The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-12-03
Observation-Disclosures
King Oscar Rules Adversely to Eng
land and the United States.
TRIPARTITE AGREEMENT BROKEN
The Arbitrator Finds That Action by Brit.
ish and American Forces In Firing
Across Apia Was Unwarran.ed-The
Two Governments Responsible For
Lossss-oermsuy's Victory compiete.

Across Apia Was Unwarranfsd-The
Two Governmsnts Responsible For
Lossss-0ermsny's Victory Complete.
Washington. D. C.-By previous ar.
raagement between the principals.
there was published simultaneously In
Washington, London and Berlin the
full text Of the decision given by His
Majesty King Oscar II, OF Sweden, as
arbitrator between the three countries
named Of certain claims on account OF
military operations In Samoa in the
year 1900. The substance Of the deci.
sion has been announced heretofore In
the cable dispatches from Stockholm.
but they did not convey to the officials
here full realization Of the complete
victory won by Germany. for 1t ap-
pears that on every single point the ar>
bitrator adopted the most extreme Ger.
man view In opposition to the United
States and Great Britain.
The arbitration grew out Of claims
by German or British subjects or
American citizens for compensation on
account Of losses they alleged they
had suffered In consequence Of unwar.
ranted military action on the part Of
German, British or American officers
In Samoa between the 1st Of January.
1899. and the 18th Of May following.
The question really at issue was
whether or not the British and United
States Governments should be coIsid-
cred responsible, for the losses.
The arbitrator recites that the United
States steamship Philadelphia and the
British ships Porpoise and Royalist on
March Is. 1899, opened fire across the
town Of Apia. Samoa. directing the
same against the forces Of High Chief
Mataafa: that the same vessels brought
the newly appointed King Of Samoa.
Malietoa. and his forces to Mulinuu
Point and gave them arms and ammu.
milton for the ensuing struggle agains,
Mataafa. In answer to the British
and American claims that under the
treaty Of Berlin any one Of the sigma.
tory Powers was fully authorized to
enforce the decision of the Chief Jus.
tice Of Samoa, declaring Malietoa King
the arbitrator says:
I'VE hnve found nothing In the said
general act or any subsequent agree
ment which authorizes one Of the sig
natory Powers, or a majority Of them
to take action to enforce the conditions
Of the act or to make the decisions OF
the Chief Justice binding on the Pow
ers."
Tie arbitrator insists that the Berlin
Conference aimed to establish princi
| PIE that In their dealings with Samoa
the. Powers could proceed only by
common accord, and that rs the con
sular representatives of the three Pow
ers by proclamation had recognized
the provisional government Of Mataafi
the Powers themselves were bound OF
to maintain the situation until by com
mon accord they decided to change It.
Touching the British-ARerican com
plant against the German Consul fol
his refusal to sustain the decision o.
the Chief Justice. the arbitrator hold.
that ut cannot be considered to hav'
been the duty Of the German C0nsu
to take part In the issuance Of sai'
proclamation, and It has not beel
proved that with regard to said dec!
sion any steps were taken by him con
trary TO the general nc, ae. anu, there
:, fore, no responsibility attaches for th
/ attitude taken by him In this respect "
Continuing. the decision recites tim
Malietoa had been completely defeate,
before the arrival Of the Philadelphia
but that the United States Admiral an!
the British authorities brought bacl
his warriors and armed and prov!
stoned them, giving them ammunition
which, under the treaty there shoul,
have been issued only at the unani
nous request of the three Consulse
The decision closes as follows: "Tha
the military action In question. viz.
the bringing back of the Malietoan
and the distribution. to them of arm
and ammunition. the bombardment
the military operations on shore IN,
the stoppage Of the street traffic canno
be considered as having been war
ranted.
"Ard that. therefore. His Brltanni,
Majesty's Government and the Unitet
States Government are responsible I'm
der the convention Of the 7th OF No
vember; 1899. for losses caused by salt
military action: reserving for futur'
decision the question rs to the exten
to which the two Governments. o.
each Of them, may be considered re
! ennn athIo for such 1oasaa