pendence of the Samoan government and the right of the natives to choose their king and form of government according to their own laws and customs; Malietoa was recognized as king till his fixed term expired; a foreign chief justice was to be appointed by agreement of the three powers, and was given extensive authority not only of a judicial, but also of a political character; a foreign municipal government for Apia, with a foreign president chosen by the three powers, was to be organized; and a foreign land commission of three members, one selected by each power, was to be constituted to pass upon all land titles, a measure which had been strongly urged by Secretary Bayard; a method of taxation was devised; and the sale of firearms and liquors to the natives was prohibited.[1]
It is difficult to recognize in this plan an independent Samoan government, but no other method of securing order and peace seemed possible except to transfer the control of the government to Germany. Malietoa and his chiefs signified their acceptance of the plan, and the machinery of the new government was put into operation. But in a little while it began to encounter difficulties. The writs of the chief justice were not respected by the natives; they likewise resisted the taxes levied upon them; the chief justice and the president of the Apia municipality were soon at cross-purposes; and Mataafa raised the standard of revolt, and when he was deported by the powers, Tamasese continued the
- ↑ H. Ex. Doc. 238, 50th Cong. 1st Sess.; S. Ex. Docs. 31, 68, and 102; H. Ex. Docs. 118 and 119, 50th Cong. 2d Sess.; U. S. For. Rel. 1889, pp. 179–423. For tripartite treaty, ib. 353.
