Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-04-06
THE SAMOAN COMMISSION
Agreement Among American,
British and German
Governments.
GERMANY'S PROPOSAL
Each Nation to be Represented by
One Member of the Commission
With Unlimited Authority.
King Oscar of Sweden Mentioned As
Probable Final MISUNDERSTANDING of
Com mmissiOn to be Held IN samoa-No
Treaty Necessary to Bring the Tri-Na-
tional Commission Iuto Existence.

49,
Treaty Necessary to Bring the Tri-Na-
iional Commission Iuto Existence.
Washington, April A joint high
commission to settle the entire Samoan
Trouble has been practically agreed
lpop by the United States. British and
G. rman governments. Lord Sails
buys absence from London alone
Ceiays the formal acceptance by Great
L.. tain. though in his absence Sir
I omas Sanderson and Mr.. Nilliers,
wEo are understood to be especially
fa.niliar with the Samoan question,
have approved the plan for u commits
son.
The United States has Informally
expressed it's approval, and the formal
acceptance. it is learned from the
highest quarter. will follow speedily.
The proposition came from Germany.
This high joint commission. IL is
felt. affords pacific solution to the
W. ole trouble ut the moment when
Samoan affairs began To look the most
th, eatening The plan has been fully
gone over 10y Secretary Hay and the
IL lush and German Ambassadors
i.te. and its essential details worked
out
Each nation is to be represented by
one member of the commission. 1t is
to have practically unlimited authority
without the necessity of referring It's
decisions back to the several Govern
,gcnts for approval. 1t is felt that by
comforting such complete and final au-
u ority OIL the high commission the
danger will be obviated of any further
deadlock and delays
Still another important provision
under consideration is that King Oscar
of Norway and Sweden sh1i. be the
umpire in case the three commission
Crs should fail 10 reach n determina-
ton. The plan of inviting King Oscar
to referee n disagreement meets the
approval OF the British ana German
authorities, and doubtless will be ap-
proved by the United States.
| King Oscar was agreed upon be-
| tween the United States ana Great
| Hiitain as final arbitrator in the pro-
pCsed Anglo American arbitration
| heaty. as well as in the Venezuela
| r,atter. He also is mentioned in the
| treaty OF Berlin as the one 10 name a
| Chief Justice of Samoa. 1t was this
that led to the suggestion of his name
az the present time to act as final ar
| bitrator.
| The expectation is that the sittings
| Of the commission will be in Samoa,
Where for The time being they will
| have complete authority over the
| v nole range OF Samoan affairs as far
as the High Commission may think tit
| TO act in order to fully restore order
and establish affairs on a stable basis.
it will require no treaty to bring the
commission into existence, as the ac-
ceptances of the United States and
| Great Britain will complete the agree.
| nient.
| Ii is understood that the men selected
| FOR the mission will be Of high stand
| ing. SO as 10 give added weight and
| dignity to their findings, such as, for
Instance. the Consul General of Ger.
many, whose jurisdiction covers the
v hole range of Pacific affairs. He is
II man of complete information on Sa
moan and other Pacific island sub
,ects. as well as man of political intiu
ence. The United States and British
commissioners will be drawn from the
same high rank. with a view, how
ever. to their information on interna
t'onal matters of this character.
Berlin, April 4. The Unified State.
Ambassador. Andrew D. White, visit
ed the Foreign Office this morning anl
| Informed the officials there that the
lartst proposals of Germany regarding
Samoa had been favorably received a.
Washington.
The attitude of the press is fair anG
Iaoderate. although some of the news
papers are attacking the authorities
bitterly. asserting that they are max
ing too many concessions to the Unit
cd States and Great Britain.