Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-11-18
Arbitrator Adopts the Most Ex-
treme German View on the
Samoan Difficulty.
HARD BLOW FOR UNITED STATES
Kine oscar Decides That National
Government and Great Britain
Erred In Using Force-shoud Have
esin.d Consent of Emperor William

Washington, Nov. 1S.-By previous
arrangement between the principals
there was yesterday published simui-
taneously in Washington, London ana
Berlin the full text Of the decision
given by King Oscar II of Sweden
as arbitrator between the three coun-'
tries named, Of certain claims on ac-
count of military operations conduct
ed in Samoa in 1899. The first news
of the decision did not convey to the
officials here a fun realization OF the
complete victory won by Germany in
this arbitration, for it appears that
on every point the arbitrator adopted
the most extreme German view, in
opposition to the United States and
Great Britain.
, The arbitrator recites that the
United States ship Philadelphia and
the British ships Porpoise and Roy
alist, March Is, 1899, opened fire
across the town CT Apia. Samoa,
against the forces Of High Chle1
Mataafa; that the same vessels
brought the newly appointed king OF
Samoa. Malietoa, and his forces to
Mulinun point and supplied them
arms and ammunition for the ensuing
struggle against Mataafa.
In answer to the British and Amer
ican claims, that under the treaty OF
Berlin any one Of the signatory pow
ers was fully authorized to enforce
the decision CT the chief justice OF
Samoa, declaring Malietoa king, the
arbitrator says:
Eve have found nothing in the
said general act or any subsequent
agreement which authorizes one Of
! the signatorY powers. or a majority
, of them, to take action to enforce the
conditions CT the act or to make the
decisions of the chief justice binding
on the powers
1t is held that the British-American
military action had the character Of
q serious control over the Samoan
islands and the government thereof,
which was prohibited by article l, Of
the general act The arbitrator in
sists that the Berlin conference
aimed to establish a principle that in
their dealings with Samoa the pow
ers could proceed only by common
accord, and that as the consular rep
J resentatives Of the three powers, by
proclamation had recognized the pro-
! visional government OF Mataafa, the
| powers themselves were bound on
principles of international good faith
| to maintain the situation until by
common accord they decided to
change it.
The action of the British-American
authorities tending to overthrow the
provisional government thereby es-
tablished," it is held, was contrary
to the aforesaid obligation and can
not be justified either on the plea O.
the validity alb initio Of the said pro-
vision Of the government nor its es-
tablishment under a species of force
majeure'
Touching the British-American COM
plant against the German consul for
his refusal to sustain the decision OF
the chief justice, the arbitrator holds
that -it cannot be considered to have
been the duty Of the German consul
to take part in the issuance Of said
proclamation, and it has not been
proved that, with regard to said de-
cision, any steps were taken by him
contrary to the general act. and
therefore, no responsibility attaches
for the attitude taken by him in this
respect"
The arbitrator meets the British
American contention that their mill
tary action was warranted because
necessary for the protection Of lives
and property which it was their duty
to safeguard by the fat statement
that I'VE have found nothing in the
evidence before US to show that the
general conditions OF affairs was such
as to render the military action nee
essary for the protection Of lives and
property and then goes on TO show
that Mataafa never intended to cross
the bay at that time and make an at
tack on the consulates.