A CONTROLLING COMMISSION. A CONTROLLING COMMISSION*

Otago Witness, Issue 2355, 13 April 1899, Page 24

A CONTROLLING COMMISSION. A CONTROLLING COMMISSION*

LONDON, April 5, Lord Salisbury has accepted the prut* ciple of the Tripartite Commission , fofe Samoa. The Powers are now discussing whether the commission should be advisory or should govern during the inquiry intq the whole matter. April 8. It has been decided that the Samoaii Commissioners will supersede the present representatives. Unanimity is essential as a preliminary to all active measures. The German Emperor, in receiving the American Ambassador,- said he hoped the Powers would appoint a calm, conciliatory^ and a not over-zealous commission, April 10. The New York correspondent of Tha Times says that the authorities at Wash* ington consider Admiral Kantz's action made the situation regular and in accord* ance with the Treaty of Berlin. German newspapers are vexed that Brit tain and America have not played Gerx many's game. WASHINGTON, April 7. Mr Halleben, Herman Minister at WasK« ington, congratulated Mr Hay, Secretary of State, and Sir Julian Paunceforte upon the satisfactory adjustment of 'the Samoan affair. April 9, Mr C. N. L. Eliot, C.8., second secretary to Sir Julian Pauncefote, British Ambassador here, has been appointed conn missioner in the Samoan difficulty. BERLIN, April 10. Germany has expressed a hope that tho Provisional Government in Samoa will ba continued till the commission meets. It is semi-officially announced in Berlin that Germany regards the rejection by tho Provisional Government at bamoa of Malietoa's enthronement as an infringement of the Berlin Treaty. Sydney, April 5. The Daily Telegraph says that New Zealand's offer of troops for service ati Samoa repeats the keynote first sounded by New South Wales in the despatch oE her Soudan contingent, and lets the world know emphatically that in these communi-t ties there are reserves of armed forces of the best fighting breed in the world—men who are prepared to fight for their possessions under the flag of the Empire. Tha only difference is that on the present occasion the broad entry of a human elemenb into the question is writ larger than it was a decade back. April 7. It is reported in naval circles that another cruiser will be despatched to Samoa, shortly. April 9. • H.M.S. Torch has sailed for Samoa. Iti is understood that from there she proceeda on a lengthy cruise amongst the islands. April 10. It is now reported that H.M.S. Torch relieves the Royalist at Samoa. -. - MELBOURNE, April 5. The Argus says that New Zealand's eagerness to get mixed up in the Samoan hostilities is likely to cause as much amusement as admiration—perhaps more. Soma of her politicians have long wished thafc Samoa and Tonga might become tropical dependencies of their colony. There does not appear any real occasion for the present affair, and in Germany's angry mood ifc is exposed to the danger of.mischievous misinterpretation. If circumstances should arise anywhere in this part of the world suggesting that Britain should be backed by Australasian loyalty, the seven colonies would stand to the flag as one man, bufc in this instance New Zealand may have been moved by ambition for territorial\ex« pansion. * '•