The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1899-12-28
FULL TEXT OF SAMOAN TREATY
Document Whereby Tutuila Was
Acquired by the U 9.
Special Dispatch to The CAL.


and Great Britain for the adjust
ment OF the questions between the
three Governments in respect to the
Samoan Islands was made public
to day. The treaty bears date at
Washington, December 2, 1899, and
after reciting its purpose to be to
adjust amicably questions between
the three powers in respect to the
Samoan group and to avoid future
MISUNDERSTANDING, it proceeds tex
tually as follows:
Article The general act con.
cluded and signed by the aforesaid
powers at Berlin, on the 14th day of
June, A. D, 1889, and all previous
treaties, conventions and agreements
relating to Sam os are, annulled.
Article II--Germsny renounces ih
favor OF the United States of Amer
lea all. her rights sands claims over
and in respect to the island.of Tutu-
lila, and all sother islsndsAof the
Samoan group east of longitude III
degrees west of Greenwich
Great Britain in like manner re-
nounces in favor Of the United
States Of America all her rights and
claims over aud in respect to the
island of Tutuila. and all other ISL
ands OF the, Samoan group east OF
longitude III degrees west OF Green
wich.
Reciprocally, the United States of
America renounce in favor OF Ger
many. all their rights aud claims
over and in respect to the islands of
Upolu and Savai, and all other ISL
ands OF the Samoao group west of
longitude III degrees west OF Green
wich.
Article Hit is understood and
agreed that each OF the three sigma
tory powers shall continue to enjoy
in respect to their commerce and
commercial vessels in all the islands
OF the Samoan group privileges and
conditions equal to those enjoyed
by the sovereign power in oil ports
which may be- open to the CON-
MERGE OF either Of Them.
Article IvEThe present conven-
ton shall be ratified as soon as pos
sib'e and shall come into force i'm
medistely after the exchange Of
notifications.
In faith whereof, etc,
JOHN HAY,
HoLLEBEN,
PAUNoEFoTE
A separate treaty was negotiated
to cover the provisions for the act
Elements of claims in Samoa. 1t
sets forth that the three Govern
ments are DESTROYS OF eff-cting a
prompt and satisfactory settlement
of the claims of the citizens and
subjects OF their respective count
ries resident in the Samoan Island,
on account OF recent military opera
tions conducted there and have con.
cluded convention for the accom-
plishment OF this end by srbitra-
tion. The King OF Sweden and
Norway is made arbitrator and he 10
not only to determine the amount
OF claims, hut 10 to decide to what
extent each OF the three Govern.
ments 10 bound, alone or jointly,
with the others, to make good these
losses. n
The nature Of the claims to be
adjusted is act forth in article / Of
this treaty, ~ follows:
"All claims put forward by Anne
rican citizens or German or British
subjects respectively, whe' her in
divIduals or companies, for comp-n
sation on account Of losses which
they allege that they have suffered
in consequence OF the unwarranted
military action, If this b. shown to
have ocourr-d, on the part OF the
American, German or British Of
fcers, between the 1st Of January