The Samoan Question.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 315, 16 May 1894, Page 2

The Samoan Question.

(Communicated.) r; ■;. If it was a desire to win notoriety outside the Colony that prompted the Hon Richard Seddon to suggest a New. Zealand protectorate for Samoa he has succeeded to admiration. Judging from the cables, no question of international policy has called forth so much comment and lively interest, in the same quarters, for a very long time past, as the modest suggestion of the New Zealand Premier has done. The interest, however, is not due to the novelty or merit of the suggestion so much as the creation of a probable outlet whereby: two out of the three interested powers might scuttie from Samoa. RivaLinterests, and international jealousies arising therefrom, have provided the Powers interested in the group—the United States, Germany, and Britain — with a regular Samoan problem as unpleasant and risky as such international troubles usually are. The Americans are, apparently,' ready to snap at the New Zealand offer in order to get rid of a responsibility which should never have l^en assumed, and that has proved from the firsts arytrOußlesome thorn in the side of Uncle Sain. The British press appears almost unanimous in support of the proposal, while the German is somewhat divided: New South Wales is the last to express '-an opinion on the subject, and though it at one time appeared that if Germany were inclined to waive her treaty rights, and allow British annexation, Mr Seddon's latest ambition might have been gratified. Sir George Dibbs, however, has effectually disposed ' of any such chance that might have existed by pointing out what, after all, most have been apparent to the Home Government, ' namely, that if a protectorate is assumed i over Samoa it should be by Great Britain herself, and Bot by any one colony exercising the rights of a Sovereign State without the means of en« 1 forcing order. That is the matter in a ' nutshell. The proposal that New i Zealand assume a protectorate is gro- ; tesque nonsense. What special quali- , fications does the Government of this . colony possess for controUing a group of I islands sixteen hundred miles offhand with which we (that is, the Gp^EOrnment) have never had the slightest connection in the past ? . W,e, who know ' absolutely nothing in an official sense s about the internal affairs, and adminis- , tration of those islands, seek to replace those who have had to pay dearly for , their Samoan experience. The American* are willing to admit, andgratui* tously suggest, that the British High 1 Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Sir J. B. Thurston, could, by his presence and knowledge, solve the difficulty. Undoubtedly he would, and there never was the slightest chance of Great Britain handing over the powers vested in the Commissioner to the New Zealand Government. With the Imperial Government at his back, he can administer Samoa as New Zealand never could, We have seen that the Samoans are a turbulent race, whose administration might at any timfe involve considerable expenditure. How would the New Zealand taxpayer like to put his hand in his pocket for such a purpose ? But after all, this latest aspect of the Samoan question is a case of much ado about nothing. Germany is not at all likely to handover her interest in the group to British protection; she will not so readily admit her own incapacity to govern; it has cost her too much already; she has not forgotten the loss of her warships and many valuable lives. The only result of the present affair will be that Mr Seddon will have sue* ceeded in securing a splendid advertise* xnent for himself. Had his ambition boon realised, and the turbulent in* habitants of the Navigators brought under out sway, we might some day have witnessed the spectacle of a New Zealand expeditionary force, led by the New Zealand diotator, Richard I of Kuinaxa, being sent down to suppress tbo vagaries of our dusky fellow sub*, jeefcs in those " Summer isles of Eden," After ail, Mr Seddon might make a very good Ktug of those cannibal islands, but thcu, he cannot live for ever, and we might not find a worthy successor.