Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-04-08
PLAN TO SETTLE
SAMOAN PROBLEM
High Joint Commission, With King
Oscar as Umpire, Suggested
by Germany.
SCHEME LIKELY TO BE ADOPTED
Ambassadors OF the Different Coun'
tries Have Been Discussing
the Plan for Some
Time.

Washington, April ga joint high
commission TO settle the entire Sa-
moan trouble has been practically
agreed upon by the United States,
British and German governments.
Lord Salisbury's absence from London
alone delays the formal acceptance by
Great Britain, although in his abb
sence Sir Thomas Sanderson and Mr..
Nilliers, who are understood TO be
especially familiar with the Samoan
question, have approved the plan for
a commission. The United States has
informally expressed its approval, n
the formal acceptance, it is learned
from the highest quarter, will follow
speedily. As the proposition emanates
from Germany, her approval, of course,
is assured. This high commission, it
Is felt, affords a pacific solution to the
whole trouble, at the moment when
Samoan affairs began TO look the mos
threatening.
The new plan has been fully gone
over by Secretary Hay and the British
and German ambassadors here. and its
essential details worked out. Each ma
ton is to be represented by one mem
Der on the commission. II is to have
practically unlimited authority with
out the necessity of referring its de-
cisions back to the several govern
ments for approval. 1t is felt that by
comforting such complete and final au-
thority on the high commission the
danger will be obviated of any further
deadlocks and delays.
Still another important provision un-
der consideration is that King oscar,
of Norway and Sweden, shall be the
umpire i'm case the three commission
ers should fail to reach an agreement.
The plan of inviting King Oscar to ref
cree a disagreement meets the APP
proval of British and German authori-
ties and doubtless will be approved
also by the United States as a means
Of insuring finality of decision, though
il is not known just how far this has
been considered by the Washington
authorities. King Oscar was agreed
upon between the United States and
Great Britain as a final arbitrator in
connection with the proposed Anglo
American arbitration treaty, as well
as in the Venezuelan matter. He is
also mentioned in the treaty of Berlin
as the one TO name a chief justice of
Samoa in case the three signatory
powers fail to agree on a chief justice.
II was this that led to the suggestion
of his name at the present time to act
as final arbitrator.
1t is said that the sittings of the
commission will be in Samoa, where,
for the time being they will be in com
plete authority over the whole range
of Samoan affairs, so far as the high
commission may think fit TO act in or
der to fully restore order and establish
affairs on a stable basis. 1t will re-
qnire M treaty to bring the commits
sion into existence, as the acceptance
of the United States and Great Britain
will complete the agreement. 1t is
said that the men selected for the COM
mission will be Of high standing, so as
to give added weight and dignity to
their findings, such, for instance, as
the consul general of Germany, whose
jurisdiction covers the whole range of
Pacific affairs. The United States and
British commissioners, it is under
stood will belong TO the same high
rank, with a view, however, TO their
information on international matters
of this character rather than their po-
litical standing. AS showing the acute
phase of the Samoan question is past,
Baron Won Sternberg, first secretary
of Germany. left here last night for
New York, whence he sails on the 9th
for London and Berlin. He has been an
active figure throughout the Samoan
controversy, having made that ques-
ton n special study, thus being able
to render the ambassador material as
s%istance. His influence has been all
the time toward the maintenance of
friendly feeling between the two coun-
tries and overcoming the causes of ir-
ration. His trip to London and Berlin
has no significance whatever with
Samoan affairs, but is entirely per.
Cnpn1