THE SAMOAN QUESTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9083, 18 June 1888, Page 5

THE SAMOAN QUESTION.

In the House of Commons, on May 10, Mr. W. M'Arthur asked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he would give the date on which the English Government agreed to sanction the abandonment by Germany of the Convention respecting Samoa.

Sir J. Fergussok : No formal agreement has been entered into for the abrogation of the Convention of 1879 respecting the Municipal Board of Apia, but as the continuance of that Board had become impracticable orders were, on February 24, sent to the Acting British Consul to consider the Convention ns suspended. The district has accordingly passed under the control of the de facto Samoan Government, as provided by Article JO of the Convention in case of its termination.

In reply to further questions from Mr. W. McArthur.

Sir J. Fbkousson said : In the reply which I gave on May 3, the date which I mentioned refers to the present year. I then stated accurately that the German Government had informed Her Majesty's Government that it was their intention to demand reparation from Malietoa, which of course might involve further proceedings. The telogram informing the British Consul wag delayed because no vessel was immediately available to forward it from New Zealand, and the Consul, in the absence of instructions, acted on his own responsibility. Mr. MoArthur : Are we to understand that tho German Government gave such short notice that there was no time for inquiry ? Sir .T. Fergusson : We are now coming to a different and complicated matter, and I ought to have notice of the question. Mr. Conybeare : Will the right hon. gentleman lay a return upon the table showing the grounds upon which Consuls can act without instructions from their superiors ? Sir J. Fergusson : There can be no possible reason why notice of a question of that kind should not be given.