The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-01
Joint High Commission to Settle
the Dispute.
AN AGREEMENT REACHED
KING OF SWEDEN SELECTED AS
UMPIRE.
Each One of the Three Powers Will
Be Represented By One Member On
the Commission and Their Con-
illusions Will Be Final-Full
Power to Act.

Washington, March 31.-A joint high
commission to settle the entire Samoan
trouble has been practically agreed
upon by the United States, British and
German governments. Lord Salisbury
absence from London alone delays the
formal acceptance by Great Britain,
though in his absence Sir Thomas San
derson and Mr.. Villiers, who are I'M
derstood to be specially familiar with
the Samoan question, have approved
the plan for a commission. The United
States has informally expressed its APP
proval and the formal acceptance, it is
learned from the best quarter, will fol-
low speedily.
AS the proposition emanates with
Germany, her approval of course, is
assured. The high commission, it is
felt, affords a pacific solution to the
Whole trouble at the moment when Sa-
moan affairs began to look the most
threatening. The new plan has been
fully gone over by Secretary Hay and
the British and German ambassadors
here and its essential details worked
out Each nation is to be represented
by one member of the commission. 1t
is to have practically unlimited author
ity, without the necessity of referring
its decisions back to the several gov
ernments for approval. 1t is felt that
authority on the high commission the
danger viii be obviated of any further
deadlockS and delays. Still another
important provision under considera-
ton is that King Oscar of Norway and
Sweden shall be the umpire in case
the three high commissioners should
fail to reach determination. The plan
of inviting King Oscar to referee a dis
agreement meets the approval of the
OYs+s cl, 4
doubtless will be approved also by the
United States as a means of ensuring
finality of decision, though it is not
knownsjust how far this has been con-
Sidered by the Washington authorities.
King Oscar was agreed upon between
the United States and Great Britain as
a final arbitrator in connection with
the proposed Anglo-American arbitra-
ton treaty, as well as in the VeneZue-
Ian matter. He is alsp mentioned in
the treaty of Berlin as the one to name
a chief justice of Samoa in case the
three signatory powers fail to agree on
a chief justice. 1t was this that led
to the suggestion of his name at the
present time to act as final arbitrator.
The expectation is that the SittingS of
the commission will be in Samoa, where
for the time being they will have COM
plete authority over the whole range
of Samoan affairs, SO far as the high
commission think fit to act in order to
fully restore order and establish affairs
on a stable basis. 1t will require no
treaty to bring the commission into eX-
istence, as the acceptances of the
United States and Great Britain will
complete the agreement.
It lis understood that the men select
ed for the mission will be of high
standing, so as to give added weight
and dignity of their findings, such for
instance. as the consul general of Ger
many, whose jurisdiction covers the
whole range of Pacific affairs. He is
a man of complete information on Sa-
moan and other Pacific island sub
jects, as well as a man of political in
fiuence. The United States and Brit
ish commissioners, it is understood,
would be drawn from the same high
ranks; with a view, however, to their
information on international matters
of this character, rather than their po-
litical standing.
As showing that the acute situation
of the Samoan affair is past, Baron
Speck Won Sternberg, first secretary of
Germany, left here tonight for New
York, whence he sails on the 9Th for
London and Berlin. He has been a
most active factor throughout the Sa-
moan controversy, having made that
question special study and thus be-
ing able to render the ambassador ma
terial assistance. His influence at all
times has been toward maintaining the
friendly relations between the two
countries and overcoming the causes
of irritation. His trip to London and
Berlin has no significance whatever in
connection with Samoan affairs, but is
entirely personal after the gravity of
hae affair has passed