The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-25
PROPOSAL IO DIVIDE
Samoan Group Among the
Three Treaty Powers.
THIS SETS ALL KICKING
Each Thinking Itself Would
Get the Worst of 1t.

washington, March 24.-There is some
suggestion that Mr. Blaine's plan OF a
| partition Of Samoa may again be brought
| forward, although It has not assumed Off
| cal form thus far. 1t is based on the idea
that as the Samoan group consists Of three
large islands. each of the three interested
nations would take one Of the islands
The Germans insist that they have pre-
predominating influence on the large is
land Of Upolu, where the capital, Apia, Is
situated, and that in any partition Upola
would fail to Germany. On this basis the
eastern island of Tuluila, with its harbor
of Page Page, would fall TO the United
States and the large western island of Sa-
vail to Great Britain. At present the
United States is preparing to take pos
session Of its naval harbor at Page Page,
and a collier is now loading at Norfolk
with supplies for that point. But, while it
some of the best naval harbors on the
Pacific, there is much doubt whether this
government would be contented with
naval harbor alone, while Germany alb
sorbed the rich commercial parts of the
island group. Nor is it believed that
a
which assigned to her the western island.
which is barren and mountainous. While,
therefore, the partition of Samoa is be-
ing put forward in a tentative way, II ap-
pears to involve too many animosities to
prove practical soution. Germany, prob
ably, would accept such a solution, as it
would give back that commercial pre-
ponderance the Germans have lacked since
the treaty of Berlin was made.
At that time William Walter Phelps
our minister at Berlin, forwarded to Mr..
Blaine extracts from the three great or
gans Of German political sentiment, all ex-
pressing deep disappointment at losing the
prepOnderating force they had formerly
exercised. The Berlin Kreutz Zetung lex
IRENE Conservative said: German in
fluence is no longer to be allowed pre-
ponderating force, and the German ele-
ment is 20 be reduced to the leve of other
foreign elements, although two-thirds of
all foreigners in Samoa are Germans and
four-fifths of all the trade is in German
hands,
The moderate and radical views were
similar, all expressing regret that Germany
had in the treaty of Berlin given up her
preponderating influence. In this view it
would appear that any reputation of the
treaty of Berlin would be in line with Ger
man political sentiment as made known
by Mr.. Phelps to Mr.. Blaine at the time
the treaty was made.
Berlin, March 24.-The newspapers here
aggressively discuss the Samoan question
and a portion of the press maintains that
Germany must adequately protect Ger
man interests there
The semi-official Post referring to Ger
many's proposal to recall all the tripartite
representatives in Samoa, says: This is
the wisest thing all around. as then new
arrangements would be much easier for all
and it does not involve the hu-
Of anybody"
The L1okal Anzeiger, Boersen Courier
and Cologne Gazette express amazement
that neither America or Great Britain is
willing TO show good will edwards Ger
many in the matter.