New-York tribune., 1902-10-22
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

washington, Oct. 2l.-King Oscar OF Sweden
and Norway has decided the Samoan contro-
..rsv in favor Of Germany. This fact became
,.,ou-n to-day on the return OF Mr. Grip. the
Minister Of Sweden and Norway. from a long
,Js,t 70 his home Mr.. Grip called at the State
Department this afternoon, but did not. OF
.or-se. disclose the decision OF his sovereign,
.bicb must be formally presented simultane-
o,slv TO the three powers concerned. The an
,ouncement win be astonishing to the govern
.,.r,s Of the United States and Great Britain.
vbieh were confident until to-day that they had
.uuy established the legality and propriety Of
the Joint landing OF marines at Apia in 1899 to
.usrsin the decree of the Samoan Supreme Court
and END the revolution.
The full scope OF the arbitral decree OF King
Oscar is not yet divulged and the extent 10
which II covers the claims for damages filed by
the citizens Of the three countries and Of France
nav not be known for several days. These
l.,ms which were nonlinaily the prime cause
,c- arbitration, are Insignificant however. com
,.rs with the question OF national honor, on
which they depended, and which, II the conten-
tim Of the United States and Great Britain
had been sustained by the royal arbiter would
have fallen to the ground. The result. coming
so soon after the decree in the Pious Fund case.
lends 10 emphasize the vast benefits to all ma
lions resulting from The Hague convention,
which. II is now coming TO be realized provides
the long sought satisfactory and impartial
method Of arriving at the merits OF disputes.
THE ORIGIN OF THE DISPUTE.
The dispute now decided grew out of the con-
oerted action OF Rear Admiral Kautz. OF the
United States navy. and Captain Sturdy, Of the
British navy, in leading a combined American
and British force al Apia on April l. 1899 for
the purpose Of making a reconnaissance and
breaking up Mataafa's supporters. who were in
rebellion against the recognized government. II
was on this occasion that Philip Landslide. the
executive officer Of the Philadelphia; Ensign j.
R. Monaghan. and two enlisted Americans. and
Lieutenant Freeman and two British sailors,
were killed. Surgeon Lung, now President
Roosevelt's physician. was the medical officer
Of the landing party. The United States ship
Badger was promptly sent 10 the scene, carry
ing an international commission. composed Of
Bartlett Tripp, representing the United States;
Baron Won Sternberg, the German commissioner,
and c. y. Elliott. the British commissioner.
Claims amounting 10 nearly $4,000 were filed
b. German French. British and American resi-
dents on account OF damages caused by the
landing party. AS the chief result of the inves-
legations Of the commission. the tripartite agree
ment OF 1889 was abrogated. the islands being
divided between the United States and Ger
many. while Great Britain withdrew. con-
pention was signed al Washington on Novem-
Der 4 1899 submitting the claims Of Samoan
residents 10 the King Of Sweden and Norway
for arbitration the main questions being wheth-
er the military action OF the United States and
Great Britain had been warranted. Immedi-
ately the aggregate OF claims, most Of them
German and American rose TO about 100000.
In July, 1900 King Oscar consented 10 act as
arbitrator, and last spring the briefs containing
the arguments on the main point at issue ana
the schedule Of claims were submitted 70 him.