Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1899-01-13
CONDITIONS In SAMOA

Ii seems probable that the death
of King Malietoa Laupepa of Sa-
moa, recently reported, will tend
to further complicate the political
status of the group, though there
is no good reason why it should
do so, if the three parties to the
Berlin treaty of 1889 adhere to
their agreement.
The purpose of that treaty is to
guarantee the independence aud
neutrality Of the islands, Samoa
being declared to be neutral terri
tory, over which, or the govern.
ment thereof, neither of the pow =
ers shall exercise any separate
control. The government of the
group has for nearly a decade
been conducted in accordance with
these provisions, with generally
satisfactory results, native SOW
ereign being recognized, but the
civil affairs of the islands admin
istered by officials jointly chosen
by the three contracting nations.
The right OF the late sovereign
to the throne WAS never undis-
puted, but the support of his auth.
ority by England, Germany and
the United States largely prevent
ed dissensions among the native
tribes, and provided ample secur-
iiy for the lives aud property of
resident aliens. Now that he is
dead, the government will, pend
iug the choice of succe ssor, de-
volve upon the local representa-
tive of the treaty nation, but the
probability of complications re-
sulting therefrom should be less,
because of the limitation of the
sovereign's power.
Under the treaty of Berlin the
chief justice, appointed by the
contracting nations, has always
exercised large control in the ISL
ands, and so should be able, with
the assistance of the three consuls,
TO carry on the administration
without break. Nevertheless, it
is assumed that the fact that a
new king must be selected will be
utilized to make some changes in
the political status of the group, il
not to put an end to Samoan SOW
erelgDty, the assumption being
mainly based on the dlssstisfac-
ton of Germany with the tripar-
tite arrangement.
While Malietos WAS still on the
throne, a portion of the German
semi official press was urging a
division of the islands among the
three foreign powers; and his
death will give Germany a pretext
for urging anew the dissolution of
compact with which she has
long being dissatisfied, in the hope
that in the partition the lions
share may fall to her.
Under the plan proposed, this
government would take Tutuila
the smallest of the three principal
islands, and the one containing
our htrbor or Pago Pago, Upolu,
in wnich is Apia, the port and
cap tai, falling to Germany. and
Sayaii, the largest island, to Great
Britain. To such, or indeed, to
any division, it is highly impro-
bable that this government would
consent, for although participa-
ton in a tripartie compact with
two old world powers is contrary
to our policy, the protection of
our rights and interests in Samoa,
and the preservation of the group
from foreign spoilation render the
maintenance of the existing com
pact highly desirable.
AS Great Britain shows no dis.
position to withdraw from the
agreement, advices from the ISL
auds stating that her consul has,
since the death of Malietoa, united
with the American consul in pro-
testing against the unwarranted
assumption of special power by
German officials, there is hope
that the guaranty of Samoan in
dependence may be continued,
either with or without German
cooperation.
As respects area, population,
resources and trade the islands
are, of course, hardly worth quar-.
relling about, but as the last Pa
ci6c group retaining its autonomy,
and one to the independence Of
which this Government stands
pledged, we cannot join with for
eign powers in expressing and
despoiling it.