The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-18
GERMANY WINS
 GREAT VICTORY ]. s. and Great Britain Lose
 in Samoan Dispute
OSCAR'S DECISION PUBLISHED
On Every Point He Seems to Have Adopted the Most Extreme Ger man View In Opposition to
 the Other Powers.

Washington, Novemper Af.-D5 phSNa01S arrangement between the principals. there was today published simultaneous ly in Washington. London and Berlin the full text of the decision gwen by his majesty, King Oscar II, as arbitrator between the three countries named of certain claims owing 10 military opera tions conducted in Samoa in the year 1899. The decision is long and abounds in whereas and conclusions,' and in substance 1t has been announced here, following dispatches from stockholm. The preceding publication, however, did not convey to the officials here full reIaization of the complete victory won by Germany in this arbitration. for 1t | appears that on every single point the arbitrator adopted the most extreme Ger man view in opposition to the United States and Great Britain.
 The arbitration grew our of claims by Germans or British subjects. or Ameri- can citizens for compensation on account of losses they alleged they had suffered in consequence of unwarranted military action on the part of German. British or American officers in Samoa between InS ITSL OI JduudAy Aoo0s dIld iAAC 4oAAi of May following. The question really at issue was whether or not the British and United States government should be con- sidered responsible for the losses.
 Gunboat Brought Arms.
 The arbitrator recites that the United States steamship Philadelphia and the British ships Porpoise and Royalist, aro ha town of Apia. Samoa directing the same against the forces of High Chief Ma taafa: that the same vessels brought the newly appointed King of Samoa, Malie- l toa, and his forces to Mulinuu Point and supplied them arms and ammunition for the ensuing struggle agamsr Mataafa. In answer to the British and American l claims, that under the treaty of Berlin, any one of the signarory powers was | fully authorized to enforce the decision of the chief justice of Samoa, declaring Balietoa King, the arbitrator says:
 ! We have found nothing in the said | general act or any subsequent agreement l which authorizes one of the signatory 1 powers or a majority of them to take l action to enforce the conditions of the l act or to make the decisions of the chief 1 justice binding on the powers
 l Ii Is held that the British-American mill itary action had the character of a se- 1 rious control over the Samoan islands,
 aud the government thereof" which was 1 prohibited by Article of the general act l The arbitrator insists that the Berling l conference aimed to establish a principle | that in their dealings with Samoa the powers could proceed only by common | accord, and that as the consular repre- | scntatives of three powers by proclama- t1,A val
 ernment of Mataafa, the powers them
 selves were bound on principles of in- | ternational good faith to maintain the situation until by common accord they
 decided to change it. The action of the
 Bi iitish-American authorities tending to
 overthrow the provisional government
 thereby established 1t Is held, was con-
 trary to the aforesaid obligation and
 cannot be justified either on the plea of the validity adnitio. the said provision of the government, nor it's establishment under species of force majeure."
 German Consul Right.
 Touching the British-American com plaint against the German consul for his | refusal to sustain the decision of the l chief justice, the arbitrator holds, that | it cannot be contended to have been the duty of the German consul to take part I in the issuance of said proclamation, and 1 if has not been proved that With regard | to said decision any steps were taken by | him contrary to the general act and, 1 therefore, no responsibility attaches for | the attitude by him in this respect"
 The arbitrator meets the British-Amer- l ican contention that their military action was warranted because necessary for the
 protection of lives and property which 1t
 was their duty to safeguard by the flat
 statement that i've have found nothing
 in the evidence before us to show that
 the general condition of affairs was such as to render the military action necessary for the protection of lives and property
 And ther goes on to show that Mataafa : never intended to cross the bay at that time and make an attack on the con. sulates, and on account of the state of
 the tide could not possibly have done Sc at that time.
 Continuing. the decision recites that
 Mataafa had been completely defeated
 before the arrival of the Philadelphia but that the United States admiral and the British authorities brought back his ! warriors and armed and provisioned
 them. giving them ammunition. which
 under the treaty. should have been is.
 sued only at the unanimous request of the thzee consuls.
 The decision concludes as follows;
 That the military action in question
 viz: The bringing back of the Malietoans and the distribution to thom of arms anc ammunition, the bombardment, the mill
 tary operations on shore and the stop