The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-10-31
fAYORS GERMANY
King Oscar OF Sweden Decides
Samoan Controversy
is AGAINST UNITED STATES
UDsets Al Calculations BY Declaring
Landing Of Marines to ouen an Up
rising meEaI-DamaEe Claims
Are LarEe-Other News

A Washington, Oct p, dispatch
says King Oscar OF Sweden and Nor
way has decided the Samoan contro-
versy in favor Of Germany. The fact
became known upon the return Of Mr..
Grip, the minister Of Sweden and Nor
way, from a long visit to his home Mr.
Grip called at the state department.
but did not, OF course, disclose the de-
cislOn Of his sovereign which must be
formally presented simultaneously to
the three governments The announce
ment will be astonishing 70 the gov
ernments Of the United States and
Great Britain. which were confident
that they would establish fully the Ie-
galfty and prOpriety Of the Joint land
ing Of marines at Apia. in 1899. 70 sus-
tain the decision Of the Samoan su-
preme court and end the revolution.
The full scope Of the arbitral de-
cree Of King Oscar is not yet divulged.
and the extent to which il covers the
claims for damages fled by the citi-
zens Of the three countries, and OF
France. may not be known for several
days These claims. which are nomin-
ally the prime cause for arbitration.
are Insignificant, sOwever, compared
with the question Of national honor
upon which they depended, and If the
action Of the United States and Great
Britain had been sustained by the
royal arbitrator they would have fallen
70 the ground
The Samoan dispute grew out Of the
concerted action OF Rear Admiral
KautZ OF the United States navy and
Captain Sturdy OF the British navy in
landing a combined American and Brit
ish force at Apia on April 1, 1893, for
the purpose Of making a recOnnais-
sance and breaking up Mataafa's sup
pOrters. who were in rebellion against
the recognized government IL was
on this occasion that Phillip Lansdale.
the executive officer Of the Philadel-
phias Ensinge ]. H. Monaghan. two en-
lister Americans, Lieutenant Freeman
and two British sailors were killed
Surgeon Lung, now President ROOse-
velts physician, was medical officer OF
the landing party
The United States ship Badger was
promptly sent to the scene, carrying
an international commissioner. com
posed Of Bartlett Trip. representing
the United States; Won Sternberg. the
German commissioner, and G. y. Eli
OFT. British commissioner.
Claims amounting to nearly thirty
thousand dollars were fled by Ger
man. French, British and American
residents on account OF damages caused
by the landing party. AS the chief re-
suit Of the Investigations Of the COM
mission the tri-partite agreement OF
1899 was abrOgated. the islands di-
yided between the United States and
Germany, while Great Britain with
drew A convention was signed at
Washington on November Z, 1899, sub
hitting the claims of Samoan residents
to the king Of Sweden and Norway for
arbitration, the main questions being
whether the United States and Great
Britain had been warranted. Immedi-
ately the aggregate Of claims, most OF
them German and American, rose 10
about 100000.
In July, 1900. King Oscar consented
to act as arbitrator, and last spring
the brief containing the arguments OF
the main point at issue and the SEIZED
ule Of claims was submitted to him.