 Blaine and Harrison wished to see American power and trade expanded across the Pacific and were especially interested in securing rights to harbors in Pearl Harbor , Hawaii , and Pago Pago , Samoa . When Blaine entered office , the United States , Great Britain , and the German Empire were disputing their respective rights in Samoa . Thomas F. Bayard , Blaine 's predecessor , had accepted an invitation to a three @-@ party conference in Berlin aimed at resolving the dispute , and Blaine appointed American representatives to attend . The result was a treaty that created a condominium among the three powers , allowing all of them access to the harbor . 
