New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-20
THE SAMOAN COMMISSION.

The instructions given to the Samoan Com
missioners. which are in all essential respects
the same to the representatives or all three
nafions. bear out the forecasts made hitherto
by the most judicious observers. 1thas seemed
impossible that the three greatest nations Ill
the world should seriously quarrel over the
acts of some minor functlonaries in n remote
and comparatively unimportant part or the
globe We have felt entire confidence from
the outset that the Governments would get
together" and that when they did so n way
would be found. first Of restoring peace ana
the supremacy of law in Samoa. and after tnat
of adjusting more or less permanently the re-
lations of the Powers concerned in, that island
oroun The Governments have "got together,
and the result is an agreement upon plan
which is Mt once reasonable and practical, and
which offers good promise of speedy settle
ment of the questions at issue
The Commission goes with supreme power
under the treaty That Is the first and most
important point to be noticed. 1t will be itself
the government Of the islands. The consuls,
the Municipal President. the Chief Justice HIM
self. must all take back seats, and let the Com
mission rule in all things. That is wise pro-
vision, for 1t places in authority men who nave
no prejudces formed by the recent occurrences
AT AHA. There is good reason for confidence
IN the representatives Of this country who are
now at Apa. But in the nature Of the case It
must be difficult II not impossible, for them to
take as calm and impartial view Of the sit
nation as another who has not been for weeks
fighting all day and watching all night can
take. And certainly three men representing
the three Powers who go out there now will
have far better chance Of agreeing among
themselves than three who have been there
for time and have been more or less at log
gerheads.
Thus taking control. the Commission will first
restore peace. In that work it will. Of course,
be able to command the aid of all the officials
whom it temporarily supersedes. The Com
mission will be consuls, and the consuls will
be its servants The Commission will be the
Supreme Court and Chief Justice Chambers
will be subject to its orders. Having restored
nesce. II will investigate thoroughly the entire
situation and the causes Of the recent and pres
ent troubles It will consider the kingshp
question. and even the treaty itself, and what
notifications Of that instrument are necessary
or desirable It's action in restoring peace and
doing all other needful things under the treaty
must be unanimous. and will be conclusive
The treaty itself may be suspended by unani-
nous vote Of the Commission, pending action
of the Governments. To what extent the re-
ports and recommendations Of the Commission
will also be unanimous remains TO be seen. But
we shall not be surprised to find the agreement
among the three members far closer than might
be expected from the bitterness of recent con-
troversies: 80 close, indeed, that Its recon-
mendatlons may be easily transformed Into
treaty stipulations by the three Powers. The
Powers are proceeding In exactly the right
way, and the right way usually leads to right