Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-04-06
ENGLAND IS IN DOUBT
Powers of the Proposed Sa.
moan Commission.
HOW FAR ITS MEMBERS MAY GO


i oANs ~ S.s APP IL ut
president and Secretary Hay have been
giving consideration to the selection
OF representative of the United States
government on the Samoan commits
| sion.
He will not be a member of either
the senate or house of representatives
according to present lights. 1t is
probable that the effort will be to find
some person thoroughly familiar with
the issue likely to be presented in the
issue OF the Samoan dispute.
The issue Is complex one and has
generally dropped out of public view
during the last ten days, so the num-
Der of persons of the official class who
are well posted on It is extremely linn
lted. 1t is regarded by the state depart
ment as essential that the commission
De appointed at the earliest possible
| moment.
| In the absence of an acceptance by
Great Britain OF the commission plan
| II has not been possible to proceed
to outline the instructions to be given
| TO that commission.
1t is said that it does not follow,
| by any means that, because the com
mission is appointed, it is to at once
| overthrow the treaty OF Berlin. under
the terms of which the three govern
| mentS have for ten years administered
| the affairs of Samoa.
On the contrary, it is entirely posi-
bic that the commission will be able to
| ADJUST conditions at Apia and else
where In the Samoa group to the terms
| OF that treaty and it is conceived here
mat all that is need for reforming con-
dltlons there and placing them on n
OASIS that Will insure a TRANQUIL and
satisfactory administration of affairs
may De secured through the adoption OF
some additional articles to the Berlin
convention, not even affectisg the gen
eral principle OF the tri-partite control
Many cable dispatches have been
passing between Washington and Lon
don In. regard to the Samoan sattle-
ment. The main point is in determin-
ing exactly the extent of authority
| which the high commission is to DOS
sess. Lord Salisbury desiring all un-
certain points first cleared up and an
exact definition of what the commits
sion is to do before committing Great
Britain.
The British government is as ready
as the United States or Germany to
accept the general principle of commits
sloners. but 1t wants to know in ad-
vance as to the power of the commits
| sion.
The indications are that the British
authorities will give their adherence to
the agreement within day or two,
but it is stated that there is still a
chance, although a very slight one. that
the agreement may not be concluded.
| The present negotiations are con-
centrated on three main points. viz:
First-Is the commission to report
or is it to have executive authority to
administer, as well as to negotiate? If
so. what is the extent of its executive
power?
Second-Will the action of the COM
mission be determined by a majority
Third-If a majority determination
is arranged, what safeguards are to be
provided to insure unanimous execu-
ton?
| This last point-as between majority
or unanimous action-is a veXing one
and is the same one which has arisen
as between the consular officials in
Samoa. and it is evident that Lord
Salisbury hesitates to assent to any
agreement which may renew this con-
| troversv.
An agreement upon King Oscar as
final arbitrator would obvate a dead
lock, but this. while proposed un-
officially during the recent discussions
has not been assented to officially, sc
that attention is still centered on the
issue between the majority and unani,
nous rule.