The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-03
COMMISSION IN CONTROL At APIA.
Mataafa Invited on Board the Badger
No Further Fighting.

APIA, May 20. via San Francisco. June .
Everything has been quiet here since the last
mail. On Auril 90 Admiral kautz and Capt
Stuart addressed letter to Mataafa notifying
him that Joint High Commission had been
appointed and was on its way to Apia with
power to settle oil controversies and suggest
ing that to avoid further useless conflict
he and his people should keep beyond
certain lines. The letter was delivered by two
Catholic priests. Mataafa replied. agreeing to
the suggestion only on the condition that the
Consuls OF the three powers concurred in the
proposal. To this the naval officers replied
sharply. regretting.that Mataata had not seen
fit to accept their generous offer. and stating
that unless he and all his people were outside
OF the prescribed lines by certain time. they
would open fire on him at & o o'clock on the morn
ing OF April 26. Thereupon Mataafa agreed to
the conditions, but expressed regret that the
Consuls did not join In the agreement
Since this agreement there has been no fight
ing indeed. there has been practically none
since April 22 After the death of Lieut.. L;ans-
doned all aggressive flGhting, combining him
self to maintaining his position. Capt Stuart
OF II. N. y. TauranRa having secured large
ing TO do some aggressive fighting with the aid
OF the friendly natives, but the badger arrived
diately took, coptr9l, of affairs,
They established headquarters at the Inter
national Hotel and summoned before them a
mum Der OF officials and others supposed to be
able to give them a clear idea of the situation.
On May 10 they sent a letter TO Mataafa, nOt-
flying him OF their arrival and inviting him to
come before them on the Badger They prom
Used to send one boat from a vessel of each Of
the three powers and guaranteed him safe
return to the place whence he came be-
fore shutdown Of the same day. Mataaia
piled. accepting the invitation. and he is cx
pected tomorrow.
The impression prevails mere that the atti-
tude OF the commission has put the American
and British officers in rather an en- barrassing
position. They have proclaimed MalietOa
Tanu rs king, sautcd HIM with twenty-one
guns, received him with hOnnrs on their Nos-
sells and made war ON Mataafa. and now they
have to send hoats for NlatnaIn, r"ceiv" him
with hunOrS and guarantee his safe return--In
effect accept conditions from him.
The Phil0delphia is und"r orders 10 sail for
San Francisco within II dav or two. The
American naval force wh"h Will then he left
here consists Of the armed transport Badger
and the collier Brutus
Dir. Solf the new President Of the Municipal
Council of Apia. arrived here about two weeks
ago He has not yet assumed the duties of his
office. prcfcrring to wait for the arrival 0f the
Commissioners. He has conducted himself
with great discretion and has made q very
favorable impression.
The last fighting was on April % 1t was
desutory in its character. MataafaS forces
threatened to advance on Apia. aud the British
and American forces with the friendly natives
simply defended the post ions they held.