Evening star., 1899-04-13
Complexities as to samoa.

There is no denying that the Samoan
crisis is delicate indeed and that serious
possibilities are created by the fighting
which has just been reported. Three ques-
tiOns are now at the front of the case. the
answers to which will perhaps determine
the stability of the peace which prevails
between Germany on the one hand and
Great Britain and the United States on the
other. These are: What will he done or
what has been done with the owner of the
German plantation on which the white
troops were massacred? What is to be-
come of the joint high commission? What
is the precise nature of the agreement be
tween the nations as regards the power of
the chief justice to decide between rival
Claimants to the kingship?
The first of these questions is probably
the most serious. The German subject in
question was at latest accounts a prisoner
on a British warship. charged with melting
the natives TO murderous attacks upon the
British and American sailors. 1t is claimed
on behalf of Germany that her consul has
the sole right to try Germans in Samoa
accused of crime and that the cOnsul'S de-
maud for the surrender of the prisoner
would have to he obeyed. British agents
have. however, a very summary way of
disposing of those who are caught killing
British subjects, or conspiring for their
death This particular German landowner
may even now have been hanged from a
yard-arm. Would such an act prove a
cause of war?
The fate of the joint high commission
has become somewhat uncertain. Until yes
terday it seemed assured that representa-
tives of the three powers would sail from
this country April 10 for Samoa. But sud-
IL nod h.
jected to the unanimity clause in the agree
ment for a commission which was urged by
Germany and acceded to by the United
States. Baron Won Sternberg, who was
chosen but not formally named as the Ger
man representative. was summoned 10 Ber-
lin for consultation and all chance of an
Immediate start for Samoa seemed TO be
lost. There appears TO have been no con-
nection between the hitch in the arrange
ments for this means of settling the dis
pute and the receipt of news of the fighting
near Apia April l. The latest accounts
Suggest that England has accepted the
unanimity rule, and that the commission
will proceed to Samoa forthwith.
The question as TO the precise scope of
the chief Justices powers in choosing
king IN the event of dispute among the
natives lies AT the bottom of the entire
controversy. According to the agreement
of leS9 that official was unquestionabIy
given exclusive and final jurisdiction I'M
der such circumstances. There was no
mention of a reference of his decision to
the powers or TO their cOnsuls for accept
arce or consideration. Throughout the con-
trOversy which has recently arisen there
has been disposition on the part of Ger
many and the friends of that country to
h.
amended in 1924 as to make the chief
Justices decision subject TO ratification by
all three of the powers before martial
means could be employed TO enforce it. No
such amendment appears on the public rec
oIds- There Is no reference to any change
in the agreement in any of the presidential
messages submitted 10 Congress since 1889,
although President Cleveland on at least
two occasions took pains TO note the cOndi-
tions in Samoa a. illustrating the ''impolicy
Of entering into entangling alliances" II
there were such an amendment il was Sc
cTetly reached and its record was kept
from the public eye.
In the absence OF any such amendment
the German contention against the seating
of Malietoa Tanu falls TO the ground, what
ever may be the righteousness Of Herr
Roses protest against the wording Of Ad-
miral kautz's proclamation. II this condi-
ton Of the case, then, it is clearly due
from Germany or her representatives, that
publication De made of any text in the
form of treaty OF a supplementary agree
ment which Oyerthrows the exclusive right
OF the chief justice 10 decide as 10 the
klngship il event OF a dispute. Until such
proof is adduced the American contention
must be that the responsibility for the
blOOdshed in the effort 10 sustain the de-
cree of the chief justice rests exclusively
and heavily upon Germany.