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Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22425, 4 September 1947, Page 4

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S AMO AN_HIST OR Y THREAT OF MASSACRE GERMANS' EARLY CHECK Among the many thousands of New Zealanders to whom the mandated territory of Samoa is no more than an outlying appendage of the f)ominion, the story of this country’s earliest connection with the "Golden Apple of the South Seas" Is regarded as a closed and forgotten page of history. In that story, however, there is drama and high polities, suspense and intrigue, and a manifestation of that regard for tlie humanities which has generally distinguished the British attitude to indigenous peoples.

Sixty years ago Samoa was a major objective of German ambition in the Pacific, and the people of Apia other than Germans faced a crisis which might have meant bloody torture and death for many but for the intervention of a professional man from Gisborne. His part in the incidents of May, 1886, was decisive for the time being, and though later years brought Samoa under the heel of the Germans, the transition was comparatively bloodless. In the first week of May, 1886. Mr- W. L. Rees, then practising as a barrister in Gisborne and already wiclely-known as a public figure, reached Apia in connection with a major lawsuit for which he had been briefed. Ships were few and far between, and there was no opportunity for him to ascertain in advance the state of public affairs in Apia. He found the European community in a state bordering on hysteria, and the natives in terror of their lives. In the roadstead lay a German squadron under Admiral Knorr in the cruiser Bismarck, and at less than a day’s journey from the capital, feasting and training on a nearby islet, was a large force of rebel natives under the command of Tamasese, who had boasted his intention to clean out the ruling house of Malietoa and punish its supporters. Indignities forced on Malietoa

King Malietoa had already become a somewhat shadowy figure, for since 1857, when German commercial companies began to secure land in Samoa, the ruling house had been subjected to successive indignities directed to reducing its hold upon the Samoan nation. For 18 months King Malietoa’s flag had not been flown in Apia, whereas the German flag was flaunted everywhere. The rise of the German nation and its spreading tentacles in all parts of the world were already forcing trouble with other nationals, and the determination to secure a base in the Pacific symbolised the ambition of the Germans to dominate a large part of the world. Samoa was then recognised as an absolutely independent State—recognised so far as treaties went, but not in practice. In their haste to seize the Pacific gem the Germans had fomented trouble and had encouraged Tamasese to revolt against Malietoa, with a promise of support for his new regime. It was a case of power politics on a small scale, with the fate of the Samoan people and their mild king in the balance. Moral Support For Rebellion When Mr. Rees examined the situation, he could not believe at first that Apia stood in imminent danger of a massacre, but there was no doubt in the minds of those who knew Tamasese’s plans and the super-plan of the German Government. Admiral Knorr’s squadron was not standing by for nothing; it was common knowledge that when the rebels invaded Apia they could count on the moral and possibly the physical support of the fleet, Astounded by the lassitude, of those from whom counter-action might have been expected, Mr. Rees visited the British consul and found the latter regretful but firm in his determination to let matters take their course- Samoa was only a single bead in a long string stretching around the world, and even in 1886 the Germans were chafing under restraints imposed on their ambitions by the British. The consul had been warned from headquarters not to offer aggravation to the representatives of Germany in his sphere. With the American consul Mr. Rees had more success, though it was hardwon. This consul, a man named Greenbaum, was anxious to do something to avoid bloodshed, but. could, find no authority for such action. His country was in treaty with Germany and England to respect the rights of King Malietoa and the Samoans, but he saw nothing in the treaty enabling him to enforce respect by other parties. U.S. Consul’s Courageous Decision

Examining the American treaty with the Samoan King, Mr. Rees found that it contained a clause in which the United States Government undertook to use its good offices to compose relations between Samoa and any other nation in which the United States was at the time in amity. He spent long hours in argument before he convinced the American consul that this clause could be interpreted to meet the existing situation. Late at night Mr. Greenbaum consented to take the recommended courseHe could not communicate with his own Government at short notice, and his responsibility was terrific. But with his courage in bis hands he agreed to offer to King Malietoa a r.veasure of moral support. It was known that the rebels planned their raid on Apia for Monday morning, and the time was short when Mr. Rees was able to contact Malietoa and arrange for him to bring his flag to the American consul’s place of business. In the small hours of the morning the King came to the waterfront and after his doubts had been allayed, he handed his flag to Mr Greenbaum. Daylight found the flag of Malietoa raised again in Apia, under the Stars and Stripes The new development was formally conveyed to the German and British consuls by letter, and also to Admiral Knorr on his flagship. Consternation reigned as those who had expected a walkover for the rebels realised that any overt move might bring them into conflict with the American nation. Hard Blow For German Prestige No-one took the trouble to inform Tamasese and his rebels, who having feasted and caroused all night on their not-distant islet boarded their canoes in the morning and paddled for Apia harbour. Full of pride in their strength and in the support of the Germans,they swept up to the reef and passed within it. their crafts massing offshore for the attack. At that moment the Germans called upon the rebel leader for a conference, and as a result the attacking force turned tail and left Apia in peace.

An acrimonious exchange of letters between Admiral Knorr and the German consul on the one hand, and Mr. Greenbaum and King Malietoa on the other, occupied almost the remainder of the week. Greenbaum stood his ground and the King, prompted by Mr. Rees, gave the Germans a Roland for their Oliver at every stage of the correspondence. At last the admiral gave orders to his squadron, and on the Friday morning anchors were weighed and Knorr set out for Zanzibar, the nearest point of telegraphic contact with his naval headquarters. II happened that the British naval vessel Diamond was approaching Apia ns the Germans made their preparations to depart Sighting the Admiral's flag in the Bismarck, the British vessel fired guns in salute as the disgruntled men of the squadron made ready to 2° As the Samoans witnessed the sailing out of the German squadron they cheered the arrival of the British vessel. To their uninformed minds it appeared that Diamond had chased out the Germans! “Samoa ami Malietoa Avenged” As a sequel io the incident strong representations were made by the German Government to the United States and to Britain, and in the long exchange of diplomatic messages it was eventually arranged that Britain should retire from Samoa and that America and Germany should accept governing roles in dilierent portions oi

the territory. For Greenbaum the out come was that he lost his employment, and for King Malietoa the future held only the vengeance of the thwarted Germans. He ended his life in exile, unable even to receive visits from hi? faithful people. Reviewing these events in 1888. Mr Rees wrote a prophetic passage. “The action of Germany is not only indefensible but worthy of condemnation," he said "Such conduct brings its own punishment, and nations suffer iust retribution foi their national sins. When the streets and squares of Berlin were crowded night, and day by anxious hosts, whose prayers ascended on behalf of their beloved Emperor, when the German nation implored the Great Ruler of All not to take from them their wise and true-hearted leaders, they forgot the weeping Samoans beneath the shade of the telea tree, and they failed to remember that in the sight of Him to whom they prayed, the King of Samoa and the Emperor of the Germans were but equals . . - The day may come in which Germany will bewail the refusal of Providence to answer their prayers, and spare to them the calm courage and the patient wisdom of Frederick the Noble. If that day should ever arise. Samoa and Malietoa, jviil be avenged."