Evening star., 1899-04-06
How the New Samoan Commission
Will Act.
ESTABLISHING AGREEABLE RELATIONS
German Ambassador Calls at the
British Embassy.
DIR. SOLF'S DEPARTUR E

The German ambassador, Dr. Won Holle-
ben. called at the State Department today
to felicitate Secretary Hay on the satisfac-
tory adjustment of the Samoan affair. Even
as late as yesterday the last possibilities of
hitch had not disappeared but late in
the day official dispatches were received
from Berlin stating that as q result of con-
ferencas between the German, British and
American representatives a settlement was
assured. The main feature Of this confer
ence was In 4 determination that the high
commission would act by unanimous vote
and not through majority. This is on the
theory that the delegates will be of such
high character that unanimous agreement
will be certain, although there is, of course,
the possibility of a deadlock. The present
tendency is not to provide a final arbitrator
but to assume that the commission will get
together without an umpire. This, for the
present, eliminates King Oscar of Sweden
who has been mentioned for umpire, al
though it may still be thought expedient to
provide against the slightest chance of a
deadlock.
The German ambassador and members of
his staff also made call this morning at
the British embassy, thus further eVidenc-
ing the agreeable relations which have sud-
denly taken the place of the rather strained
conditions heretofore prevailing on Samoa.
inc UefuiAh Aoh
There appears to be some misapprehen-
sion as to the probable German commits
sioner. owing to the large number of
Schmidts in the consular Service, one re-
port being that it is Herr Schmidt, consul
at Caracas; another, that it is the Herr
Schmidt who was formerly consul general
in Samoa. The one actually discussed IN
high German quarters Is DR.. Schmidt-Dar-
gitz, under secretary of colonial affairs In
the German foreign office. He is regarded
as well equipped for the service, but there
has been nothing official to SHOW that ne
would be chosen.
The State Department has not yet select
ed it's representative on the commission,
and the President is giving the matter of
selection his personal attention. Nearly
every American who has had anything to
do with Samoa in representative capacity
in recent years has turned UP as an appi1-
cant for this place. But the State Depart
ment does not feel disposed to chose from
among them, principally for the reason that
it is deemed proper to name some person
who has not been involved in any manner
in the past difficulties on the islands. If
there Is any real intention of securing an
amicable agreement between the three pow
ers interested in Samoan affairs 1t is be-
lieved that some such policy as this is es-
sential. If 1t is deemed essential that the
commissioners should be experienced in Sa-
moan affairs, however, that fact will un-
doubtedly color the selection of an Ameri-
can representative by the President
DIR. Solf Departs.
Herr Solf, who is to succeed DR.. Raffel
as president of the municipal council of
Apia has left Washington for his post. He
has gone to New York and thence to Buff
falo. He intends to stop In Chicago for
day or two, and also at Colorado Springs,
Col, planning his movements, so to be
able to take the steamer at San Francisco
sometime between the 10th and the 18th of
next month.