THE SAMOAN QUESTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 9326, 1 April 1889, Page 5

THE SAMOAN QUESTION

ENGLISH AND AMERICAN OPINIONS.

PRINCE BISMARCK'S VIEWS.

THE GERMAN WHITE BOOK. [VKOM OUK OWN CORRESPONDENTS.J London, February 23. Tiik state of the Samoan question continues satisfactory. The United States have, in effect, brought Germany to her senses, and Prince Bismarck now reproves the over-zeal of the German representative in Samoans waters, and disclaims any idea of annexing the group, and expresses himself quite satisfied with America's proposal that the status quo shall be maintained, and that if any change at all is made it shall be in tho direction of administering the affairs of the group by a Commission composed of the rcpresentativesof England, Germany, and America. Germany is also prepared to agree to the request of Mr. Secretary Bayard, that there should be a suspension of hostilities during the holding of the Samoan Conference, which is to be resumed in a short time, probably about tho middle of the summer, though she makes it a condition that the estates belonging to German subjocts should be evacuated by the Samoans, and that a boundary-line shall be traced out between the belligerents, and respected. There would naturally be some difficulty in carrying out these stipulations, and, indeed, it could not be done officially, because Germany does not acknowledge Ma'taafa as the real king of the Samoans. But if tho Germans refrain from attacking ' the Samoans, the latter are not likey to provoke the Germans, and possibly a little exertion on the part of the English and American representatives may suffice to bring about an evacuation of the lauds of the German planters which the Samoans may have occupied. To sum up, the Samoan difficulty is regarded as settled so faxas its warlike aspects arc concerned, and no obstacles are anticipated in the way of peaceful negotiation. An official White Book on the Samoan question was published in Berlin last Friday, a perusal of which renders it abundantly clear that Prince Bismarck has done all in his power to restrain the zeal of his officials. The book contains 44 different dispatches, extending from December Sth, ISSO, down to tho beginning of the present month ; but the purport of most of thorn has already appeared in the English newspapers. Prince Bismarck appears to have advised Herr Kuappe, the Gorman Consul - General at Samoa when the trouble began between Tamaseso and Mataafa to do all he could to bring about a reconciliation of tho two. Afterwards, when he sanctioned reprisals against Mataafa, he instructed Herr Knappe that they should be carried out in a manner consonant with the treaties with England and the United States, and he emphatically declared that, although reprisals might bo necessary, annexation was impossible. According to the statement of the American newspapers, the charred remains of the American Hag, which was burned and shot at by the Germans on December 21st, 1888, have been sent to the Secretary of Suite at Washington, and will be laid before Congress for inspection. It was announced in the Queen's Speech on Thursday that England had consented to take part in the. Conference which is to be resumed at Washington, and Lord Salisbury in the House of Lords, and Sir James Fergusson in tho House of Commons, set forth the views of the Imperial Government on this question. Briefly they hold the opinion that a native Government is impossible at Samoa unless backed up by European or American influence. They consider, and this view was expressed at the Washington Conference, that it would be better that one of the Three Powers interested in the group should exercise a predominating supremacy rather than that the three Governments should wield equal influence through their representatives. Iter Majesty's Government apparently have no objection to Germany enjoying the predominance, but this did not meet with tho approval of the United States, who seem to have insisted upon the maintenance of the stains quo, and hence the Washington Conference was fruitless. But both Ministers expressed confidence that when the Conference re-assembled a satisfactory settlement might be arrived at. If tho British Government carry their point at tho Conference, namely, that one Power shall be supreme in Samoa, it would seem as though the choice would be between the United States and England, for it does not appear likely that the United States, after the action they have token, will consent to Germany occupying such a position.