The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-15

unanimity in its decisions and have
carried this point after overcoming con-
siderable difficulties. (Cheers)
Il am happy to state that the British
government has now officially declared
to me- through its ambassador, that II
accepted the proposals of Germany re-
garding the mode OF operation and
functions of the commission, whose
functions and powers may be summed
up as follows:
The commission appointed by the
three signatorN powers to the Samoa
act viii take over the provisional gov
eminent of the islands. To this END
the commission viii exercise the highest
powers. All other official Dersonages
viii have to obey the orders of the COM
missioners, and the three powers VIII
instruct their consular and naval rep
resentatves to lend them their SUD
port. No measure taken By the COM
nissioners in conformity with the fore
going official powers win be legal I'M
less all three commissioners assent
thereto.
One of the tasks of the commission
will be TO consider what provisions 1t
regards as necessary for the future
government of the country, or the MOD
ification of the Berlin act, and report
TO the government the views at which
il finally arrives.
I'VE hope the commission will sue
coed in effecting a settlement, Just,
fair and acceptable to all parties. We
viii only assent to such decisions as
DO not prejudice our plain rights and
the important interests of Germans in
Samoa.
NOT WORTH FIGHTING FOR.
"A portion of the foreign press has
called attention to the fact that the
value of Samoa is not in proportion to
the Importance gained in international
politics and relations. We. too, believe
that il will be in the highest degree rep
rehensible if war were l5indled by the
three great civilized Christian nations
on account of group of islands in the
remote South sea, inhabited by 10000
saVages, among whom live scarcely 500
Europeans, with q total trade of hardly
5000, 600 marks.
L am convinced of and advised that
it should not be forgotten that in for
eign policy it is of the first Importance
not TO allow ones right judgment to be
prejudiced, but to appraiSe every queS-
ton according to its real Importance.
Two things, however. must not be
forgotten. Firstly, our duty to protect
the trade, business and property of our
countrymen in Samoa. Secondly we
possess treaty rights in Samoa, the
maintenance of which are regarded by
the German nation as a point of hon
or" CHEERS and cries of That's
rightT)
Finally, the minister announced that
all governments had agreed to Ger
many's proposal to dispatch a commits
sion, adding that Germany would only
accept q settlement which would leave
German rights and interests unim-
paired. He regarded the uncurtailed
maintenance of her treaty rights as a
matter of national honor.
DR.. Lehr was the only speaker whose
utterances developed the motive of the
Interpolation. DR.. Lehr is known as
the leader of the "Alle- Deutsche-Ver
band" He was frequently interrupted
by members of the left and center, es-
pecIally when he referred to threatened
economic measures against the United
States.
The speech of the minister, of foreign
affairs was largely deprived of its eff
feet by DR. Lehr's remarks, and party
leaders made successive declarations
of satisfaction at the foreign minister
statement greeting the minister's re-
marks with cheers.
Prince Herbert Bismarck, in a, declar-
alton, said he refrained from making
statements as q Samoa act signer. con-
troverting the sharp criticism of the
measure.
About 100 agrarians intended to pre-
cipitate a general discussion upon the
economic relations between Great Brit
ain, the United States and Germany.
but they We're prevailed upon to desist
The general verdict at the end of the
discussion was that the Pan-German
party had rendered itself ridiculous
Prince Bismarck informed the CORE
sDondent of the Associated Press. when
Questioned as 10 the purport of his dec
laration. that he did not mean to criti-
else the iNinister of foreign affairs. but
10 disprove DR.. Lehr's deductions. re-
1necnbering his fathers motto. never, Ia
mix economic questions with political
questions.