The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo.
MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1899. A SOLUTION OF THE SAMOAN PROBLEM.
For the cause that Licks assistance, For the Trrong that needs resistance, For the futuro in the distance, And the good that we can do.
The cable despatch we publish this
evening, to the effect that a letter received in Sydney from the Bismarck Archipelago, refers to a rumour that England will buy out Ger-
man State interests in Samoa,at the close of the year is perhaps more significant than would appear at first sight. The Bismarck Group, it may be mentioned, is a collection of mode-rate-sized Islands clo*se on the Equator, and lying to the north of New Guinea. The islands though of com-
paratively little value, having no resources outside a- small copra export, have been held by Germany since 1535; and the rumour has unquestionably emanated from some German official of the Group, who doubtless drew his information from i some German Government official in i ) Samoa. The report really comes as j indirect confirmation of what we j have already heard of the open ex- j pressions of opinion in Samoa j by German officers, that Britain, should acquire German rights j in that Group, either by exchange or purchase. German officials have earned the name ,of being, extremely reticent on questions affecting the standing of their country, and the most simple explanation of a departure in the present case from the recognised practice is that the cue has been given by the home authorities that such a consummation is desirable. The solution most often put forward in Apia is that Britain should trade some of her other minor possessions in the Pacific for German rights in Samoa, and in this connection the Ellice and Gilbert Islands, or the. sections of the Solomons under British control, are most frequently mentioned. Britain administers three or four of the" smail-
er of the Solomon Islands, while German jurisdiction extends "over approximately 9,000 miles.. Both the Solomon and Gilbert and ; Ellice Islands are of comparatively small value to British trade or prestige in Oceania, and some equitable basis of of exchange should not be difficultof arrangement.
As regards Samoa and its present administration, it is patent that the recent Commission was unable to formulate any scheme of tripartite control likely to work satisfactorily, and it is well recognised. that the eventual fate of the Navigator Group will be its transference to one of the
Powers interested. While non-official German residents of the islands are strangely uncommuinicative on the subject of their views respecting British acquisition, there can be little doubt that they would regard such a change with favour, for under it the commercial life of Samoa, which is the cause of their residence there,
would receive a marked stimulus. The big firm whose individual monetary stake is by far the largest in the Group is understood to be anxious to dispose of its business, and should it come into English hands British interests, even in Upolu, will greatly preponderate. Provided that Germany is willing there would seem to be no barrier to our acquisition of; the Group, and in. fact the only difficulty to be ■ surmounted would be arriving at a detailed arrangement. America's object is unquestionably served by the retention of the coaling station at Pago Pago, and its fortification as an auxiliary oj£ the country^ recently acquired possessions in the China Sea and the Pacicici Some such agreement, involving the withdrawal of two of the parties at present interested in the management of Samoan aifairs, is without doubt the best solution of the present unsatisfactory position. In the event of present arrangements being superseded by British control there is the question of what form the Government should take. It is pretty much of an open, secret that while the Governor of Fiji is not in favour of the annexation of Samoa, Fijian officials are very anxious that it should become a part of their colony. While not wishing to make a lengthy indictment at present against the unsatisfactory Crown colony system, suffice it to say that the development of Fiji has, all things considered, not proceeded suificiently well to warrant, the placing of Samoa under its control. Samoa is possessed of very considerable latent possibilities of development, and it is to be hoped that in the event of the islands passing to Britain some form of Government calculated to foster the utilisation of the country's resoux-ces will be divised, and without delay put into operation.
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Bibliographic details
Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 203, 28 August 1899, Page 4
Word Count
763The Evening Star: WITH WHICH ARE INCORPORATED The Evening News, Morning News, and Echo. MONDAY, AUGUST 28, 1899. A SOLUTION OF THE SAMOAN PROBLEM. Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 203, 28 August 1899, Page 4
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