PACIFIC ANNEXATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 5478, 9 February 1885, Page 2

PACIFIC ANNEXATION.

Tho Anglo-Gorman Negotiations.

(BY CABLE— COl'YßltniT.)

London, February 7. In connection with tho question of annexation of islands in tho Pacific the following particulars have been published : — In August Princo Bismarck intimated to tho Imperial Oovornmont that Germany would protest againtt tho northern portion of Now Guinea boing annexed by Groat Britain. To this intimation Earl Granville replied that tho limit of tho British annexation would only bo tho southern coaßt, and In Soptombor ho informed Prince Bismarck that, in conaeauence of pressure brought by the Australian colonies, the British Govornmont decided to protect all unoccupied territory, except a small piece at tho north of tho island. Princo Bismarck objected to this, and in October Karl Granvillo rovertcd to tho first intention of only annexing tho southern coast. In Decombor the Hon. Mr Meads, one of the Assistant Undor-Secretories of tho Colonial OHice, who was despatched to Berlin by tho Foreign Office to make arrangements for the meeting of a convention to adjudicate upon tho rival claims to the Pacific Islands, proposed at Berlin that Great Britain should possess exclusivo protection over New Guinea, and that Germany should bo recognised as having a protectorato of New Britain, New Ireland, and York Islands. He also proposed to neutralise) the remaining unoccupied islands of the Pacific, and spocially referred to Samoa and Tonga. Ho further suggested that England should offer a Bmall concession in Africa to France, providing tho lattor gave up all claim to tho Now Hebrides. Princo Bismarck refußed to agree to this. Earl Granvillo answered that the proposed annexation of tho northorn portion of Now Guinea by Germany would lead to strained relations with tho colonios. Prince Bismarck replied that tho internal policy would bo unaffected so far as Germany was concerned, and he insisted on tho fulfilment of the promises in October. In January Earl Granville again protested against tho German annexation of the northern portion of Now Guinea, prior to the appointment of tho proposed Commission, and at tho same time ' Intimated that England had now oxtondod her protectorate as far us tho Huon Gulf. Ho also charged Germany with intriguing for Samoa. On receipt of this Prince Bismarck instantly wired that the proposed" extension to tho Huon Gulf would probably involve a collision of interests. Earl Granvillo explained that ho was unaware that Germany desired any of the territory to the southward of tho gulf named, and he also admitted that tinno was a treaty which provided that neither England nor Now Zealand must annex Samoa at present.