Show THE TREATY OF BERLIN ON THE of june the steamer fulda hove into port at new york bearing as a conspicuous passenger william walter phelps one of the representatives of the united states to the samoan conference at berlin mr phelps secretary carried with him as he strode along the gang plank a little yellow bag in which was contained the american copy of the treaty made and entered into at the german capital a document which secures the peace previously agreed upon and points out special cally the line of policy which this country england ani and germany are bound to observe in the future of course he was the lion of the hour for some time and when the paper was ivas presented and filed at headquarters and president harrison handed him a commission as envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary to germany as the reward of his well doing undoubtedly he became something more petes fetes receptions dinners etc are the order of the day and few there be if any who will say that our representative ignot is not entitled to it all for he not only succeeded but maintained the dignity of his country and exhibited unquestionable ability during the whole of the proceedings ce cee of course the treaty is not yet a binding chapter of international law except morally it is not yet ratified although properly signed sealed and delivered to each of the three powers by their respective representatives it will lie he in state so to speak here until the next meeting of congress when it will be presented in the senate for action it requires a two thirds vote of that body in the affirmative to ratify the agreement but there is no doubt of this being obtained at once not only because it disposes of a vexed question but largely on account of the fact that all the points but one axe are in our favor in like manner it will also have to receive the approval of england and germany the law of each of these nations being doubtless similar to ours in that respect and requiring the coebur concurrence of the legislative department to conclude a treaty at least the commissioners agreed by vote to maintain secrecy regarding the terms of the protocol until its submission to congress parliament and the reichstag Relph stag tor for action so the samoan question may be regarded as practically settled it will strike some people who reason closely and in accordance with strict lines of that the settling of a nations status by others that have no ownership or interest terest in it beyond what is gran granted tedis is a peculiar not to say anomalous proceeding the three greatest powers of the earth have only to lay their heads together and arrive at a conclusion regarding helpless inland or insular governments to settle the hatterle lat station conclusively until there is a falling out between the triumvirate the islands can have their own sovereign and make their own laws of course but these must in every instance be subject to the approval of the powers that be elsewhere this is one of the ways of the world the greater includes the less the powerful embraces the weak the embrace in this instance being not infrequently like that of a grizzly bear in possession of a victim |