The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-04
SAMOAN QUESTION
DIFFICULT TO SOLVE.
Lord Salisbury is Hesitating Over it.
Principles of Berlin Treaty May
Not Be Affected.

Washington, April l-The president
and Secretary Hay have been giving
considerable attention to a selection of
a representative OF the United states
government on the Samoan commission.
which may be taken as pretty sure in
dex OF the confidence OF our government
In the agreement OF the three powers
upon the commission plan for settling
the issues that have arisen relative 70
Samoa.
The United States representative will
not be a member OF either the senate or
house OF representatives. according To
the present light. IL is probable that the
effort will be To find some person thor
oughly familiar with the issues likely 10
be presented in the settlement OF this
Samoan dispute.
The question rs a complex one. Hav-
Ing generally dropped out OF public notice
during the last 10 years. the number Of
persons OF the official class who are well
posted upon IL is extremely limited. The
German government is believed TO be
much better off In this respect and no
doubt is entertained that it's represen-
tative on the commission will be thor
OF the Samoan question. 1t is regarded
by the state department as essential
that the commission be appointed at the
earliest possible moment. In the alb
sence OF an acceptance or Great Britain
OF the commission plan. IL has not been
possible to proceed to outline the in
structions TO be given to that commits
sion
1t Is said that IL does not follow by
any means that because commission is
appointed II is to al once overthrow the
treaty of Is,rlin. under the terms OF
which the three governments have for
10 years administered the affairs of
Samoa. On the contrary. II is entirely
possible that the commission will be
aoe to adjust conditions at Apia and
elsewhere I'm the Samoan group to the
terms OF that treaty. and It is conceived
here that ali that is needful for reform
ing conditions there and placing them on
basis that VIII insure tranquil and
satisfactory administration OF affairs
may be secured through the adoption OF
some additional articles to the Berlin
convention, not even affecting the gem
eral principle OF the tripartite control
faults OF the tripartlte principle, condi.
lions can - more easily adjusted under
It than by turning TO some new and un-
tried plan 10 hioh it may not be pos
sible TO secure the adhesion of all three
treaty powers.
Many cable dispatches have been pass
Ing between WASHINGTON and london in
regard to the Samoan settlement. The
main point is on determining exactly
the extent Of authority which the high
commission is 10 possess. Lord Sails
bury Is not disposed to enter precipitat-
edly on a plan until it is fully under
stood just what the plan is i'm all its
details. The dispatches between Lon
don and Washington are directed to-
ward clearing up all uncertain points
and defining what the commission is to
do. The British government is as ready
as the United states or Germany to ac-
cept the general principle OF commits
sioners, but IL wants TO know i'm advance
as to the power OF the commission. AS
Lord Salisbury is in the south of France.
the inquiries and replies have TO be for
warded to him from London. so that
necessarily there is considerable delay.
The indications are that the British au-
thorties will give their adherence TO the
agreement within "A day or two. but IL
L. stated that there is still chance, al
though a very slight one. that the agree
ment may not be concluded.
The present negotiations are concen-
trated on three main points viz: First,
Is the commission to report. or is It to
have executive authority 10 administer
rs we'll as negotiate, and. IL so, what is
the extent OF its executive power? Sec
ond, will the action Of the Commission
be determined by a majority, or will
unanimous action be required? Third.
e maioritv da+orInination .s arranged