The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-05
ARE NEAR AN AGREEMENT
England Approves Plan of the
Samoan Commission.
A QUESTION OF DETAIL
AN Interview With Dr. Solf - 1t Will Be
His Endeavor to Promote Good
Feeling Among the Three
Powers in Samoa


ambassador, DR.. Won Holleben, accom-
panied by DR.. Wilhelm Solf the newly
appointed president of the municipal
council of Samoa, called at the British
embassy to-day and had an agreeable
meeting with the British ambassador.
Sir Julian Pauncefote. and Mr.. Elliott
of the embassy staff. Later in the day
Sir Julian called at the state depart
ment and had a talk with Secretary
Hay. 1t was at once conjectured that
fhe ambassador came to signify the for
NAL acceptance of Great Britain to the
plan Of appointing a commission. This
was correct only in part. While the
British government has approved the
general principle of a commission. Yet
the details as to the authority and the
power of the commission remain to be
settled before the British acceptance of
a concrete proposal is given. The status
of the negotiations as given in the high
est official quarters is that the principle
of the commission is accepted by all
three countries, including Great Britain,
but that the British government with
holds formal approval of the commits
sion itself until all details of it's author
1ty are determined. This. it is eX-
planned, is in no sense delay of ac-
ceptance, for no one government has
offered something which the others
must accept or reject Instead of that
all three are moving forward in the
most agreeabl spirit toward a common
understanding, each making it's sugges-
ton for the betterment of the plan, and
no one laying down certain limitations
which the other must accept at once.
Baron Won Buelow the German min
lister of foreign affairs, returned to Ber-
Tin yesterday for the express purpose of
meeting the British ambassador there
and clearing up such details as Lord
Salisbury wishes to have settled in ad-
vance. Those in Washington who are
an the best positions to judge of the
progress of these negotiations say there
is every indication that they will be sat
isfactorily closed before the present
week ends, and that the high commits
sion will be an accomplished fact by
that time.
The questions of detail are still open
and those relating to a majority de-
cision by the commission and as to the
commissions power to alter or modify
the Berlin treaty and the constitutional
system under which Samoa is being adj
mlniStered at present. The latter power
1t is said, might determine the entire
political future of Samoa, and before
comforting it on a commission the Brit
ash authorities desire to have it we'll
understood as to how far the future Of
the islands can be made tinality bind
ing on all three powers by the commits
sion.
The German government has infor-
mally signifed who it will appoint as
the German member of the commission
He is to have the rank of consul gem
eral. and is to be an official familiar
with Samoan affairs, not, however, Con-
sui Rose of Samoa or DR.. Rosenthal,
the German consul at San Francisco
DIR. Solf had a busy day to-day con-
ferring with officials government and
diplomatic, and taking the preliminary
steps in the rapprochement of the
three governments concerning the ISL
ands. Accompanied by Secretary Hay
he was received by the president the
latter expressing the earnest hope that
DR. Solf might be successful in his rev
field of action, Later Dr. Solf called at
the British embassy and pleasant ex-
change of views occurred. Assistant
Secretary of State Cridler also had a
meeting with DR.. Solf to go over some
of the technical details of the Samoan
questions. These several conferences
were important mainly in showing the
harmony with which the officials of the
three governments are proceeding on
Samoa. During the day a representa-
tive of the associated press saw DIR. Solf
and talked with him on current Samoan
affairs He is a typical German, tall
robust florid and speaks perfect Eng
lish. an accomplishment which will be
most helpful in dealing with the Unit
ed States and British representatives in
Samoa.
II am glad to observe the most sat
isfactory feeling prevailing in Washing
ton," said DIR. Solf, and l am confident
that the German and American author
tiles would have little difficulty in ar