The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-01
BY A JOINT COMMISSION
Samoan War Cloud Robbed of
It's Thunder.
KING OSCAR is UMPIRE
He Will Decide in Case the Commission
ers of the Three Powers Fail to
Reach an Agreement-The
Decision Will Be Final.

Washington, March 31.-A joint high
commission to settle the entire Samoan
trouble has been practically agreed
upon by the United States, British and
German governments. Lord Salisbury's
absence from London alone delays the
formal acceptance by Great Britain,
though in his absence Sir Thomas San
derson and Mr.. Villers, who are under
stood to be specially familiar with the
Samoan question, have approved the
plan for commission. The United
States has informally expressed it's ap-
proval and the formal acceptance, it is
learned, from the best quarters, will
follow speedily.
AS the proposition emanates with
Germany, her approval Of course is as
sured. This high commission, 1t is felt
trouble at the moment when Samoan
affairs began to look the most threat
ening. The new plan has been fully
gone over by Secretary Hay and the
British and German ambassadors here
and its essential details worked out.
Each nation is to be represented by
one member of the commission. 1t is
to have practically unlimited authority
without the necessity of referring its
decisions back to the several govern
ments for approval. 1t is felt that by
comforting such complete and final au-
thority on the high commission the
danger will be obviated of any further
deadlocks and delays. Still another i'm
is that King Oscar of Norway and
Sweden shall be the umpire in case the
three high commissioners should fail
to reach a determination. The plan of
inviting King Oscar to referee a dis
agreement meets the approval of the
British and German authorities and
doubtless will be approved also by the
United States as a means of insuring
tinality of decision, though it Is not
known just how far this has been con-
sidered by the Washington author
tiles.
King Oscar was agreed upon between
the United States and Great Britain
as a final arbitrator in connection with
the proposed Venezuelan trouble. 1T is
expected the sitting of the commission
will be in Samoa, where, for the time.
they will go over the whole range OF
Samoan affairs, SO far as the high COM
mission think fit to act, in order fully
TO restore Order ana eSlaDllSn matters
on a satisfactory basis.
It is understood that the men selected
for the mission will be of high stand
ing. so as to give added weight and
dignity to their findings, such, for in
stance as the consul general of Ger
many, whose jurisdiction covers the
whole range of Pacific affairs. He is
a man of complete information on Sa-
moan and other Pacific island subjects
as we'll as a man of political influence
The United States and British commits
sioners it is understood, would be
drawn from the same high ranks, with
a view, however, to their information
of the international matters of this
character, rather than their political
standing.
AS showing that the acute situation
Of the Samoan affair is past, Baron
Speck Won Sternberg, first secretary of
the German embassy, left here tonight
for New York, whence he sails on the
9Th for London and Berlin He has been
a most active factor throughout the Sa-
moan controversy, having made that
question a special study and thus being
able to render the ambassador material
assistance. Els influence at all times
has been toward maintaining the
friendly relations between the two coun-
tries and overcoming the causes of irri-
tation. His trip to London and Berlin
has no significance whatever in connec-
ton with Samoan affairs, but is entirely
personal after the gravity of the affair
has passed.