The record-union., 1899-04-15
In the course of his remarks, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs said:

created by the Act so long as the ACT
is not modified by the unanimous de-
cision of the Powers This is to say,
respect for the rights appertaining to
others by virtue of the Act, but at the
same time full maintenance OF German
rights In the interests OF the tran
uuillity of Samoa, and In the interest
Of calmer relations between the Pow
ers, should they find it advantageous,
if the Act has become inadequate, 1t
could be replaced by fresh arrange
ment, corresponding better with the
present situation. But SO long as the
Samoan compact exists 1T must be 10y
ally observed by all concerned. The
letter and spirit of the Act require that
a final decision be only effected by the
unanimous resolutions OF the three Gov
ernments. We therefore have allowed
no doubt to remain in London and
washington that we must regard as
not legally binding any changes to
which we have not given our assent
We could not permit decision regard
ing Samoa to be taken contrary to the
treaty rights.
another leading point of view is for
us to hold aloof from the dispute of
the native chiefs We We're confronted
nv several candidates for the throne of
Samoa. but we have not taken sides.
But the provisional government of Ma
taafa having been recognized by The
three Consuls. it must have appeared
to our Consul as the legal status quo
until a new government was installed
Inv the unanimous resolution of the
| three Governments.
For that reason we have taken up
neutral attitude in regard to the in
| ternal affairs Of Samoa, we have neither
participated in nor approved the inter-
vention of British and American war
ships in these disputes.
Respecting the recent eonfllcts, we
have only mutilated and defective rele-
grams from our Consul, and more or
| less trustworthy reports from foreign
| telegraphic agencies, so that it is not
vet possible for us to pass final judg-
ment on the affair.
1.-THE final settlement cannot be pre-
JUDGED by the events in Samoa. This
settlement will not take place on the
| SPOT. ut can only be the result OF an
agreement between the three Cabinets.
| In order to bring about such a read
| justment, we have proposed to dispatch
special commission, have demanded
unanirnity in it's decisions, and have
carried this point after overcoming con-
siderable difficulties. (Cheers.)
Il am happy to state that the Brit
ish Government has now officially de-
clared to me, through its ambassador,
that it accepted the proposals of Ger
| many regarding the mode of operation
and functions of the commission, whose
! functions and powers may be summed
up as follows:
s"The commission appointed by the
three signatory Powers to the Samoan
act will take over the provisional gov
ernment of the islands To this. end the
| commission will exercise the highest
| powers. All other official personages
| will have to obey the orders of the
| Commissioners and the three Powers
will instruct their Consular. and naval
representatives to lend them their sup
port No measure taken by. the Com
missioners in conformity with the fore
going official powers. will. be legal un-
less all three Commissioners assent
thereto.
"One of the tasks of the commission
will be to consider what provisions it
regards as necessary for the future
| government of the country, or the mod
| ification of the Berlin Act, and report
| to the Government the views at which
\ it finally arrives.
! 1--WE hope the commission will sue
ceed in effecting a settlement, just, fair
and acceptable to all parties. We will
only assent to such decisions as do not
prejudice our plain rights and the i'm
portant interests of Germans in Samoa.
| 1.-Two things must not be forgotten.
4 Firstly, our duty to protect the trade,
business and property of our country
men in Samoa. Secondly, we possess
treaty rights in Samoa, the mainte-
nance of which are regarded by the
German nation as point of honor"
| (Cheers and cries of, That's right")
The Minister of Foreign Affairs add
| ed:. I'VE demand in Samoa no more
than what belongs to us by treaty. But
we cannot and will not allow these
treaty rights of ours to be curtailed'
No debate followed, but speaking to
the order of the day, Herr Richter. the
German Radical leader, said his party
| had nothing in common with the man
ner with which the Interpolation was
handled by DR.. Lehr, and Herren Lie
ber, Rickert and Won Levitzow ex-
pressed similar views. Herr Liebnecht
| the Socialist leader, approved of the
ministerial statement
| DR.. Lehrs speech in introducing the
Interpolation was utterly devoid of
tact He scoffed at America. excitedly
attacking England. and demanded that
! the Government should grant no COM
mercial privileges to such countries,
who, he declared. had insulted the dig
nifty of the German Empire. He would
not advise declaration of war against
Great Britain and the United States
and boisterous laughter from all parts
Of the chamber followed, but he would
fully expect Germany to annex the Sa
moan Islands and increase the navy
'in order that Germany's prestige may
] be safesuarded in both hemispheres.''
He was listened to with manifest dis
pleasure on all sides, and the general
opinion is that he has placed both him
self and his adherents in a very lu-
dicrous position.
| Prince Bismarck Informed the cores
pondent of the Associated Press, when
questioned as to the purport of his dec
laration, that he did not meant to criti-
else the Minister of Foreign Affairs but
to disprove DIR. Lehr's deductions re-
membering his fathers motto, never to
mix economic questions with political
questions
! The newspapers, commenting upon
/ the proceedings. emphasized the una
nimity displayed in the Reichstag and
the mastery tact of Baron Won Buelow
i and the other speakers.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press understands from good authority