New-York tribune., 1899-01-22
CrrTL1NG SAMOAN TROUBLE.
vv WILL NOT COUNTENANCE
Gh"T o1ATIoNs OF THE TREATY.
nr THAT AN AMIcABLE UNDER
~ .r,ypISe WILL BE REAcHDD-sE0RE-
~,ey HAY coNFERs WITH THE
,,rr1sH AND GERMAN AM
BAssADORs


BAssADoRs.
lexington. Jan 21.-I' can be "nnou"'t nou,s ~
W'sa., W.o.,yely that II the published reports
sutho -. Anita are true the acts OF 'ne
the Consul. Rose. and the presiden' Oh ~.
GtTna" council. Raffel. were not the re7u''
&unNp from the German Government
0, ins" &C these acts were In VIOLATION oi
snd ~ Berlin. It is not believed at 'ne
the tTss~ Tortr,ent that they will receive '"e
STA" :, the German Government
1ppNva u ,,,hossador Dr. Won Holleben'
I ~ Secretary HAY at the 9'H'e d,s-
rsDO .dav and presented two mp 'e" ",o,,re
peH' rom the German GoVerhi'eu' e1.oa
ps'cn'' .-,t,cal condition Of AFFAIRS III 7"' no,s
70 ue This an extended conference Mn' nd
Follo"'Hs ~ uav and the Ambassador aIiO
h'Vee" - Mt Hay and the Bri'lsH
then e,r 1ulian Pauncefote' Inc
baesau0'' ,,,,,,,cated by the German Aiiioa'
patches =, not only with the question oi po''os
ssdo' u.', ore understood 10 have presence
invo'eu, ~. facts Of the recent coiiisioH -
In ae'S" the German point Of view IneS
Samoa H.. -, essential particulars from t"e
oner =" ID heretofore II was salu ai'e'
statements -. ~. q diplomatic official hish
'"' '.so-,,v that the latest asPeo'S ~ a..~a,+
u 90. .rcA as 10 make pesceiul q, or-
w. Ie Y was also steted poN'.e e.r.oa coy-
p.s,st,ve quarters that the 'ili'eu -, o,ona
''-.,, .nr, had not made profess
:. conjunction with Great D'''''''
.,-,ov DELICATE. But NOT CRITICAL
.,.,,o,,on Is regarded officially as re-
t.c delicate treatment, one OF ''e pa, 49,
s'voha,ees that are taking place - -
=. .ho opinion that II VIII 'e' 'a''''
~ a,sorss,on. and that Satisfactorily
'.-s,,o will be the outcome. THIS II
-, ,,o, the matter can be hand'eu emmy
-. rovs-nments Of the three countries
'H' 49, Foreign Offices or the Amoassaoois'
-, % - aonrehen led is the TrespoHs'O'e
4"e -. .,iror officials away on IN Safhoa
a'"0" Immediate control Of the authorlues
:. o. washington and London so ia' as
-. ,os, -Anorts indicate. the issue between '"e
-, -.--esAntatives and the American anu
,,-,.,.h ~enresentatives IN Samoa had cFr'aIAi'
-, daveloped beyond point where il cou.u D
.osur adjusted on a mere statement oi 'He
- .acte for II is still believed that All 'He
LEE ~ tho treaty are willing 20 I've up 10 l'S
,.,s,o,s which. OF course would inVoINe
,noa,ress n disavow any improper action on 'he
part Of their respective agents ana eve. ~
further and undo so much OF the n'sc"'e. q
resdv done by them as It might he possin'e 10
reach.
vxACT INFORMATION LACKING.
Au.h. narties 10 the treaty are laboring under
. ,.cp ~ exact information as 20 what actually
occurred at Apia. The statements coming from
A,,er,can and German sources vary in some
most important essentials or at least leave un-
,o.ctloned facts that would largely qualify the
matters Of complaint. Il &c not known here Just
WHY Mataafa was disqualified by Chief Justice
Chambers nor Just whv the Provisional Govern
nent was recognized by the three consuls after
that legal disqualification. The most important
fact that the Department OF State is confident OF
IL that the question OF the succession 10 the
throne was submitted 10 the Chief Justice. for
that was stated in the reports received in the
mail preceding the last dispatches The submis-
sion according 70 the treaty of the question
would seem 10 indicate recognition on the part
Of the consuls Of the right OF the Chief Justice
10 adjudicate IT. and the treaty expressly binds
sl three parties 10 the Obligation 20 execute the
judgment rendered by the Chief Justice
II Is not even 10 be guessed here. therefore,
how the German representatives could have
found It consistent with their obligations under
The treaty to support the Mataafa party to the
extent they aid. As the Germans appear TO
make point Of the claim that by the retire
ment Of the Justice 10 the British warshp he
vacated his Office Il may be- set down as certain
that that position cannot be upheld. inasmuch
as the Official was plainly under duress. which.
OF course would legally vitiete any claim that
he had surrendered his office. The treaty does
provide that in the event of the vacation OF the
once Of Chief Justice, or I'm his absence. his
once shall devove on the president of the Pro
Nsonal Council In this case Rafel, but IL
hardly can be contended that this would fol-
low II the Chief Justice were obliged tenlpor-
arily 10 fee for his life through the attitude Of
one OF the parties under treaty obligation 10
protect his person. The Chief Justice. although
lHsi now an American is supposed to he chosen
Without regard 20 his nationality and is the
representative. not Of the nation from which he
comes, but equally Of all OF the three treaty
Powers
NEED OF MODIFYING THE TREATY.
'N"4iils lLat iNf trouble AT fAH'Id HdS t''As>''N
us acute stage and that II will be adjusted
satisfactorily boy such measures as are re-
CURED there win remain for treatment In the
immediate future the treaty relations OF the
'nree Powers relative TO Samoa. The condi-
'0n precedent % any action looking 20 amend
Msh' OF the Treaty Of Berlin or its abrogation IL
ua' It's provisions must be lived up 10 mean
'""e. The State Department has always beer
'7@V 10 consider favorably any suggestion
''1ihg toward Tie change Of the Berlin Treaty
meet new exRencies asking only that the
'a'nges be made in the lawful method. and re-
.suhg The attempt 70 secure certain results
-1'eo by mere understandings between two
he three parties 10 the treaty. In Mr
oNsys administration of the state Depart
az" he found himself Obliged 20 lay this prin
.'e Gown in very clear terms and the De
u'ent has seen no reason since 20 change
position although several efforts have beer
-e 10 adopt Irregular methods OF changing
administration Of affairs In Samoa.
-seh has been said in German dispatches
u the preponderance Of German interests