THE TREATY WITH THE SAMOAN ISLANDS.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Issue 24, 16 March 1878, Page 2

THE TREATY WITH THE SAMOAN ISLANDS.

WASHINGTON, February Ist.—The following is the text of the treaty between the United States and Samoa, ratified by the Senate, on Wednesday : Article I. " There shall bo perpetual peace and friendship between the Government of the Samoan Islands and the Government of the United States. Article 11.

Naval vessel of tho United States shall have the privilege of entering and using tho port of Pago Pago, establishing therein and on the shores thereof a station for coal and other naval supplies for their naval and commercial marine; and tho Samoan Government will hereafter neither exercise nor authorize any jurisdiction within said port adverse to such rights of the UnitcdStates restrictive thereof. The same vessels shall also have tho privileges of entering any othor ports of the Samoan Islands. Citizens of the United States shall likewise have free liberty to enter the same ports with their ships and cargoes of whatsoever kind, and sell the same to any of those inhabitants of thorn* islands, whether natives or foreigners, or to barter them for the products of the land. All such traffic in whatsoever articles of trade or barter shall he free, excopt that Hude in firearms and munitions of war with he islands shall be subject to regulations by that Government."— ' Daily Evening Bulletin," February Ist. Another paper under date February 2nd, saysj—" Stelnbarger was long made the butt of ridicule, und suffered some

pretty hmi handling, in connection with the relations he affected to bear toward the Saoiuan Islands ; but he is at last about to be vindicated. The. treaty recently negotiated and signed bv the authorities of the Sauioan aud United States Government* Is now awaiting ratification by the National Senate, and secures to this country rights over theIslands of an important nature. This treaty provides that United States naval vessels shall have the privilege of entering and using the port of Pago Pago, aud establislung in ami on the shores thereof a station for coal and other naval supplies for their naval and commercial marine, and that the Sauioan Govermn<...(. will, hereafter, neither exercise no Authorize any jurisdiction within that port adverse to the rights of the United States, or restriction thereof. It also accords to American vessels the privilege of entering other ports of the Samoan Islands, and gives to citizens of the United States free liberty to enter the ports with ships and cargoes of every kind, and to sell the same to the inhabitants. All such trade without restrict i:n to be free, except that the trade in firearms and munitions of war in the Islands shall be subject to regulation by the Government; The Sampan Government also agrees to impose neither export nor import duties on the cargoes of American vessels entering or clearing from the ports of the Islands, and to charge no tonnage duty in exooss of one-half of one per cent per ton actual measurement. Provision is also made for the arrangement of all disputes between citizens of the United States rosiding in the Samoan Islands, by the United States Consul, at Apia, and the adjustment of all disputes between citizens of the United States and the people of the Islands by that Consul, acting in conjunction with the Government officers. On its part, the United States agrees to use good offices to settle any differences that may arise between the Samoan Government and any other with which the United States is at peace. The treaty is to continue for ten years, unless one or the other of the contracting parties give notice of a desire to terminate its provisions, in which case it shall cease six months after such notice has been given. The Samoan or Navigator's Islands, nine in number, are situated in the South Faicfic Ocean, extending from latitude 13 degrees :!0 minutes to 14 degrees ISO minutes south, and longitude l(i8 degrees to 17.'! degrees west, and are estimated to have an area of 2050 square miles, with a population of over 50,000. The principal products of the Islands are cocoa-nut oil, arrowroot, caoutchouc, castor-lean, ginger, coffee, tortoise shell, and vegetables in abundance. The natives are represented as superior to the other Polynesians, and little attracted by trinkets. Their traffic with Europeans is in articles of utility, which they can turn to valuable account.

Mr. Steinberger, who is now in Washington, says this is the same treaty drawn by him nearly two years ago, ami he claims some credit —as he has a right to do—for bringing about so favorable an understanding between the Sanioan and American Governments. Samoa has an Ambassador at Washington in the person of Honor Le Mamea."