THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1889.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9254, 7 January 1889, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. MONDAY, JANUARY 7, 1889.

The difficulties in Samoa have reached an acute stage, and a condition of affairs, graphically described in our other columns, is there existent, which to say the least is not creditable to the Great Powers concerned, and which has now become intolerable. It is of course difficult in face of the conflicting statements to arrive at a correct conclusion, or apportion rightly the share which various parties may have had in the provocation and continuance of hostilities. It is clear that the troubles there are not merely those which might naturally arise between pretenders to the throne and their native partisans and supporters, but they are complicated and aggravated by the interests of the subjects of the three Great Powers which have warships on the station watching the proceedings and interferfering more or less in their progress. In perusing the various and conflicting accounts, we have to bear this in memory, for feeling is running very high at Samoa, and we are aware how strong popular feeling has a tendency to exaggerate the position in the narration of the circumstances of any conflict. That the Germans are departing from the seeming quiescence maintained in relation to Mataafa and his followers, is apparent. Indeed, that abstinence from positive action seemed difficult of explanation, on the assumption that the Germans had determined to ultimately make their influence paramount in the group, and overt action against a revolt which appeared to promise success was hardly more than was to be expected. The excuses that are made for the part taken by the Germans in the collision with Mataaf a's party are superfluous. The Samoans of that party may or may not have menaced German interests. Enough, probably, was done to give excuse for German action, but, whether or not, it seems evident, nor was it entirely surprising, that occasion was found for hostilities. The German troops met with a sharp reverse, and seemingly made a somewhat ignominious and rapid retreat before the infuriated islanders. This disaster will, of course, be taken as sufficient reason for a more vigorous eifort to suppress " the rebels" —as these Samoan legitimists are called by the German supporters of the usurper; and if the policy which has heretofore been pursued by England and America continues, these ill-starred patriots will no doubt be soon cut down by German machine guns. That there may be some important change of procedure on the part of the United States would almost seem promised in the proceedings that are taking place at Washington, where a vigourous spirit of resentment of Germany's conduct has been manifested both by the Secretary of State and prominent statesmen in Congress. Mr. Secretary Bayard has represented to the German Minister at Washington, that the disturbances have been caused by attempts of local German firms to obtain political asendancy, and that the course taken by Germany in respect to Samoa, on the temporary adjournment of the Washington Conference was not in accordance with the ancient friendship existing between Germany and the United States. At the same time in Congress instructions have been given to the Committee on Foreign Affiairs to enquire into the whole of the condition of affairs at the Samoan Islands, and the Senator on whose motion this resolution was passed, said that the enquiry might disclose an " exceedingly" disreputable chapter in the history of American diplomacy, and characterised the conduct of Germany in this as " an outrage and insult to the United States, to which no great country would submit for a single moment." The truth of this representation is undoubted, for America was clearly outwitted ; and it is to be regretted that England seems to have had a share in the disgraceful thing. It may be that America will not follow up these valiant words by any practical action ; that is rather characteristic of the loudsounding protestations of our cousins ; but certainly they are justified in the indignation so expressed, and even if nothing comes of it, the mere expression of dissatisfaction and resentment is less discreditable to the American nation than the coldblood, silent, acquiescence of England, without either apology or explanation. Indeed, England's conduct in the whole transaction appears to have been as cowardly as it has been treacherous and disgraceful. Malietoa was led to expect that his recognised and treaty rights would have been maintained, and in faith of this he followed his inclinations, and was friendly and faithful to British interests. He was punished for this by Germany, which deposed and exiled him, while England traitorously abandoned him and did not interfere. It was a direct aSront to England, or should have been so regarded, if England was not a consenting party, which would have made England's conduct more infamous still. Indeed, judging from what has occurred, and from the forbearance of England, it seems most likely that England was a consenting party, and that, having led Malietoa and his friends into a trap, she left him there. There can be very little doubt that it was merely an act of cowardice, and that the Government of England has been afraid of Germany, and allowed the spoliation in defiance of treaty, and

despite the fact that in company with England and America Germany wa3 engaged at the time in negotiations for the equitable settlement of affairs. The fear of Germany lending countenance to France in Egypt and elsewhere drove the Government of England to " sell" Samoa, and in doing so, to deceive abandon their colleague, the representative of America at the Washington Conference. And even now British officers are muzzled at Samoa, and durst not speak as their sentiments and sense of justice would dictate, for fear of offending Germany. A more humiliating and degrading spectacle than this of British war ships cowed and silenced in the presence 0! German outrage, is hardly to bo conceived • and a perusal of the incidents which have occurred at Samoa, and the vapouring and violence of .these people who have shown their unfitness for colonial extension by their rough, and unreasoning, and arrogant treatment ot interior and weak-races, is enough to make the blood of every British subject boil with shame and indignation. Had England not been committed to the maintenance of the treaty rights of Samoa, no blame could have attached : as it is, her conduct is shameful, and the presence of British warships at Samoa, silent and motionless in presence of the Germans who are proceeding in this high-handed and lawless fashion, is degrading to the British navy. We may be disposed to accept with a grain of salt any of the statements as to events proceeding, which emanate from writers heated m the contest; but in face of the tact that there was peace in Samoa till the Germans set up a usurper on the throne : and the fact that the vast majority of the people are now in. revolt against the usurper; and the further fact that the faith, the word, the strength of England were pledgee} for the maintenance of Samoan independence, the present attitude of England in Samoa is painful and humiliating to the last degree. ...