IS THE SAMOAN DIFFICULTY SETTLED?

Auckland Star, Volume XX, Issue 145, 20 June 1889, Page 4

IS THE SAMOAN DIFFICULTY SETTLED?

He would be a very sanguine individual who would give an affirmative reply to this question. True, the signing of the Convention by the Plenipotentiaries who lately metatßerlin has removed all present danger of international trouble arising over thequesfcion; but the terms of the agreement bold out no hope of finality having been arrived at. A turn of the kaleidoscope has changed the former triple control into a dual one, with a Referee Power to eettlo disputes; the Samoans have continued to them their ngflfr of nominal Belt-government by means of thentwo old-established legislative chambers and monarch—certain modifications being introduced in the method of election ; several questionsof detail are settled ; but speaking e-enerally, the Conference has apparently had in view the minimum of interference with the existing order ot things. If the " understood results of its deliberations correctly describe the resolutions come to, all the changes^ are in the direction of improvement; their only fault is that theyarenot sufficiently radical. In the meantime the status quo is to be maintained at Samoa till December next, in order that the United States Senate, and the chiefs and people of Samoa, may have an opportunity of ratifying the resolutions of the Conference. Although Mr Blame, the American Secretary of State, has declared the settlement to be eminently satisfactory," it is quite possible that the Senate may take au opposite view; and it is more than probable that the Samoans, tired of the everlasting tinkering up of the multiple control, may decline to be made a shuttlecock for German and American battledores to knock about, with the off chance of having British protection accorded, when there is nothing left to protect. The Samoans may fairly ask why they should be made the sufferers in the international game which is being played for the possession of these strategical islands, and why they should not rather have accorded to them either that full measure of autonomy enjoyed by Tonga and Hawaii, or that absolute protection secured to Fiji by British annexation. We trust, however, that the bamoans, thouo-h they may disagree with the decisions" of the Conference, will not continue the state of war which prevails at the islands. They need nob maintain armed camps and engage in mutual slaughter in the hope of thereby securing better terms from the Great Powers. They ought at once to act on the advice of Admiral Kimborley and unite their factions in peaceful deliberation upon those measures which are necessary for their welfare and preservation. If the indemnity to be claimed by Germany is at all within their power to pay, they will act wisely by satisfying the demand," for the sake of future peace. _ It is time for them to turn their spears infeo prunino- hooks, and by giving attention to their cultivations make amends for the havoc which war and storm have wrought, and avert threatening famine and pestilence—worse scourges than war among a primitive people. . Two provisions said to be embodied in the Samoan Treaty are worthy of warm commendation. The establishment of a Land Court and the appointment of a judge to settle questions between foreigners ought to prove very satisfactory. We are further told that "the importation of arms and liquor is restricted." It would be better if for "restricted" we could read "prohibited," and thab the prohibition would apply to foreign warships entering any of the harbours of the group. This " restricbion " clause almost looks as though it were aimed afc Yankee traders, and intended to secure the compulsory disarming

of the Sameana and jkoing them &b the naeroy 61 Germany. The American people will doubtless have something to say about moh an "eminently satisfactory" arrange' meat j bat until the text of the treaty la disclosed, it is vain to speculate further as to its probable effects.