The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-18
King Oscar No Longer the Good
Friend Of the United states and
Great Britain.
JUDGE TAFT's SUGGESTIONS
SYNOPSIS OF THE REPORT OF THE
PHILIPPINES COMMISSION.
Gold Standard, Modification of Chi
nese Exclusion Act and Reduction
of Tariff Desirable.

Nov. lI-By previous
arrangement between the principals, there
was to-day published simultaneously in
Washington. London and Berlin the full
text OF the decision given by his Majesty,
King Oscar III, as arbitrator between the
three countries named, of certain claims
owing to military operations conducted in
Samoa in the year 1859. The decision is
long and abOunds in vhereases and con-
c~lusions. and in substance it has been an
nounced heretofore in the cable dispatches
from Stockholm. The preceding publica-
ton, however, did not convey to the Of
fcials here a full realization Of the COM
plete victory won by Germany in this
arbitration, for it appears that on every
single point the arbitrator adopted the
most extreme German view, in opposition
to the United States and Great Britain.
The arbitration grew out of claims by
or British subjects or American
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 Ameri-
can officers in Samoa between Jan. 1, 1893,
and May IL, following. The question really
at issue was whether or not the British
and United States governments should be
considered responsible for the losses.
The arbitrator recites that the United
States steamship Philadelphia and the
British ships Porpoise and Royalist, March
10, 1893, 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
10 Munnuu Point and supplied them arms
ana ammunition for the ensuing struggle
against Mataafa. In answer to the British
and American claims that under the treaty
OF Berlin any one of the signatory powers
was fully authorized TO enforce the de-
cision of the chief justice of Samoa, de-
claring Malietoa King, the arbitrator says:
I'VE have found nothing in the said general
act or any subsequent agreement which
authorized one of the signatory 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 powers"
1t is held that the British-American mill
tary action had the character of a serious
control over the Samoan islands and the
government thereof" which was prohibited
by Article 1 of the general act. The arbi-
traitor insists that the Berlin conference
aimed 10 establish a principle that in their
dealings with Samoa the powers could pro-
coed only by common accord and that as
the consular representatives Of the three
powers by proclamation had recognized
the provisional government of Mataafa,
the powers themselves were bound on prin-
ciples of international good faith to main
tain the situation until by common accord
they decided to change il.
The action OF the British-American au-
thorities tending to overthrow the provi-
sional THEREBY established. II is
held, was contrary TO the aforesaid obliga-
ton, and cannot be justified either on the
plea Of the validity alb initio of the said
provision OF the government nor its esti-
mate under q species of force maieure.
Touching the British-American complaint
against the German consul for his refusal
TO sustain the decision of the chief Justice,
the arbitrator holds that 1T cannot be con-
sidered to have been the duty of the Ger
man consul TO take part in the issuance of
said proclamation, and it has not been
proved that with regard to said decision
any steps were taken by him contrary to
the general act, and therefore no response
bility attaches for the attitude taken by
him in this respect"
The arbitrator meets the British-Amer-
lean contention that their military action
was warranted because necessary for the
protection of lives and property which it
was their duty to safeguard, by the fiat
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 then
goes on to show that Mataafa never in
tended to cross the bay at that time and
make an attack on the consulates, and on
account of the state of the tide could not
possibly have done so at that time.
Continuing. the decision recites that
dhtt z COIlDltltiy utltdleu
before the arrival of the Philadelphia, but
that the United States admiral and British
authorities brought back his warriors, and
armed and provisioned them, giving them
ammunition, which, under the treaty.
should have been issued only at the unan-
imous request of the three consuls. The
decision concludes as follows:
THAT the military action i'm question,
viz, the bringing back of the MalietoanS
and the distribution to them of arms and
ammunition, the bombardment, the military
operations on shore, and the stoppage of
the street traffic, cannot be considered as
having been w~arranted: and that, there
fore. his britannia Majesty's government
and the United States government are re-
sponsible under the convention of the 9TH
of November. 1893, for losses caused by said
military action; while reserving for a flu
ture decision the question as to the extent
to which the two governments, or each of
them, may be considered responsible for
such losses. A