The San Francisco call., 1899-07-29
SITUATION IN SAMOA
UNSATISFACTORY
FrequentClashes Occur Between
Followers Of Rival Chiefs.

PA. Samoa. July 1.-THE Samoan
II situation TO-DAY. as far as the res
II idenrs OF these Islands are con-
cerned. IS one ot great uneastneSs-
- The attitude and behavior OF the
natives is indeed far from Feassurlng- A.
ready several fights have occurred at dlt-
f4re1-. portions OF the group between sup
portsrs OF the rivals for the kingship. and
several natives have been killed Many
blame the High Commissioners for the
present unsettled state OF affairs These
gentlemen. with good intentions, no
doubt. seem TO have SCI OUT with the idea
OF pleasing OF trying 70 please all, and in
the end II not already have dissatisfied
all
II was admitted By every one when the
arms OF the natives were surrendered 10
the number OF over 4@lp rifles 9 the mere
command Of the Commissioners that !
great work had been accomplished II
manner satisfactory and efficient But
since then nothing seems 10 have pro
gressed here The Chief Justice, falling
10 get the support from the Commission
ers necessary 10 maintain the honor and
dignity Of his court, which is openly
fouted in the most disgraCeful manner
and its commands and DEGREES laughed
al, is leaving here today, although he
has offered 20 the Commissioners. who
have requested him 70 continue in oTt1ce
until matters have been settled By the
three powers, TO stay six months L need
fylI II The Commissioners would grant liTn
the assurance that the court would De
respected and its orders enforced The
nmissiOners had 70 admit TO the CHIEF
Justice that they could not COIntS-
sion grant the requested assurance and
the necessary consequence is his Homer ;
departure. His enemies and opponents
assert that he mas been recalled, but this
is not the fact. and President Mckinley
has written him that the United States
Government upholds MS actions and has
no wish or desire that he should retire
from oEice-guite the contrary
The action OF the Commissioners in re-
fusiag the aid asked is in consequence
Of dispatches received by the German
Commissioner from his home Government
which is greatly put out over Comnis-
sioner SterEbuTs recognizing the decision
OF the Supreme Court in the kingship
German Government insisted on unanim-
ity in the commission. and, although Great
Britain objected. she yielded the point
The very first important step the COM
mission takes is unanimous IN upholding
the court decision, and Immediately the
whole German population here and the
German press az home express their deem
disaDpoir tment, and still wish 10 try 10
90 behind that decision. This unauimity
will have the effect OF reducing the Com
rnissfoners 10 q mere body OF reporters
There will be unanimous report on the
lines already published. but at the same
time the Commissioners viii each submit
q san4rate report TO their respective Gov
eruunents. and il will be found that their
unanimous report is only a modification
OF the Berlin treaty. which is recommend
sd by them in case Of no other solution
~ The Samoan difficulty During the last
month the Commissioners have visited the
different Islands in the group. At Turuiia
fsoleIy Malietoal all was agreed 10 that
the Commissioners had done or suggested
The natives were quite prepared 10 accept
the abolition OF the kingship and have
government under an official appointed by
the three powers Savati was next visited
I,anatis behavior 10 the Commissioners
was impudent in manner. and indicates
trouble in the immediate future.
At Safune, the only place where the