Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-06-10
Calm in Samoa After the Storm.


reassurng. The turmoil has subsided
and there is every indication that no
more trouble will ensue from the re-
cent complications. The American and
English warships are no longer oblig-
ed to keep their decks cleared for action
against the natives. while their COM
manders keep an eye upon the Ger
mans. When the American, British
and German commissioners appointed
TO settle the dispute between Malietoa
and Mataafa, rival claimants for the
kingship. arrived on the scene an arm
istice had been effected and was in
force. The initial step taken by the
joint commission on its arrival was
demand that both sides to the conten-
tion over the succession should disarm,
so that no serious armed outbreak
could occur pending the efforts of the
commissioners to bring about a per
manent settlement of the quarrels
which have so long disturbed the is
landcrs and threaten to embroll the
great nations that have undertaken
to keep peace in that quarter Of the
world
The disarmament of both the Sa-
moan parties or factions is necessary
precedent to the enforcement of any
..-. 49, ,.,,,,,;ecioparc NOV n, a lxa
for the pacification of the islands. A
dispatch from Apia under date of May
81. received. this week, makes the graf
flying announcement that the contend
ing parties have surrendered their
arms to the custody Of the commission
ers, and that an important advance to-
ward the permanent adjustment of the
tangled Samoan affairs has been made,
Another feature Of the dispatch de
serving attention is the statement thai
for the first time since the present
struggle for the kingship began the
Germans are acting in harmony with
the representatives, Of the United
States and Great Britain in keeping
order.
There is no intimation as to the form
of government the commissioners will
adopt for Samoa. The rebellious Ma
taafa has consented to abide by the
commissions decisions; and. in view of
the reported British position that he
shall never become king Of the Sa-
means. Mataafa's submission to the
ultimatum Will be put TO
the supreme test 1t is doubtful
for a king i'm the new frame Of gov
ernment they may set up. 1t is un-
derstood tina. the commissioners have
plenary powers as to this point, sub
iect. Of course. to the ratification of the
home governments. Under the treaty
of Berlin the chief justice has jurisdlc-
ton in contested election in which
the kingship is involved. No matter
how careful the chief justice might be
in deciding between rival claimants.
the authority vested in him under the
treaty is greater than should be given
of judges representing each of the
three protecting poWers-the United
States. Great Britain and Germany
might have disposed of the Samoan
kingship issue without the sequel which
followed the deliverance Of the single
judge.
If the commissioners devise a form
of government which promises reason
able stability in Samoan affairs. they
will have accomplished much for the
Samoans, and perhaps something i'm
portant for the harmony of the strong
powers that have made themselves re-
sponsible for the tranquility of the tur
bulent little community. 1t would be
diplomacy were insufficient to bring
such powers as the United States, Ger
many and Great Britain to an agree
ment to the end that the petty squab-
blcs of this remote and liliputian coun-
try shall not menace the friendships
Of other lands. The common under
standing now existing between the
German, American and British repre-
sentatives in Samoa. the friendly for
purchase Of the Spanish Pacific islands
by Germany, and the assembling of a
worlds peace conference at The Hague
seem to herald the advent of an EZRA
Of good feeling in international rela-
tions.