New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-05
THE SAMOAN SETTLEMENT
BARON sTERNBURG REVIEWS THE JorSr
COMMISSIONS WORK.
HOW PEACE AND ORDER WERE RRor,er,-
OUT OF STRIFE AND ANARcHY-EFrEcr
OF THE NEW AGREEMENT
IBT TELEGRAPH TO THE rn1nr-xr1

/ VI Ahh NEW AGREEMENT
IBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRInuxr1
/ Washington. jan 4-On Friday last Baron s,s
burg. Secretary OF the German Embassy in 49,
/ ington. and recently member OF the Samoan Corr,
mission. read paper before the American Ei.fo-,
! cal Association, in session at Sanders Theafr.
Cambridge. Mass. on the subject OF the Samoan
settlement which Is deserving OF wider circulation
than the lecture platform the publication OF tba
association can give It. Want Of space permits OF
few extracts only from this interesting paper
Tracing rapidly the history OF islands down 10
the advent OF the white man and the complication.
that followed the signing Of she Berlin act Baron
sternburg described the landing OF the Commits
sion OF which he was himself a member He con-
tnued in part follows;
The members arrived In May board the United
state of terrible chaos and anarchy: six warships
vessel was in sight. Apia was under military gov
eminent; the villages and native towns had been
mostly bombarded. and many were burned me
intrenched in their camps. ready to jump at each
others Threats while at Muipuu. the seat OF gov
eePnInssnt was throned the boy king. Tanu bare
no means received with open arms by the military
and the consus, every encouragement was given
most delicate and difficult problem which confront
ed us. and even secret efforts were made to wreck
our WORK so as to bring on new hOstilities.
MANY OBSTACLES OVERCOME
In spite of these heavy handIcaps the three Com
missioners and their secretary, Mr.. Edwin Nor
gan, set quietly 10 work, and about two weeks
armed and sent to their homes: military govern
were ordered back to the xarshiPs and a strong
civil government was established. The peaceful
disarmament, without firing a shot or shedding
drop Of blood. caused surprise and almost cOnsrer-
nation, especially among the military, who pooh
As soon as the toughest work was done we start
submitted to the three Powers our new form 81
government received the highest approval OF Ma
numbers and intelligence greatly surpasses the adj
herents Of Tanu. Especially was the abolition OF
10 hgT hy her viii Dfa1
last meeting at MI,nuU: eve do not Eanf sy I1er
the people, but the King of the bad white ofciais
there will be no more wars in Samoa"
We followed the advice of the grand old ehist
most bewildered 1t only owing 10 his loyal
cooperation that were able 10 fulfil the difficult
task our governments had SET neIose US
II was a happy day when the vexed Samoan cues
the convention Of December 2. at the State Depart
ment at Washington. now pending Ratification ~
questions which had arisen between the three Gov
ernments in respect the Samoan group OF islands
and avoids an future misunderstanding in respect
to their joint or several rights and claims Of pos
the Treaty of Berlin Of 1859 and all previous trea-
ties, conventions and agreements relating TO Samoa
are anhulled Both Great Britain and Germany
renounce in favor of the United States all their
Of Tutuila and Manua. The United States recip.
rocally ren0unce in favor Of Great Britain and
respect OF the islands of Upolu and Sava Further,
continue to enjoy in respect to its commerce and
commercial vessels in ali islands OF the group
privileges and conditions equal those enjoyed by
the sovereign Power in all ports which may be
open to the commerce of any OF them.
AS TO Great Britain and Germany the following
agreement has been made: Great Britain ronOunces
all her rights the Islands Of UpOu and SavaH.
and recognizes as falling to Germany the terri
tories in the eastern part Of the neutral zone
established by the arrangement Of 1888 in West
Africa.
Germany, on the other hand. renounces to Great
Britain all her rights over the Tonga Islands and
Savage Island. and recognizes as falling 70
Great Britain those of the Solomon Islands at
present belonging to Germany which are situated
to the southeast and south of the island OF
BOugainVille. The latter island and the island OF
Buka remain the property OF Germany. The west
portion of the neutral zone In West Africa
(thiS is defined in Article OF the cOnventon)
also falls to Great Britain Germany retains her
rights draw her Iaborers for Samoa from all
Britain. Finally Germany renOunces her rights Of
extraordinarily in Zanzibar
Two days ago 1 received a letter from the most
prominent American merchant in Apia, who during
the last in Samoa the StancheSt defender
of law truth and justice. especially as regarded
the trodden down rights OF Mataafa and his party
The letter says:
you know how heartily sympathized with your
people during the late uncaled for troubles, and
how continuously I exerted myself TO try to set
matters right with the public Since the happy
issue OF the labors of the High Commission be-
came known here take a most hopeful view OF
things and feel very certain that matters In
Samoa will improve vastly, to the general advan-
good citizens.