Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1902-10-24

The Finding eerisssly Restricts 'se
Rights Of Americans n Fsre'gn
Countries In Case Of Resss
lntions or Riots.

Washington. oct 23.-The intims'
sion received here that King Oscar.
who is acting as the arbitrator OF the
issues between the United States.
Germany and Great Britain. growing
out OF the Samoan rebellion OF 1893.
will decide the facts presented TO him
In the briefs. which have been pend.
ing for nearly a year warrant him
IN proceeding TO assess the damages
sustained by foreign residents Of Sa'
moa as result OF the landing Of a
combined force OF American and
British sailors and marines and the
destruction Of property incident to
the ensuing fight with the rebels In
favor OF Germany. is not rclished by
the administration.
By the terms Of the treaty under
which the three powers agreed 10 sub
init these claims TO arbitration, the
arbitrator was first 90 declare wheth'
or or not the Americans and British
were M an liable for damage and. II
So. then ne was 20 determine the
amount Of that liability lie has. IL
IS understood, concluded 90 decide
the first question In the Affirmative.
though e Is stated here that no ON
cial notice 90 that effect has yet been
conveyed 20 our government
The next step Is 90 fix the amount
OF the damages, and this must be
done by King Oscar upon the basis
OF the facts to be presented by the
representatives Of the governments
concerned. The German claims are
FAR larger than the others, amounting
TO Sl03glS. while the American
claims are s7760j and the British
only S62Sj. There are claims Of na.
tions not a party TO the arbitration
that may De included IN the final
Judgment. but these are not Of much
consequence. Altogether the total OF
the claims Is not imposing. and % IS
certain from the nature OF the proofs
adiuccd In support Of many Of them
that even the total viii be heavily
scaled down by the arbitrator
So 10 is not the amount Of money
involved DO this approaching decision
OF the arbitrator that concerns the
government of the United States but
rather the principle which accepted
as "a precedent. would Doe unpa.atable
and would $50 seriously restrict The
rights OF Americans in foreign coun.
tries ln case Of revolution or riot
ioOpardiuzInEthc lives and property 10
our friends. that DC would amount 90
the total withdrawal OF protection
This can never be admitNNf. and go 10
may be positively stated that while
the United States government viii ace
cept the arbitration loyalty and pay
any damage assessed aeaiust &c. 10
will utterly refuse tJ Dee bound by
such n principle as t0 recognize it as
establishing q precedent Otherwise.
the United States government could
be held liable for enormous damage
In cases where DO lands troops upon
the isthmus of Panama resulting IN
q collision with rioters or rebels.
even though the government is sol-
EMMY bound by treaty 90 preserve
free traffic across the isthmus For
II is pointed ont that similarly che
United States was bound Boy a treaty
In the case OF Samoa 90 preserve f.a
integrity OF the ritual government
and Il wait Ia the course OF AN enur.
90 discharge tlis duty that the claims
were originated n our naval vessels
cannot interfere to preserve life aud
property In the presence of q specific
treaty. Of course they would be- still
more helpless without a treaty. and
they could not land marines In any ~
the West Indian, Central or South
American ports IN any emergency
without risking liability for heavy
damages These considerations will
lead 10 the dcclination to recognize
the decision as precedent and Incl
dentally 10 the submission OF the next
similar case TO The Hague tribunal In
the hope Of another and different dc
Cision