The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-06

sea have been under discussion with
the government of Russia for several
years, with the recent happy result
of an agreement to submit them to
the decision of single arbitrator BY
this act Russia affords proof of her
adherence to the benefcent principle
of arbitration which her plenipoten-
tiary conspicuously favored at The
Hague disarmament conference, when
it was advocated by the representa-
tives Of the United States.
A suggestion for a permanent eXposi-
ton Of our products and manufacturers
in Russia, although not yet fully
shaped, has been so cordially welcomed
by the imperial government that 1t may
not inaptly take fitting place in what
ever legislation the congress may
adopt looking to enlargement of our
commercial opportunities abroad.
Affairs in Samoa.
Important events have occurred In
the Samoan islands. The election, &C
cording to the laws and customs of Sa-
moa, of a successor to the late KING
Malietoa Tanu had developed contest
as to the validity of the result, when
issue, by the terms of the general ACT
was to be decided by the chief justice.
Upon his rendering a judgment in favor
of Malietoa Tanu; the rival chief, Ma
taafa, took up arms. The active inter-
vention of American and British war
ships became imperative to restore Or
der at the cost Of sanguinary encoun-
tiers. In this emergency joint com,
mission of representatives of the United
States, Germany and Great Britain was
sent to Samoa to investigate the situa-
ton and provide temporary remedy.
By its active efforts peaceful solution
|, was reached for the time being, the
kingship being abolished and provis-
a Recon-
mendations unanimously made by ;he
commission for a permanent ADJUST
| ment of the Samoan question were ia
ken under consideration by the three
powers, parties to the general act. But
the more they were examined. the more
evident it became that radical change
| was necessary in the relations of the
| powers to Samoa.
The inconvenience and possible peris
of the tripartite scheme of supervision
and control in the Samoan group ty
powers having little interest in common
in that quarter, beyond commercial riV
airy, has once more been emphasized by
recent events. The suggested remedy
of the joint commission, like the scheme
it aimed to replace, amounted to what
has been styled tri-dominium, being
the exercise of the functions of SoVer-
eighty by an unanimous agreement Of
three powers. The situation has ne
come far more intricate and embarras-
sing from every point of view than it
was when my predecessor in 1894 sum
med up its perplexities and condemned
the participation in it Of the United
States.
The arrangement under which Samoa
was administered has proved imprac-
ticable and unacceptable to all the pow
ers concerned. To withdraw from the
agreement and abandon the islands to
Germany and Great Britain would not
be compatible with our interests in The
archipelago. To relinquish our rights in
the harbor of Pago-Pago, the best an
chorage in the Pacific, the occupancy
of which had been leased to the United
States in 1878 by the first foreign treaty
ever concluded by Samoa, was not to
be thought of, either as regards the
needs of our navy or the interests or
| our growing commerce with the East
We could not have considered any prop
ostion for the abrogation of the tripar-
tite control which did not confirm us in
all our rights and safeguard all our ma
tional interests in the islands.
Our views commended themselves to
the other powers. A satisfactory ar
rangement was concluded between the
governments of Germany and of Eng
land, by virtue of which England re-
tired from Samoa, in view of compen-
sations in other directions and both
powers renowned in favor of the United
States all their rights and claims over,
in and in respect to that portion of the
land lying east of the 171st degree of
west longitude, embracing the islands
of Tutuila, Ofoo, Olosena and Manua.
transmit to the senate for it's consti-
tutional action thereon a convention
which, besides the provisions above
mentioned, also guarantees us the same
privileges and conditions in respect to
commerce and commercial vessels IN
all of the islands of Samoa, as those
possessed by Germany. Claims have
been preferred by white residents of
| Samoa on account of injuries alleged
to have been suffered through the acts
| of the treaty governments in putting
| down the late disturbances A con-
vention has been made between the
| three powers for the investigation and
| settlement of these claims by neutral
| arbitrator to which the attention of the
| senate will be invited.