The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning. Tuesday, September 13, 1887.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume I, Issue 40, 13 September 1887, Page 2

The Gisborne Standard AND COOK COUNTY GAZETTE. Published every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday Morning.

Tuesday, September 13, 1887.

Be just and fear not-; Let all the ends thou alm’st at be thy country’s, Thy God’s, and truth’*.

GERMANY And SAMOA. Fr.oM the details given by our Auckland exchanges, it would appear that the Samoan “difficulty " does not belie its title, and that serious international complications will probably ensue. That a European force has landed on the Samoan group, deposed by force of arms the reigning monarch, and proclaimed king Tamasee, a rival for the crown, is in itself sufficiently serious news to all who are interested in the settlement of the Pacific islands, but when from the high-handed nature of the proceedings of the foreigners civil war may result, the news becomes of yet more serious import. As far as we can gather together the webs of a tangled tale, the facts are these : German influence, commercially speaking, has long been paramount in Samoa. It was from Apia, the Samoan capital, that the

great German firm of Goddefroy and Sons controlled their vast scheme of Pacific trade, an enterprise which, though finally ending in financial disaster, did much to plant German commerce firmly on the shores of the scattered islands of the Pacific. There have been from time to time disputes many and protracted between the Samoan rulers and the German residents, and it was as a result of these disputes, that the Samoan parliament has on more than one occasion petitioned for annexation to New Zealand. The question has been much complicated by private squabbles as to the tenure of land by German residents, and by the rival pretensions to the monarchy by the two opposing kings, Malietoa and Tamasee. Following upon the recognition asking of Malietoa by the various consuls came a long spell of peace, a peace which has been rudely broken by the action Of the German admiral. The immediate cause of the present trouble appears to be the arrival at Apia ot a German squadron of four war ships. An Auckland contemporary then continues the story as follows ;—

It appears that at Samoa on the German Emperor’s birthday there was a general drunk, and a free fight took place in which some Germana were assaulted by SamoansThe German squadron came in and th* German mail steamer Lubeck left on the 23rd of August. Immediately after she left the German Consul demanded 13,000 dollars from K>og Malietoa, 1000 being for the assault, end the rest for Samoan robberies from German plantations, King Malietoa replied that he could not pay on so short a notice, but would call his chiefs together. Next day 500 men were landed from the war ships with Gatlings, and the Commander made a declaration of war against King Malietoa as follows ;—

Citizens of Apia,—By order ot His Majesty the Emperor of Germany war has been declared against Chief Mehetoa. The neutrality ot th. municipal district will be respected as long as the security of the German troops is not endangered by Buy agitation within the municipal district. I call upon the inhabitants to assist me in the maintenance of peace »ud good order in Apia.—Hxssclt, Com mo Joe and Commander of the German squadron.

Both the British and American Consuls protested against the high handed and most unwarrantable interference Of the German Admiral, and news was immediately sent to the British High Commissioner at Suva. A request was also made for a British man-of-war to be sent to Apia, but the Nelson had left for Honolulu and the Swinger for another port only a few days before the intelligence arrived. The Germans are evidently contemplating complete annexation as they have landed 13ck> men and seem bent upon maintaining their hold. It is of course premature to say what the British Government will do in the matter, but it may be reasonably inferred that a vigorous remonstrance will be made against the extraordinary manner in which the Germans are acting. The British and American interests in the Samoan group are very important, and any sudden annexation of the Islands by another power would surely not be quietly tolerated by either the States or Great Britain. The new Hebridean question has been a burning one for many months past, and it now seems probable that the new trouble in Samoa will prove of equal, nay even greater importance.