The evening times., 1899-12-05

temporary remedy. BY its active efforts
peaceful solution was reached for the
time being. the kingship being abolished
and a provisional government established
Recommendation unanimously made by
the commission for a permanent adjust
ment of the Samoan question we're taken
u..der consideration by the three powers
parties to the General Act. But the more
they were examined the more evident II
became that a radical change was neees-
sary In the relations Of the powers to
Samoa.
The Inconvenience and possible peTils
Of the tripartite scheme of supervision
and control in the Samoan group by powers
having little interest IN common ii tina.
quarter beyond commercial rivalry had
been once more emphasized by the
recent events. The suggested remedy
OF the Joint Commission, like the
scheme 1t aimed to replace, amount
ed to what has been styled tri-
dominium, being the exercise OF the func-
tions OF sovereignty by an unanimous
had become far more intricate and embar-
RAISING from every point OF view than Il
was when my predecessor, in 1894, summed
up its perplexities and condemned the par
ticipa.ion in it Of the United States.
The arrangement under which Samoa
was administered had proved Impractical
BILE and unacceptable TO all the powers
concerned To withdraw from the agree
ment and abandon the islands to Germany
and Grea. Britain would not be compati-
Bile with our interests in the archipelago.
To re,inqui3h our rights in the harbor Of
Pago Pago the best anchorage in the Pa
cific. the occupancy OF which had besn
leased to the United States IN 1878 by the
fire. concluded bv
Samoa. was not to be thought Of either
as regards the needs OF cur Navy or the
interests OF our growing commerce with
the East We could not have considered
any proposition for the abrogaticn Of the
tripartite control which did not confirm
us in all our rights and safeguard all our
national interests in the islands.
Our views commended themselves to the
other powers. A satisfactory arrangement
was concluded between the Governments
Of Germany and of England by virtue of
which England retired from Samoa in view
Of compensations in other directions, and
both powers renounced in favor Of the
United States all their rights and claims
over and in respect to that portion OF the
group lying to the east of the one hun
dred and seventy first degree Of west long
itude. embracing the islands OF Tutuila.
Ofoo. Olosenga, and Manua. 1 transmit to
Inc senate, 1Or It's acOHstltutlUHhi aClioH
thereon, convention. which besides the
provisions above mentioned also guaran-
tees us the same privileges and conditions
in respect to commerce and commercial
vessels in all of the islands Of Samoa as
those possessed by Germany.
Claims have been preferred by white
residents OF Samoa on account Of injuries
alleged to have been suffered through the
acts of the treaty Governments in putting
down the late disturbances A convention
has been made between the three powers
for the investigation and settlement OF
these claims by a neutral arbitrator, TO
which the attention of the Senate will be
invited.
Peace With Spain.
My Annual Message Of last year was nee
essarily devoted in great part to consid-
Grafton of the Spanish war and Of the re-
suits it wrought and the conditions it i'm
posed for the future. l am gratiiisd to
announce that the treaty of peace has re-
stored friendly relations between the two
powers. Effect has been given to its most
important provisions The evacuation OF
Porto Rico having already been accom- |
plished On the 18th of October. 1888. moth !
ing remained necessary there but TO con- !
tinue the provisional military control OF /!
The island until the Congress should enact a !
suitable government for the ceded terri |
tory. OF the character and scope OF the /,
measures to that end l shall treat In an
1ther part of this Message.