The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-06
The Future Status of the Present
COnsuIs Discussed.
A DIVISION OF THE ISLANDS
L. Germany's Ultimate Aim. and She
Object So Long as Her CoaIing
Station is Secured-Gcrman
Attacks Now Aimed at
England.

WASHINGTON. April 5.-The Samoan
agreement for high commission has
progressed 20 a point where tho three
governments arc exchanging notes as
10 the members Of the commission This
is accepted as an assurance that Lord
Salisbury accepted not only the principle
Of the commission, but the commission
itself, as the consideration Of the British
delegate would hardy be entered upon
unless the commission was assured.
The published reports that three COM
missloners would be named from each
country IS without foundation, as such
pia" .4a7 4-s,4 o--st tDi.a.D-teu- A4.cic
will be one from each country. Of about
the same iei4uve Iauk OK standing.
GEisMANl' , MEMbEh.
Tho srnl-0mllal announcement that
the German government Will not appoint
either Consul General koson,hai OF Con-
sui General Rose as ifs representative ON
the samoan Commission. taken in com-
nccti0n with the declaration of a pur-
pose of selecting an Official OF the rank
OF Consul General for tLe place. has
tended to confirm ihe belief OF the OIL
cials here that the intention is 10 name
DR. Schmidt as the German Commis-
sioner. Or. Schmidt IS now pnyy cOun-
ciiior and director in the Foreign office
at Berlin. OF matters connected with
Asiatic and Samoan policy. He was con-
sui general OF Samoa at Apia until four
years ago. when he was Withdrawn at
the instance OF the United states owing
TO his attitude toward Mr.. MulligLn, the
United States consul-general there.
AN OPEN fOiNI.
one point IN the negotiations appears
10 be open and may occasion some dlth-
Guilty This is as 10 the future status
OF Chief Justice Chambers, and Consuls
Rose. OF Germany, Osborne, OF the United
states, and Maxse. Of Great Britain. II
would be quite acceptable to Germany
n all of Them were Withdrawn, but when
this proposal was made some time ago
II was distinctly rejected. Now. however
the High Commission may have such en-
larged powers that I'm effect the Chief
Justice and the COnsuls will have their
authority curtailed, If not entirely cut
OF.
In some we'll informed quarters IT is
said this is the real cause of Lord Sails
burys very mature consideration OF the
plan, as ne is believed TO be averse 10 any
project which. even indirectly. will re-
suit I'm the retirement OF all the present
officials. and the virtual acceptance OF
Gcrmany's original proposal that all be
Withdrawn.
WILL TAKE TIME.
NEW YORK. April 5.-T'he Commercial
Advertisers London correspondent cables
to-day as follows:
Though the three governments desire
10 expedite matters IN the arrangement
of the personnel of the samoan Com
mission, IL will probably require some
weeks to settle the preliminaries with
Washington, the seat OF the delibera-
uons. Foresceing long and remote inves-
tigation and subsequent negotiations the
English Foreign Office IS especially anxi-
Gus to arrange a mOdus yivendi Tor tenn
porary administration that will also avert
further embarrassing proceedings by the
admirals and consuls on the ground that
at Muscat and elsewhere Lord Salisbury
has had unpleasant experience.
Word comes from Berlin that new Ger
man representative now en- route TO
Samoa, carried restraining hints to Ger
man traders there.
A PRECEDENT.
The German Foreign Office also nnds
precedent in Bismarcks condemnation OF
acts of the German consul ten years IN
Samoa, that will aid it in dealing now
with Rafael and Rose and in soothing
sensitive German opinion.
The ultimate German aim IS a friendly
division of the Islands 70 which PROPOSE
tion Berlin believes America will not
ohicct II it's coalng station is secured
Angry German attacks are aimed now
$40 at ENGLAND than at America. MAIN
10 from irresponsible German journals.
s,ro,.o,ce MUST be made for German SUI
ne~sensitiveness over colonial CONNER
cial riyalries