New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-18
SAMOAN TREATY RECALLED
THE PRESIDENTS INTERPRETATION OF
1T MISUNDERSTOOD
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuxE.l

w NdSAlIlStOHt Jan lt-OWluS 10 a HllSuuOeT-
standing of the Presidents Interpretation of the
Samoan treaty, that convention. which was rati-
fed by the Senate yesterday. still is confronted
with uncertain fate. In the executive session
of the Senate to-day Mr.. Jones. of Arkansas,
moved that the vote by which the treaty was
ratified yesterday be reconsidered. Pending
tion his motion the treaty. as Is customary
in such cases. viii be recalled to the Senate. It's
condition remains unchanged, however, until
the Senate acts on the question Of reconsidera-
ton. The ratification was effected yesterday by
a voice vote, and 1t said at the time that
the affirmative margin appeared so narrow that
If the opponents of the treaty had improved
their opportunity of demanding a rollcall the
ratification might have been defeated This
gives especial significance to the proposition to
reconsider the vote The primary reason actu-
atIng Mr. Jones in making his motion to recon-
slider was the publication of story to the erect
that the President interpreted the new Samoan
treaty as comforting on him sovereign powers
over the island of Tutuila, and that he was pre-
pairing to appoint a civil governor and in other
WAYS inaugurate a civil government of the ISL
and under the jurisdiction of the United States
AS a matter of fact the President contemplates
no such thing and It is believed that when ex-
PLANTATION is made to Mr.. Jones his motion to re-
consider the vote by which the treaty was rati-
fed will be withdrawn.
THE SAMOAN SITUATION.
An examination Of the situation and brier
history Of the events out Of which 1t has grown
will he important and valuable at this juncture'
Neither England Germany nor the United
States had any conceded rights in the Samoan
group prior to 1878. Then the United States
entered into treaty with Samoa by whlch the
Samoans granted to this Government the island
NJ Tutuila. with the harbor of Pago-Pago, with
the right to use the same for warships ana 10
establish naval and coaling stations on the
shores of the harbor. Pago-Pago is one OF the
finest harbors in the Southern Pacific. and 10
the United States a coaling and naval station
there was of g1eat commercial and strategic
advantage, especially as at that time this coun-
trv did not have Hawaii or any other foothold
in the Pacific
By the treaty of 1878 the Samoans granted
to the United States absolute sovereignty IN
Pago Pago for the purposes expressed This
Government took possession OF the harbor ana
did much to improve 1t prior to 1890 when, on
account of disorders and the lack of stable
government in the islands, England, Germany
and the United States found 1t necessary for the
protection of their citizens in the islands and
their commercial interests to establish joint
protectorate They did this by treaty entered
into at Berlin signed by these three Powers
and assisted by the Samoans. whose indepen-
dence was recognized by the terms of the treaty
DISSOLUTION OF THE PROTECTORATE
This joint protectorate has continued until
now, but on account of the domestic difficulties
and other troubles that have arisen the three
Powers have gone dangerously near to having
serious differences. This was especially true
when last year trouble arose in regard to the
roval succession These experiences satisfied
fba fhraa haf 10
nu and dissolve the prOtectOrate The treaty
ratified yesterday was intended to accomplish
this purpose; but 1t not only provided that the
protectorate should be discontinued. but also
that Germany and England should renounce
IN favor of the United States all claims on the
Island of Tutuila, and that the United states
should renOunce in favor of the other Powers
all her claims the other islands-a sort of
reciprocal quit claim.
ships and commerce of the signatory Powers
should have in all the ports Of the several ISL
ands the same rights and privileges that might
belong to the sovereign power in any port.
Because of the use of this prase sovereign
power 1t was contented by Senator Bacon and
others who opposed the ratification of the treaty
that the three Powers We're not only dissOlving
a protectorate which recognized the indepen-
dence of the Samoans, but that they were usurp-
inc the sOvaretgntv bv dividing I'D the islands
among themselves, with intent that each Power
should become sovereign with regard to the
island allotted to It, and that this should not be
done without the consent of the Samoans.
THE EFFECT OF THE TREATY.
The debate in the Senate was on this point.
and the view prevailed that the present treaty
includes no more In effect than dissolution Of
the protectorate reciprocal quit claim and
recognition of equality or right in the various
harbors of the islands. and that in consequence
the effect of the ratification Of the treaty on
the United States is to restore relations granted
by the treaty of 1873, which now continues in
force between the Samoans and this country
and under which the United States has sovereign
{Y,rfc fI1a h0 rnO of Pcc DouN and
no sovereignty as the political government of
the people who live the little island of
Tutuila. This was cOntended by the friends of
the treaty to be the proper construction, and it
on the theory that this view was correct
that the treaty was finally ratified with sub
stantial un9nimity.
THE PRESIDENTS ALLEGED PURPOSE
Notwithstanding this fact, statements have ap-
peared to the effect that the President is of the
opinion that the treaty gives the United States
the whole island Of Tutuila. and that he was in
tending at once to appoint civil governor and
to take other necessary steps for establishing a
civil government, and otherwise to assert and
exercise sovereign powers, not only over the
harbOr q naval station, but over the people
of the whole island.
1t was this account that Senator Jones' of
Arkansas, in executive session, calling attention
TO this assertion. moved reconsideration Of the
vote by which the treaty was ratified Mr..
Jones's claim that If the published an
nouncement of the Presidents intention was
correct and if the President so construed the
treaty the effect of that convention was in
consistent with the view presented 10 the SEN
ate. by which ratification was secured.
MOTION NOT LIKELY TO PREVAIL
Friends of the treaty do not apprehend that
the motion TO reconsider will prevail. because
the construction of the treaty by the President is
the same as that prevailing in the Senate. The
story respecting he purpose of the President