Evening star., 1914-04-26

In all the years that have intervened
a vast number of claims have arisen.
An American Briton who feels that
he has been harmed by the acts of
the other country makes representa-
ton to his own government, either di
rect1y to the Department of State or,
in this country. to the Senate. If the
claim impresses his own government
being sound. diplomatic representa-
tions are made to the offending coun
try that the claim ought to he paid.
The other country resists in some
cases: in other cases il pays But in
ternational politics, the dictates of
diplomacy and other considerations
naturally enter into any settlement.
On October IS. 1907, the two nations
signed an arbitration treaty. Under
section of that treaty pecuniary claims
can be submitted to p special tribunal
August Is. 1910. after long correspond
ence, an agreement was reached and a
schedule of claims adopted AS the ones
to be submitted to such tribunal. The
SeLate. July 10. 1911. agreed to this
schedule Subsequently the necessary
appropriation for the American share
of the expenses was passed.
The schedule contains claims against
Great Britain and the United States IN
a total sum of about s6,ooo.ooo- A sec
ond schedule is now being prepared by
the Senate At least two years work
is ahead Of the tribunal
Taking the place of what would be
called a complaint in the ordinary
bunal requires memorial in which
are set forth all the details of the claim
and it's reasons. This memorial like
the answer" of the government which
is resisting payment. is printed in uni
form sizes.
Run through these printed documents
that comprise the subject matter be-
fore the tribunal and you find it rich
and colorful in tales of high emprise,
of adventure. of battle. murder and
sudden death. Kings, civilized and saw
age; suitans. rnaharajahs and presidents;
Malay headhunters and South Sea pi-
rates; gold miners and hardy fisher
men; venturesome seaIers and belted
army and navy officers. stalk through
the pages as real characters. History,
political and military, is told with the
touch of human experience. II is al!
vivid. enhancing. romantic.
There, for an example. is the claim
of the heirs of Adolph G. Studer. who
wants the British government to pay
him s1.196.429.03 for what it did TO
Studer a third Of a century ago in the
Malay peninsula. ana the American
government is backing the claim.
Studer was naturaliZed Swiss of
military education who fought through
the civil war as officer of the Union
army, rising to the rank Of major.
Following the war he settled at Des
Moines. Iowa. as a bank accountant.
In 1871 he was ppointed American
consul at Singapore.
Most of the Malay peninsula then. a
now. was under British domination. but
in the hinterland was the Independent
state of Muar. ruled by the Sultan Ali
lskander. Negotiations conducted
through the sultan's representative in
Singapore. one C d Keun resulted in
Studer. In 1875, receiving a concession
from the sultan of six miles square in
Muar on condition that he cultivate il
and return one-tenth Of its product to
the sultan
Studer's representatives maintain that
during all the time to 1892, when he was
finally driven out, he lived up 10 the
obligations of the contract as best he
could. He remained consul at Singa-
pore until 1889, when he was transferred
to Barman. Germany, where he spent
four years. returning to Singapore in
1893 and then retiring from the govern
ment service.
Studer's planting efforts appear to have
progressed favorably until June 20, 1877.
when Sultan Ali died. Enter upon the
scene Col. A. f. Fl. Anson of the British
army. administrator of the government
of the Straits Settlements" The Studer
memorial recites that Anson. disrega riding
the Malay law of succession and denying
the rights of the lawful heir to the
throne, conspired TO and succeeded in
having Muar annexed to the dominion OF
the Maharajah of Johore. The British
government became responsible for the
acts of the mahara jah and caused him to
De elevated to the rank of sultan.
This maharajah person seems not to
have looked with favor on the Studer
concession. Studer couldn't pin him down
to definite recognition denial Of the