FIFTY YEARS AGO

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22045, 27 February 1935, Page 8

FIFTY YEARS AGO

ISLANDS IN PACIFIC ASPIRATIONS OF GERMANY Considerable anxiety .existed in New Zealand and Australia fifty years ago in rfegard to the colonial ambitions of Germany in the Pacific. Many representations were made, to the Imperial authorities with the result that a Blue Book was issued giving an official version of the situation in New Guinea and the Pacific Islands. Following is an extract from a London cablegram which appeared in tha New Zealand Heralb of February 27, 1885: — . _ " The Blue Book shows ,that m January Earl Darby telegraphed to Lord Augustus Loft us that it was intended to declare a British dominion over all the territory in New Guinea and neighbouring islands included in the protectorate in February. "Lord Derby wired to Sir William Jervois (Governor of New Zealand), instructing the discontinuance of the movement for the annexation of Samoa, stating that Germany disavowed' the action of the Consult at Apia, ami disclaimed any intention of annexing Samoa. - \ ~ " The papers further* show that this month Earl Granville informed Count Munster, the German Minister in London, that, if the Germari-Samoan agreement of November last was ratified, it would be necessary for England to conclude a similar arrangement with King Malietoa for the benefit of British subjects in Samoa. , ~ " The book also contains a from Malietoa, complaining tifat the treaty with Germany was unjustly obtained, and asking that the Emperor should reject it."