THE SAMON TREATY.

Samoa Times and South Sea Advertiser, Volume I, Issue 71, 1 March 1890, Page 2

THE SAMON TREATY.

A PTOL OUTIINE. ' hUn allegas synopses el the Samoan | treaty base hoea published, bat on j January 19, for the first time, the I treaty was made public. The follow- i ing is a full oui line of it* provuiuas:— < Artivl* 1 declares that the islands uf Buuftoa are neutral ground, in'whioh the citizaus and subjects of the three signatory poaers have equal rights of residence, trade, am) persxmel atotac* tion. The three Powers recognise the independenio of the Samoau (loveraiuant aud the free rights of the native* to e'et t their king or chief aud choose their form of Government according to their owa laws aad euetomt. Neither of tho Powers shall exercise any separate control over the isliuds or the Ouvernmeut thereof. It is further declared, wi'h a view to the pr-'iupt restoration of peace and good order on those islands, and in view of tho difficulties which would surround ait election iu tiie present disordered condition of their Government, that Malietoa, who was fornwrly made aud appointed King on July \l, 1881. aud was so recognised by the three i'owera, shall again be so recognised hereafter in the exercise of an.hauthority, nuless the threo Powera almtl, by common accord, otherwise declare, nnd hi* successors shall be elected according to tho law* aud cuktouis of Samoa. Article 2 provide* that this act shall aupersede all now axial ing treaties !>*twe*n the Poaers aud S w .n, but that U.tmoa shall give eonsent to all ivt pruyi>iou* before goin;; into effect. Article 3 provide* for the establishment of a Supreme Court iu Samoa, consisting of one Judge, who shall he Mppoiuiod by the three signatory powers iu common, ot these failiug, be is to be named by the of Norway and Sweden. Hi* decision shall be filial, ami his aaiary §wUO J a Tear, payable the first year by the Powers in equal proportion, and sftersania by the Suiuo.iu Governmeiit. He is made rsmovnlile at the re<pn:-t of a majority of tho thne Powers. On jurisdiu'ion the w»ys: The Supruuie Court shall have jurisdiutioti of u 1 ipu-stioita urising under the provision* of this gvi:eiul nut. 'i he Coiut sh ill also Livn apjiellate jitrialietie i of all muuicipil magistrates aud oHWers. I'rovisiu:. \* made for the nppointiuent uf its-isi-taut*. The qu-siion of to illthrone shall bo settled by the Chief Justice, aud he shall have power to oeitle disputes between tjw . treaty

Powers, uuy such dill'er.-uces not Ih lug coits.dered eauso for war. The Chiel Justice ahull have the right tu siugcsi tlm passage of any U.v» iu tit • £».*««*» (lover anient which he thiukti advisable Tu hi* fVrart diull Im trau»f*ired civil iiuiU concerning real jm>; wry ii bauuMt, itud all rights elf-Hiting tin same, civil suit* between native* him! foreigners, and crimes bj rjaiuoaus against foreigners or foreign•rs against !Stt mount, a her* the Con•u<a bare not jurisdiction. Tlie prac' lice ami procedure of English Court* shall guide. Article 4, respecting title* to laudi iu Samoa, and restraining disposition thereof by natives, provides th.tt all futurs alienation of Lads on ihs islands of Suntoa Iu citizens or subjects of uuy foreign country shall Im prohibited, subject to the following conditions : Town L>U aud lunls may be sold or leased by the owner fur a just consideration when approved in writing by tbeOhief Justice. A oourt of claims to settle on the validity ol existing laud titles is pruvMed fur, with three commissioners, at S3OO a mouth each, during the necessary term of aerviee. The Court shall make uiovUbma for a complete registry ot raud titles Jo Samoa owned by foreigner*. Ail lands acquired before the 28th da? of August, 187!) being the date ol the Anglo43aiuoeu treaty -*haU be held as validlv acquired prescriptive title by ten years 7 past ouutinuou* holding. ArtWa ft deaenbes the Municipal dujtnct of Apia, and provide* fur the local administration, which shall Consist of six member* uf the Municipal Council and •.president with a vet.*. Thie Council ehall enforce the treaty aa far at ■eoenary over Apia, and •hall regulate por: charges. Cuuucilmm are to te property hnldara. and •hall be elected by popular rote. The President of the Council shall be rid upon by the threw Poaer* may act under Mat faairuetiou of th* three Powere, but ahaii receive no separate iaatracdoa* from either. fIU .alary wifl be thall ha the racslrat and custodian of revenue* awarwiag under the Provisieft ofl,thie act, aad ehall reader MM**? MMTto lo the King and the tqMpwtt&aacD. The Chief Jualk* *■■*, • •*•!•• rvwat fur the toaWwlllliiaaila^iartd^'aw!! - -- ■■ • - - '- • ji °- ■■- v 'v •

tical fluty am HdU la BMMai • «-_ osnt ad —Mffi liT ¥■!»■■ i ■■nnli provide* far. Other taxes .ball be a yearly ettrffatfaa te« m *U PnmAo Islanders, |l j eoWured, not islanders, $2; slw foea dw.W.g house, boats, aattMNpaV MMMtuwui lawters, dorters, and all classes of tradesmen MM ennlers, vary from S6O on lawyers te if ea 1-kskMaitns, $3 ou book agents, and $1 on peddlers. Importation of firearm* is hedged about with »«ny reatrifllioos. an.l their sale by foreign*** to Samoai.s is etriutlv prohibited. The prohibition of is established by the following eectinu : •• No spirituous, vinous, <»r fermeuted liquor or intoxi. csting drink whatever shall be sold, given, or offered «o any native Samoaii, or South Bea Islander, resident in Sa.no*, to be taken a* a beverage. Adequate penultirs, iucliuiins itnprisouiwnt fur violation of tho provisions of this article, shall bn •stab] sbexj by the Municipal Council fur application within its juristliution, and by the S.imoau Government for all the ißl.ii.d-." The treaty is agreed to by Jchn A. Knas-.n, William Walter Phelps, George 11. Bnto*. 11. Bismarck. It-d----etain, ft. Kraud, KUrurd B. Muk-t, Chariot B. Bcott, and J. A. C.owe. DENOUNCED BY TnE QEBMAN PRESS. I/O.vuo.v. January 23. The Times nrtiel» on '.he Bam. >au treaty bears a hund-wmie testimony to Bivuurek's reasonableu-as. It any*; That so complete an equilibrium should Ikj e-tablishrd is uiueh mora than wo could hn»* espwteil from hint. That he quietly consented to the. prohibition <>f 'inns and alcohol ana t<> tbe land oh. uses, is pr.lial.l_v duo t»British influence-. The.r insertion in.suoh a tr-aty is a rvmarkablo evont in the history «f the relation* of olriliso-l with N-"ii-oivilieed ra.eg. The Standard says :—While it i* pood tlieoMtio.'tUj, it i* likely that iliffiviiltie* will arise. In niiy t»«>v n provisions made for revision. Wasiiwotox January 23. Tin' puhlicstMMi <>f th-- San»i«n tio-.tv iu B- rlin he* led t» t»« iki.uociitiou by the German Press of both parties. I)i»patchea here any tha* the'ttudiciil au.l Couservsttvspa;i r« alsko u-i'i it a " German retreat."