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THE UNITED STATES AND SAMOA 279 



4. The evils arising from the insufficient enforcement of 

 the customs regulations allowing the distribution of arms 

 among the natives. 



To offset these four prime causes of dissension in Samoa, 

 the joint report proposed, first, the abolition of the king- 

 ship. That, it was believed, could be effected without even 

 the regrets of the natives. The office was a "comparatively 

 modern institution," of which it was " impossible to say any 

 good whatever." In place of the kingship a "system of na- 

 tive government analogous to that which works successfully 

 in Fiji " was proposed. This system of nativfe government 

 contemplated a division of the islands into administrative 

 districts, corresponding to those recognized by Samoan usage, 

 and over each of which a native chief would preside. These 

 chiefs were to meet annually in council ; native courts would 

 be established with jurisdiction over minor crimes, and in 

 accordance with native laws and customs. 



The second class of evils which found origin in the jeal- 

 ousies of the foreign factions in Apia were recognized to be 

 the most difficult of all to meet. Hostility among the 

 foreigners "permeates all departments of life." "The 

 traders on the one side combined against those on the other. 

 . . . The municipal council is divided." Reforms were 

 declared never to be judged upon their merit, but always 

 "by party considerations," all officers were found to be 

 partisans. As a cure for these evils three measures were 

 proposed : (CL) the appointment of an administrator to be 

 chosen by a neutral power, and who should possess a large 

 measure of authority ; (5) the appointment of three dele- 

 gates by the signatory powers to assist the administrator and 

 also to exercise such consular powers as may become neces- 

 sary. They, together with the administrator, form a " legis- 

 lative council"; (c) the abolition of consular jurisdiction 

 and the consequent abandonment of extraterritoriality, there 

 being no real need of three separate judicial systems in the 

 island. " Hitherto consular jurisdiction has been a powerful 

 means of embittering internal strife in Apia. Each nation- 

 ality has its own law, and the consul who administers that 



