The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-11-10

officials Do Not Doubt the Ac-
curacy Of the Press Reports.
BERLIN, Nov 9.-The Colonial Coun-
Gil, at a meeting to-day, heartily APP
proved the Samoan agreement. Prince
Won Weld declared that thanks were
due firstly to the Emperor, and called
for three cheers for his majesty.
telegram was dispatched to the En-
peror expressing the Councils graft
fication at the ending of the Samoan
dispute, ITO the imperishable glory OF
the Emperor and the honor of Ger
nlanv."
Continuing, the telegram said: ''The
Government, which knew its purpose,
was powerful enough to attain it, hav-
ing succeeded in overcoming difficulties
which appeared almost insuperable.
The name of Samoa is indissolubly
bound up with the earliest beginning
of German colonial dominion, German
industry and German pioneer work, and
the blood of brave German sailors has
made Samoa German and the German
people could not entertain the thought
of giving up the island"
The telegram then proceeded to ex-
press to the Emperor the Councils
humblest congratulations on the new
acquisition, begging his majesty to be
pleased to accept the assurance of it's
unfiinching confidence in his Govern
ment.
A telegram was also sent to Count
Won Buelow, the German Minister of
Foreign Affairs, thanking him for his
brilliant colonial success, which, it said,
might we'll be described as thoroughly
national and declaring that the Min
lister possessed the undivided. entire
confidence of all the colonial circles in
the fatherland.
LONDON, Nov. 9.-The afternoon pa
pers here express satisfaction at the
Samoan settlement They are espec-
tally gratified at the evidence of the
continued good feeling between the
three nations The acquisition of Tu-
tuila is regarded as setting the seal
on the expansionist policy of the United
States. and a great development of the
United States navy is anticipated and
welcomed.
NOT OFFICIALLY REPORTED AT
STATE DEPARTMENT.
WASHINGTON, Nov. $50 far the
State Department has received no Off
cial statement of the agreement be-
tween Great Britain and Germany as
to the Samoan Islands. However, the
officials do not doubt the accuracy of
the press report.
The chief interest of the United
States in the Samoan archipelago was
the preservation of our rights in the
harbor of Pago Page. a lease Of which
was secured to US in the treaty of 1878.
This did not give us any absolute prop
erty in the island; it was provided that
it was to remain in force for ten ye:lls
from it's date, and was then terminable
on twelve months notice by either
party.
By similar treaty in the year 1879
the German Government had a right
to the establishment of a naval sta
ton in Saluafata harbor in the island
of Upola, and in the same year Great
Britain acquired the right to estab-
lish naval station on the shores of
Samoan harbor to be hereafter desig-
mated by the British Government. This
privilege not applying to the harbors
of Apia or Saluafata nor to that part
of the harbor of Pago Page to he here
after selected by the Government Of
! the United States as a station under
their treaty with Samoa
By the arrangement recently made
between the Governments of the Unit.
ed States, Great Britain and Germany,
the United States becomes possessed Of
all the islands of the Samoan group
which lie east of the Hist meridian Of
longitude. These islands comprise
! Tutuila, where is situated the harbor
of Pago Pago and further east, Manra,
| Ollosinga, Ofoo and Rose Islands Out
side of Tutuila in this group there is
no harbor, and but one anchorage, sit
uated on the northwest side of Manua
In Savaii there is only one harbor for
ships, that of Mataatu, exposed at all
| seasons; and, moreover during the
period from December to April, when
the north winds are prevalent, it is
dangerous In the island of Upolu there
is no first-class harbor. Even that of
Saluafata, mentioned above, would re-
quire very considerable expenditure 20
make it of any use, while the made
quacy of Apia as harbor was clearly
SHOWN III the terrible destructive temp
est of a few years ago.
But in the island of Tutuila, besides
five reef harbors similar to those in
upolu, there is the harbor of Paco
Page, which is a deep and land locked
basin, whose easy approach and per-
feet security for vessels causes il to
outweigh in value all the other islands
of the group. 1t is generally consid-
cred by naval experts the finest har-
Dor in the Pacific Ocean