GERMANS IN SAMOA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7731, 26 February 1909, Page 4

GERMANS IN SAMOA.

Per Frees Association.

AUCKLAND, February 25. Further news or the position of affairs m German Samoa, received by the Tofua, states that the situation is improving. When the native orator, Lauati, of Savaii, who has been responsible for most of the trouble, was questioned about his large following on his arrival at Apia recently, he told Governor Solf that the people were his j friends from his own district, and without hostile intent. Ho was told to send them back to Savaii, and it was suggested that lie should aek for a permit for himself to retire to Tonga. His people would not hear of this, and would not go back to Savaii until, it is reported, the Governor had sworn on the Bible that he held nothing against their speaker, Lauati, and that ha was free from blame. Lauati has since had several conferences with the Governor. " Quite a number of whites have been up, and seriously questioned, even charged with sedition," said a passenger by the Tofua to a Herald, .representative. " One man was gravely charged with having dropped the remark to a single native that the Government Treasury was like a leaky bucket—it was always empty. He denied the charge, and the matter ended. A German commercial traveller was charged with having said that three German warships were soon to arrive, and that Mrs Solf was going home on account of the native troubles. Tin's was regarded as seditious. He denied having mentioned Mrs Solf, and said he had merely enquired of an official if a rumour going about town was true ,that three warships were to come. Other German residents were seriously questioned about these trifling rumours, and one announced that the Governor's cook had told him, and that the cook had it from the housemaid, who had tho story from Mrs Solf herself. The seditioniste were thus acquitted." " What all the people want, and want badly, is peace," added the pas--1 senger, " but there will only be a devastating war if Governor Solf undertakes to rule there, with warships to !>i).ck him. It would be singular to find Germany, located m the midst of prosperous British and American colo!iif"s, struggling with warships to enforce terms and maintain her rule."