laying down
certain limitations which the others must
accept at once, Baron Won Buelow, the
German ministerof foreign affairs returned
to Berlin yesterday for the express purpose
of meeting the British ambassador there,
and clearing up such details as Lord Sails
bury wishes to have settled in advance.
Those in Washington who are in the best
position to judge the progress of these ne
gotiations say there is every indication
that they will be satisfactorily closed be-
fore the present week ends, and that the
high commission will be an accomplish
ed fact by that time.
The question of details still open are
those relating to majority decision by the
commission, and as to the commissions
power to alter or modify the Berlin treaty
and the constitutional system under which
Samoa is being administered at present.
This latter power, it is said, might determ-
Inc the entire political future of Samoa,
and before comforting it on commission,
the British authorities desire to have 1t
well understood as to how far the future
of the islands can be made finality, bind
ing on all three powers. by the commission.
The German government has informally
signfed who it will appoint as the German
member of the commission. He is to have
the rank of consul general and is to be an
official familiar with Samoan affairs, not,
however, consul Rose OF Samoa, or Dr.
Rosenthal, the German consul general at
San Francisco.