Tripartite Convention
Samoan Islands (signed in Washington)
What happened
John Hay for the United States, Theodor von Holleben for Germany and Julian Pauncefote for Britain signed the convention. Since 1889 the three powers had shared control of Samoa, which they found unworkable. In Washington they agreed to split the islands. The eastern islands, including Tutuila, went to the United States, and the western islands became a German colony, while Britain gave up its claim in return for land elsewhere.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It created what became American Samoa and gave the US its naval base at Pago Pago. German Samoa lasted until World War I.
What came next
The chiefs of Tutuila ceded their islands to the US in 1900, and the Manuʻa islands followed in 1904. The name 'American Samoa' came into official use in 1905.
Did you know?
Britain got rights in Tonga and the Solomon Islands in exchange for giving up Samoa.
Timeline
- 1889Joint protectorate over Samoa.
- 2 December 1899The Tripartite Convention is signed.
- 1 March 1900The German flag is raised in western Samoa.
- 1904Manuʻa is ceded to the US.