280 AMERICAN DIPLOMATIC QUESTIONS 



law was popularly regarded not as an impartial judge but 

 as the protector of his own nationality. We believe that by 

 abolishing this outward sign of separate internal institutions, 

 and by submitting all nationalities to one court and one law, 

 a great advance will be made in the direction of removing 

 petty rivalries and jealousies, and restoring good relations 

 between the various white colonies." 



To meet the third class of evils the lawlessness prevail- 

 ing outside the municipality of Apia the joint report 

 proposed the enlargement of the jurisdiction of the chief 

 justice over all the islands, so as to include all cases be- 

 tween natives and foreigners. 



The strict enforcement of customs regulations according 

 to law it was believed would remedy the evils of the fourth 

 class, and such reform was therefore urged. 



In brief, the recommendations of the commission for the 

 alteration of the Berlin Act were for the abolition of the king- 

 ship and of consular jurisdiction, the extension of the juris- 

 diction of the Supreme Court and the establishment of native 

 courts, the creation of a neutral administrator of large 

 authority and the appointment of a tripartite council which 

 should act as a legislative council, each councillor being 

 charged at the same time with consular duties. 



These recommendations were made as offering the best 

 possible solution of the difficulties so long as the three inter- 

 ested nations should continue to maintain their positions in 

 Samoa, but the commissioners frankly admitted that no 

 wholly satisfactory arrangement could be made while the 

 triple-dominion continued. 



We do not think it will ever be possible to do away with this 

 state of things under a tripartite administration, and we take this 

 opportunity of recording our opinion that the only natural and 

 normal plan of government for these islands, and the only system 

 which can assure permanent prosperity and tranquillity, is a gov- 

 ernment by one power. We regard it, however, as beyond our 

 province to make any but a general statement on such a subject, 

 and we have endeavored to amend existing arrangements in such 

 a manner, that they may prove, if not entirely satisfactory, at 

 least workable. 



