SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9494, 25 April 1894, Page 3

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

SHOULD SAMOA BE ANNEXED? WHAT A FREQUENT VISITOR THINKS. Ik view of the proposal of the New Zealand Government to annex Samoa and its possible effect upon the colony, one of our representatives waited upon Mr. W. J. Napier, who has frequently visited the place professionally, who knows the circumstances of the islands well, and also a good deal of them politically. On one occasion he was consulted professionally by Ma,taafa, who nasi been lately deported, and ho also knew Malietoa. This was in 1886, since which he has been frequently to Samoa. " Until the treaty of Berlin," said Air. Rapier, in response to the request for a little information, " there was practically no government in Samoa. There was a native king, of course, but he was actively opposed by a large section of the people, and had no real power. Wars were frequent, and Germany, and the resident Germans, were constantly intriguing to secure the annexation of the islands to Germany. Bismarck, Von Moltke, and other great statesmen were said to have large pecuniary interests in connection with the greatUerman companies that had conducted nearly all the German trade. A coup d'etat was tried, but contrary to Bismarck's expec tation,andthatoftheGermansgenerally,who thought that the Munro doctrine would prevent the Americans from actively inter veiling, there was a tremendous outburst of public opinion in the United States. This led to an American squadron being stationed at Apia for a considerable time. This check-mated the Germans, but then came the hurricane which destroyed a portion of the American and German fleet. The American losses were so severe that opinion moderated in the United States, and while American statesmen expressed their determination to secure justice and freedom for the natives, they also desired to withdraw as soon as possible from any onerous obligation. A conference was then held in Berlin, and what is known as the Treaty of Berlin resulted. By this the Government of Samoa was vested in England, Germany, and the United States. The whole system, however, has irretrievably broken down. AN IRRETRIEVABLE BREAK-DOWN. " Can you give any explanation of this, Mr, Napier ?" asked our representative. Yes my opinion is that the Treaty of Berlin would not do credit to an Auckland Grammar School boy—that is as a piece of draughtsmanship—though some celebrated diplomatists exorcised themselves over it for many weeks. But though they had the advice of people acquainted with Samoa, yet they apparently had not sufficient local knowledge to construct a suitable system of Government. Mataafa has now been banished, but though he has been worsted in war he is beloved by a very considerable section of the natives because of his patriotic action when ho was Malietoa's locum tenens during the latter'a banishment. I think, however, there can be no peace until the native kingship is abolished. To me that seems to be the preliminary step to secure order." " Would the natives object, do you think ?" " Not in my opinion. They would rejoice if the Government of the islands were taken over by Great Britain or New Zealand. Many of the chiefs have told me so, but there is so much mutual jealousy among the chiefs, and such a strong partisan spirit, that so long as the kingship exists, ! there will be a sort of miniature War of the Roses between the rival factions. The place is essentially one for one man rule, subject to the supervision of the colonial authority. One man I believe could per- j form the office of administrator or governor and chief justice, and all the other duties pertaining to it."

OF ENORMOUS STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE. " Then you approve of the action of the Government in trying to secare the Islands ?" - " 1 certainly do," was the reply. " They are and will be in the future of enormous strategic importance. They are right in the track of the mail route, via America, and are almost in the centre of the Western Pacific. And if fchoy wero firmly governed they might become the West Indies of Australasia. The land is very fertile, and immense tracts are still in a state of nature. Samoa alone could be made capable of supplying Australasia with all the coffee, spices, and fruits these growing populations require." " What would bo required there?" "The first necessity," was the reply after order is secured, is to make roads. A main road is required from end te end of Upolu. If that were constructed, and it could be at a nominal cost, by native labour, and an abundance of shingle, the country would be completely opened up for settlement. The natives like and would welcome firm, and at olio same time, sympathetic Government. Austerity and harshness would only promote sullenness and disorder. But little, if any, force would bo required in the form of police. Once the natives knew the supreme authority was vested in New Zealand the moral force of a man-of-war would be sufficient to ensure peace." " Would there be any difficulty with the Germans?" next asked our representative. "I believe," was the answer, " that they would also agree to New Zealand taking over the islands. They have absolutely given up the idea of German annexation, and all they long for now is a firm Government, and one able to maintain order. I think also that on the advent of a firm Government that commerce would be developed, and the tourist traffic become important if these perennial war scares were at an end. But when the travelling public of America hear of natives coming into Apia with bleeding heads stuck on sticks they are apt to bo scared away. Still Apia has progressed very considerably since I first visited it in 1886. For residents it would be a very pleasant place, while the natives are of a happy disposition, and easily led. They are naturally religious and poetical, and not a belligerent people. I may reverse the well-known lines

Better fifty years of Europe Than a cycle of Cathay. and say, better-50 peaceful years of life in Samoa than a cycle of the worry and strife of our intensely civilised life, where men under present conditions aro crushed under a Juggernaut of false ideals. A? to Tutuila, which is 65 miles from Apia, which is practically untouched by civilisation, I traversed on foot a considerable portion of the island, and never saw any soil except a deep black loam on a rock substratum. It would be capable, if developed, of supplying fruit to millions. Savaii is also very fertile. Nearly all the land claims have been adjusted by the land commission set up by the Treaty of Berlin, and which was that Treaty's . only redeeming feature. That land commission set an example to our New Zealand Land Courts for celerity and despatch in investigating titles. If the country were well governed I think ib would be frequented by men of wealth from tho colonies who deserve a period of repose from the active exertions of business or political life. Mr. R. L. Stevenson, the novelisb, seems to be enjoying a very happy life, and has made for himself a beautiful home on the hills. He has done a great deal for the social and political regeneration of Samoa, and he would always be a vigilant and fair critic of any Englishman who might be sent to r.dminister the affairs of the islands. " It is perfectly certain," said Mr. Napier in conclusion, "that America would not object to England taking the country over, and as far as the Europeans living there aro concerned, they are a highly intelligent and superior people, so that) no difficulty whatever need be apprehended from the whites.