The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-04
United States Representative Must
Be Familiar With the Situation.
ENGLAND MOVES CAUTIOUSLY.
She is Ready To Accept Commits
sion, but Must Know i'm Advance
of its Acceptance as 10 It's Pow
cr-It is That the Matter
Can be Adjusted Within
the Treaty.

WASHINGTON, April 3.--The President
and Secretary Hay have been giving
consideration to tho selection Of a repre-
sentative Of the United States Govern
men. on the Samoan Commission which
may be taken as a pretty sure index OF
the acceptance by our government Of the
agreement OF the three powers for set
tin. the issues that have now arisen
relative to Samoa.
The United States representatives will
not be a member OF either the Senate or
House of Representative, according 10 the
present lights 1t is probable that the
effort will be to find some person thor
oughly familiar with the issue likely to
be presented in the settlement OF this
Samoan dispute.
FEW POSTED.
The questions - complex one, ana mas
generally dropped out of public notice
during the last years, the number of per-
sons of thc Official class. who are well
posted upon IL, is extremely limited. In
the absence or an acceptance By Great
Britain Of the commission plan IL has
not been possible 10 proceed outline the
Instructions TO be given to the commis-
SION.
10 Is said that il does not follow by any
means that because the commission is
appointed, 1t is % at once overthrow
the treaty of Berlin under the terms OF
which the three governments have for
ten years administered the affairs of
Samoa. On the contrary 1t IS entirely
possible that the commission Will be able
10 adjust conditions al Apla and else,
where in the Samoan group TO the terms
Of that treaty, and II IS conceived here
that all that it Is needful for reforming
conditions there and placing them on a
satisfactory basis may be secured
through the adoption Of some additional
articles 10 the Berlin convention, not
even affecting the general principle of
the tripartite control
MANY CABLEGRAMS.
Many cable dispatpches have been pass
Ing between Washington and London In
regard to the Samoan settlement. The
main point is one determining exactly
the terms on which the High Commis-
sion IS to proceed. Lord Salisbury, the
British Premier. Is not disposed to enter
preciptiously on a plan unless II IS un-
derstood fully just what the plan in all
its details is. The British government
is as ready as the United states or Ger
many to accept the general principle OF
commissioners, but il wants 10 know in
advance of the plan as TO power OF the
commission AS Lord Salisbury is In the
south OF France the inquiries and re-
plies have TO be forwarded 20 him from
London so that necessarily there Is con-
siderable delay. The indications are that
the British authorities will give their adj
herence 70 the agreement within day or
two. but IT is stated that there is still
chance. although a very slight one. that
the agreement may not be considered.
4 CONFERENCE.
BERLIN. April 3.-The Minister Of For
eign Affairs. Baron Van Buelow has
spent his holiday returning unexpectedly
to the capitol to-day, and lengthy con-
ference with the British ambassador 70
Germany Senior Frank Cavhdish Las
celles. on the subject Of Samoa.
LOOKS ENCOURAGING.
LONDON. April 3.-The Berlin cores
pondent Of The Standard says:
Mr.. White. the American ambassador,
expressed 70 me to-day Monday) his
firm conviction that the whole Samoan
question Is now I'm a fair way to a set
tlement satisfactory to all the Powers
Interested