Page:American Diplomacy in the Orient - Foster (1903).djvu/417

 This note initiated a correspondence, which led to a proposition from Count Bismarck, in February, 1889, for the reassembling of the conference of the three powers, and invited a meeting at Berlin. This proposition was promptly accepted by Secretary Bayard, but as President Cleveland's administration was drawing to a close, the appointment of the American representatives to the conference was left to his successor. Soon after the inauguration of President Harrison, Messrs. Kasson, W. W. Phelps, and Bates were appointed commissioners to Berlin, Mr. Bates having made a visit to Samoa as special agent under the direction of Secretary Bayard.

In giving instructions to the commissioners, Secretary Blaine called attention to the plan proposed by Secretary Bayard in the first conference, and said that "It was not in harmony with the established policy of this government. For if it is not a joint protectorate, to which there are such grave and obvious objections, it is hardly less than that and does not in any event promise efficient action." He said the President disapproved of the plan, but if intervention in the affairs of Samoa should become absolutely necessary in the existing complication, "It is the earnest desire of the President that this intervention should be temporary." The commissioners, however, found that no other plan than joint intervention could save the islands from the complete control of Germany, and Secretary Bayard's plan was adopted in principle, though considerably modified in detail.

The plan as finally agreed to recognized the