Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-12-14
SAMOAN TREATY.
The Agreement Entered Into
Heartily IndOrsed.

Important events have occurred in the sa-
moan islands. The election, according to the
to the late King Maletoa Laupepa developed
contest as to the validity of the result
ws to Be decided By te 6i fH
Tanu, the rival chief, Mataafa, took up arms
The active intervention of American and Brit
ish warships became imperative to restore Or
der, at the cost of sanguinary encounters
representative Of the United States, Germany
and Great Britain sent to Samoa to in
vestigate the situation and provide a temporary
remedy. BY its active efforts peaceful solu-
ton was reached for the time being, the king
ship being abolished and provisional govern
mously made by the commission for a perma-
nent adjustment Of the Samoan question were
taken under consideration by the three pow
ers parties to the general act. But the more
they were examined the more evident 1t be-
A Radical Change Was Necessary
inconvenience and possible perils Of the tri-
partite scheme of supervision and control in
interest in common in that quarter beyond
commercial rivalry has been once more en-
phasized by the recent events: The suggested
remedy OF the joint commission, like the
scheme 1t aimed to replace, amounted to what
has been styled a tri-dominion, being the
exercise of the functions of sovereignty by
an unanimous agreement Of three powers. Tho
situation had become far more intricate and
embarrassing from, every point of view than
1t was when my predecessor in 1894, summed
up its perplexities and condemned the particle
patton in it Of the United States.
The arrangement under which Samoa was
administered had proved impracticable and
unacceptable to all the powers concerned
10 withdraw from the agreement and aban-
oon the islands to Germany and Great Brit
ain would not be compatible with our inter-
eTen IN IN the ne ahrehpeago TO yeneush
anchorage in the Pacific, the occupancy of
which had been leased to the United States
IN 1878 by the first foreign treaty ever con-
nf
either as regards the needs of our navy or
the interests of our growing commerce with
the East. We could not have considered any
proposition for the abrogation of the tri-partite
control which did not confirm us in all our
rights and safeguard all our national interests
H the islands.
Division of Samoa
Our views commended themselves to the other
powers. A satisfactory arrangement was con-
cluded between the governments of Germany
and OF england. by virtue of which England
retired from Samoa in view of compensations
IN other directions, and both parties renowned
IN favor Of the United States all their rights
ana claims over and in respect to that Dor
tion of the group lying to the east of the
one nuhdfed and seventy first degree of west
t ntn embracing. the islands of Tutuila
o1oo: olesenga AMI Mauna. transmit to the
senate, for its constitutional action thereon
a convention which, besides the provisions
ABOVE mentioned, also guarantees us the same
paraeses anu conditions in respect to
merce and commercial vessels in all of the
Islands of Samoa those possessed by Ger.
many. ~ ~
Claims have been preferred by white resi-.
70 nave been suffered through the acts of The
treaty governments in putting down the late
disturbances. A convention has been made
taan the three powers for the investiga.
tlon ana settlement of these claims by .
neutral arbitrator. to which the attention n
the senate will be invited. VI