The times., 1899-11-08
THE CONVENTION SIGNED
Adius ment of Claims Incident to
the Bambardmelt of Apia.
The Important Features of the cues
tion Heing Arranged in London
Submit the Points Ht Issue to Ar
BItration-KinS Oscar Sole Referee.

bItr1tiOn-i&inE Oscar Sole Referee.
AS far as the Washington Government
is aware there has been no change in the
negotiations for the partition of Samoa,
that will assure a definite settlement of
the questions at issue With the signing
yesterday OF the convention for the adjust
menL OF claims growing out Of the bom-
bardment OF Samoan towns early in the
present year. the active participation Of
the Secretary Of State and the British and
German representatives in Washington in
the negotiations ended. The most inn
portant features of the general question are
being arranged in London between Lord
Salisbury, Ambassador Choate, and Count
Hatzfelt, the German Ambassador there.
No credence is placed here in the report
frCm Berlin that an agreement has been
reached by which Germany will obtain con-
troll Of the Samoan group. If the negotia-
tions may be said to have resulted in any
thing definite, it is that Great Britain and
Germany have conceded the claim Of the
United States to remain in the islands and
are willing that the island of Tutuila, on
which Pag3 Pago Harbor is situated, shall
be Americas share if dismemberment be-
comes fact. The United States Govern
ment wants concessions of a minor char
acter, the exact extent of which have not
become known outside Of official circles,
but are believed to be certain privileges in
Apia. 1t is believed here that these minor
demands viii not interfere with a final
adjustment, although it is learned that
there is an apparent desire on the part OF
the three powers to secure some substantial
return. If anything more than the transfer
of Tutuila falls to the lot OF the United
States. While this Government is party
to the negotiations in London through Mr..
Choate. the exchanges are principally be-
tween Great Britain and Germany, who are
endeavoring to determine whether one or
both shall retain possession Of the re-
naming islands. Great Britain viii not
abandon Samoa, according TO the view held
here, and there are indications that Ger
many is willing to withdraw if she can
obtain advantages elsewhere in the South
Seas.
The numerous possessions of Great Brit
ain in that part of the world afford a basis
for trading to which Great Britain is ap-
parently not unwilling to be party. While
the officials here say that nobody can pre-
dict the result of the negotiations with any
certainty, they are willing TO express con-
fdence that Great Britain viii not aban-
don her interest. Very little interest has
been taken in the claims convention which
was effected yesterday. The convention
was signed at the State Department by
Secretary Hay in behalf of the United
States; Mr. Reginald Tower, the British
Charge, in behalf of Great Britain, and
Baron Mumm Won Schwarzenstein the Ger
man Ambassador in behalf Of Germany.
The claims for which the convention
provides grew out OF the bonn
bardment Of Apia and other Sa-
moan towns by the United States
flagship Philadelphia and the British war
ships during the Mataafa rebellion, which
began in January last Considerable prop
erty destroyed and many claims for
damages have been filed in Washington,
London and Berlin by American, British,
and German residents Of the bombarded
places The King of Sweden and Norway
is designated by the treaty as the sole ar
bitrator of these claims. The most impOT-
tant provision of the arrangement, and the
! one Of the greatest interest, is that the
arbitrator is required 10 determine whether
any of the parties 10 the treaty or all of
them is or are responsible for the damage
inflicted. and TO what extent. While Ger
man warships did not participate in the
bombardment the arbitrator by the pro-
vision mentioned must take into considera-
! tion the questions whether Germany was
not bound to assist the United States and
/ Great Britain in suppTessing the rebellion,
/ or whether Germany was not responsible
/ for the outbreak against the established
native Government which led to the bonn
/ bardment.
The treaty will not be binding on the
/ United States until it has been ratified by
/ the Senate.