The record-union., 1899-06-03
In Connection With the Trial and Proceed
ings in the KiRgship Matter.
and Mataafa-Chief Justice
Chambers Informed by the
Chairman Of the Commission
That the Powers or Jurisdiction
Of the Supreme Court Will Not
be Interfered With While the
Commissioners Are at Apia.

SAN FRANCISCO, June 2.-The
steamer Alameda, from Australian
ports via Apia, Samoa and Honolulu
arrived here to-day, and brings the fol-
lowing from the Associated Press COR
respondent at Apia, dated May 18th:
The United States steamer Badger,
bearing the Commissioners of the Unit
ed States, Great Britain and Germany,
arrived at Apia on May 18th. The
Commissioners have elected Mr.. Trip,
the American representative, Chairman.
On their arrival they received letters
Of welcome from King Malietoa Tanu
and from Mataafa Both letters were
acknowledged.
The Commissioners are reticent as to
their plans and their proceedings. 1t
does not seem to be their purpose to
hold any public sessions Up to date
they have been busily engaged in pre-
liminaries and careful study of the
situation. They have had interviews
with the three Consuls, the Admiral
and Captains Of the British warships,
the Chief Justice and Representatives
of the London Mission Society and the
Roman Catholic Mission.
Their inquiries seem directed to a
thorough and exhaustive examination
of all concerned in connection with the
trial and proceedings in the kingship
matter. This afternoon they are to
have an interview with King Tanu, and
| tomorrow with Mataafa. Mataafa
and five of his chiefs are coming up
to Apia at the request Of the Commits
sioners, and they have guaranteed him
safe passage to and from Apia.
| In connection with the kingship pro-
ceedings, the Commissioners wrote
asking the Chief Justice if he would
| forward them copy of the docket on
file in the Supreme Court. This the
Chief Justice did. AT the same time
he, in writing, informed the Commits
sioners that he did so from a desire to
aid them in their investigation; that he
claimed for himself and his court, not
withstanding the presence of the COM
mission in Apia, the full power and
functions of the court as exercised in
the past, and that his action must in
no way be regarded as abrogating those
powers or privileges; that the Supreme
| Court decision in the kingship matter
was final, and was not subject to re-
vision or alteration at the hands of the
Commissioners.
| The Commissioners in reply were
strictly non-committal, and simply ac-
hnowledged the receipt of the Chief
Justices letter
The Chief Justice has been informed
by the Chairman of the commission
that the Commissioners while in AHA
do not intend in any way to interfere
with the powers or jurisdiction of the
supreme Court, and that the court viii,
of
DR.. Solf, who was nominated as Pres
ident Of the municipality. arrived nv
the last steamer from San Francisco.
He is on the horns of a dilemma A
President sent out by the three treaty
Powers, and yet he is no President for
| the reason that he was unable to get
into office and assume his duties before
the arrival of the Commissioners. Be
lore ne came to Apia he was informed
| that as there was only a provisional
Government in Samoa he had better
apply on his arrival to the ConsuIs to
be put into office The Berlin treaty.
requires that the President shall be
appointed by the Samoan Government
When he got to Apia he found Tanu
installed as King, and recognized by
the United States and Great Britain.
but not by his own Government.
DR.. Solf is an official on the foreign
service list of the German Government.
He could not and would not be allowed
to act until he had obtained his an
pointment-but he could not. in the
face of his Consul's and Government s
attitude, apply to and thereby recog-
nize Tanu and his Government. He
waited the arrival of the Commission
ers. They have superseded all hith-
erto existing authority in Samoa, and
as such do not see the necessity at the
present for a President.
Dr. Solf applied for the Secretaryship
of the High Commission, but this has
been conferred on Mr. Morgan. who
came out as Commissioner Trips Pri-
vate Secretary.