Evening star., 1899-04-14
FACTS ABOUT SAMOA.
Trouble Over Maintaining the Joint
PrOtectOrate.

The government of the Samoan Islands
up to 1878 had been from time immemorial
under the two royal houses of Malietoa and
Tupea, except on the island of Tutuila,
which was governed by native chiefs. In
1873, at the suggestion of foreign residents,
a house of mobiles and house of represen-
tatives were established, with Maietoa
Laupepa and the chief of the royal house
of Tupea joint kings.
Subsequently Malietoa became sole king
In 1887 he was deposed by the German
government upon the claim of unjust treat
ment of German subjects, who formed the
bulk of the foreign population on the island,
and was deDorted first to German New
Guinea and then to the Cameroons, i'll
Africa, and finally in 1883 to Hamburg,
Tamasese. native chief being meantime
proclaimed by the Germans king. though
against the protest of the British and
American cOnSuls at Samoa. Mataafa,
near relative of Malietoa, made war upon
Tamasese and succeeded to the kingship.
The Treaty of 1850.
In 1889 conference between the repre-
sentatives of the American, British and
German governments was held at Berlin at
which a treaty was signed by the three
powers guaranteeing the neutrality of the
islands, in which the citizens of the three
signatory powers would have equal rights
of residence. trade and personal protection.
They agreed to recognize the independence
of the Samoan government and the free
rights of the natives to elect their chief
or king and choose a form of government
according to their own laws and customs.
A supreme court was established con-
sisting of one judge, who is styled the
chief justice of Samoa, and who is at
present w. L. Chambers, an American,
formerly a resident of the state of Ala
bama.
To this court are referred First all civil
suits concerning real property situated in
Samoa; second. all civil suits between
natives and foreigners or between foreign
ers of different nationalites; third all
crimes committed by natives against for
eigners or committed by such foreigners as
are not subject to any consular juriSdic-
ton The future alienation of lands was
prohibited, with certain specified exemp-
tions. The capital was located at Apia, the
chief town of the group of Islands, and a
local administration provided for the mu-
nicipal district of Apia-
A commission was appointed to investi-
gate titles to lands alleged to have been
purchased from the natives, and this In
1894 completed its labors. confirming about
5000 acres of lands to Germans $4,000 to
British, and 21,0oO to Americans, though
much of this land has since changed
hands.
Death of Malietoa,
Malietoa, who had been deported. was re-
stored as king in November 1889, and con-
tinued as such until his death, which oc-
CURED August % 1898. when the consuls
of the three powers, with the chief Justice
as president, took charge of the adminis
tration pending the election of a success
sor. 1t is out of the election and recogni-
ton of this successor to King Malietoa, de-
ceased. that the recent disagreements be-
tween the representatives Of the three gov
ernments maintaining the joint protectorate
over the islands have occurred.
The Harbor of Paro Paro.
Especial interest attaches to these islands
from the standpoint of the United States by
reason Of the fact that the haEbor Of Page