THE UNITED STATES AND SAMOA 249 



people in a spirit of magnanimity and benevolence." "The 

 sooner this conference can be resumed, the better," he added. 



John A. Kasson of Iowa, William Walter Phelps of New 

 Jersey, and George H. Bates (the former commissioner to 

 Samoa) were appointed United States commissioners to meet 

 in Berlin similarly qualified plenipotentiaries of Germany 

 and Great Britain. The spirit of their instructions was 

 embodied in two short sentences : " The obligation of the 

 United States in the South Pacific is to protect the rights 

 and interests of American citizens who may be residents 

 there, and engaged in lawful pursuits. We have no desire to 

 dominate." The commission was instructed by Mr. Blaine: 



First, To ask the restoration of the status quo. While 

 the President was unwilling to consider that action of Ger- 

 many, which immediately followed the suspension of the 

 conferences at Washington, as intentionally derogatory either 

 to the dignity or the interests of the other treaty powers, yet 

 he could not but regard it, under the circumstances, as an 

 abrupt breach of the joint relations of the three powers. 



Second, To seek for the organization of a stable govern- 

 mental system for the islands, whereby native independence 

 and autonomy should be preserved free from the control or 

 the preponderating influence of any foreign government ; 

 and also free " from all occasions of trouble arising from and 

 fostered into mischievous activity by the avarice and eager- 

 ness of competing merchants and land speculators, and the 

 irregular conduct of foreign officials, who are, perhaps natur- 

 ally and excusably, but most injudiciously sympathetic with 

 the prejudices and immediate interests of their resident 

 countrymen." 



Third, To effect some system of adjustment and registry 

 of land claims. 



Fourth, To seek the adoption of some form of regulations 

 for the importation and sale of fire-arms and alcoholic liquors, 

 that fatal combination where peace is desired. 



Fifth, To use discretionary powers in adjusting the ques- 

 tions of neutrality and government in the municipality of 

 Apia. 



