The San Francisco call., 1899-03-26
THREE POWERS
WORK IN ACCORD
Modification of the Ber-
lin Treaty.
IT RELATES TO TAXATION
GERMANY AssENTs TO THE
NEW PLAN.
But the Kingship of Samoa Is a
Question That Cannot Be Def
initely Settled for Some
Time.
IT RELATES TO TAXATION
GERMANY ASSENTS TO THE
NEW PLAN.
Special Dispatch TO The Call.

NEW YORK, March 25.-The Her
aids Washington correspondent sends
the following: AS showing that the
signatory powers to the Berlin treaty
are acting in harmony in the discus
sion of questions arising out of the
present Samoan situation, learned to-
day that an agreement has been
reached respecting a modification of
the treaty in regard to taxation, and
authority has been given for the
Municipal Council of Apia, with the ap
proval of the Chief Justice, to pass a
law imposing hard labor.
While these two points are not in
themselves important, an official with
whom 1 talked told me that they
showed harmony between the three
powers. Both propositions were adopted
on the suggestion of the United States,
the assent of Germany being presented
to Secretary Hay to-day. This country
suggested that the consent of two pow
ers would be sufficient, but in her re-
ply Germany expressly stipulates that
her agreement is made with the under
standing that her consent does not es-
tablish a precedent for the solution of
Samoan questions according to ma
jorities. BY this action the German
Government prevents the United States
and Great Britain from uniting against
German wishes to set up tMalietoa Tanu
as King.
The German ambassador on Thurs
day presented a note to the Secretary
of State, embodying his Government S
views on the duties of naval command
ers in Samoan waters. Some apprehen-
sion was felt in Berlin that Rear Ad-
..-I.- ~
and create new complications.
Germany is understood to be urging
that the Berlin treaty be adhered TO
in the settlement of pending questions,
and as the United States and Great
Britain also wish a strict interpreta-
ton Of the treaty there should be no
trouble in reaching satisfactory
agreement.
understand the proposition made by
this Government respecting taxation
authorized the collection of taxes out
side as we'll as inside of the municipal
boundaries of Apia. The object of this
proposition, of course, is to increase
the revenues of the island in order that
the expenses of the signatory powers
may be reduced. Under the terms of
the treaty the Municipal Council is
authorized to inflict adequate penalties
including imprisonment for violation of
the treaty, under the regulations of the
council, but by the agreement of the
powers hard labor is added to the SEN
tence which it may in future impose.
1t is no longer denied in official cir
cIes that the kingship question is an
important one which was to be dis
cussed, as the Herald stated by the
three consuls on board the flagship
Philadelphia, the only foreign Warship
now in the harbor. While the authori-
ties are hopeful that an agreement will
be reached it is regarded as extremely
doubtful that such will be the case, and
1t is to prevent the American COM
British and American COnsuls, in case
Government desired the administration
proposition of the naval commander in
Samoan waters as determined by the
terms Of the Berlin act
The German government feels that
Mataafa is Overwhelmingly popular.
having been elected by a vote of six
times as great as that received by
Tanu, and that as the purpose of the
act was to give a popular government
to the natives they should be allowed
to select their own King On the other
hand, the American and British gov
ernmentS claim that Mataafa is barred
by the Berlin act; that the decision of
the Chief Justice was proper, and that
they propose to. stand by it. 1t is ex-
pected that the matter will finally be
discussed directly by the three govern
ments. In the meantime nothing has
been done looking to the withdrawal of
Herr Rose or Chief Justice Chambers