THE SAMOAN DIFFICULTY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1942, 7 February 1889, Page 13

THE SAMOAN DIFFICULTY.

HIGH-HANDED CONDUCT OF THE ■ ■ .■ GERMANS. • ! Auckland, January 81. The Wainui, which arrived from Samoa this morning, brings despatches from the English, American, and Gennau Consuls. On January 19 the following proclamation was issued by the German Consul by order of the Imperial German Government: — "I herewith proclaim a state of war for the Samoan Islands. Any assistence given, to the rebels will be punished by martial law, irrespective of any nationality. The introduction of contraband of war is prohibited. All vessels and boats are liable to be searched by the German authorities. The police of Apia will henceforth act under instructions from the Imperial German Government. The residents of Apia are requested to assist in keeping law and order.— Apia, January 19, 1889.— Dr Knapp, Imperial German Consul" Mataafa is entrenched behind a hill 20 minutes' distance from Apia, and has 6000 men, who are beiDg drilled daily. Tamasese and his men, to the number of about 2000, aire entrenched in fortifications to the easi of Apia, but his followers are becoming greatly disaffeoted. Numbers of them are , deserting to Mataafa, or retiring to their homes. The Samoan Times has been suppressed by the German authorities, its last issue being January 19. ' = . There has been no further fighting sinoe the news by the Ebert. , The opinion is now becoming general that war between' Tamasese and Mataafa is at an end. On the arrival of the steamer Richmond frojn Auckland four German officials were placed 6n board, and the cargo was overhauled to see that she carried no contraband of war. One of the passengers by the Richmond, a gentleman from Wellington, went on a visit to Mataafa's camp. On his return ho was arrestsd by the German authorities and taken before the German Consul. He was, however, released on a demand from the British Consul. The Federal Council have wired to the New Zealand Government a joint expression ,of opinion re Samoa, and our Government have replied repeating their protest against its occupation by any foreign Power, Just before the Wainui . left Apia it was rumoured that a party ■of Germans who had landed from a warship had been attacked by the natives, and that 50 Germans had been killed. Mataafa has 6000 mea in constant^ drill, and has hemmed in Tamasese on Mulian Point. The forcee of the latter, -who have been thinned by deserters, do not exceed 900. A sailor from the Wainairianied Millar went ashore, and narrowly .escaped being shot when the .wrman8 L wore firing pn.th© .natives. , ... ! . A private letter received here. states thai <j n q arrival of the Wainui at Apia the German

Consul visited Mataafa and proposed that if he would sign a paper giving Germany control of Samoa they would recognise him as King. > Mataafa refused to sign anything without consulting with the American and English Consuls. Thereupon the German proclamation was issued. The Germans fired on two natives in Apia on the 23rd, but missed them. H.M.S. Calliope is expected daily, and it is hoped that the High Commissioners will arrive by her. ! LATEST PARTICULARS. The steamer Wainui unexpectedly arrived outside the heads from Samoa at about 10 o'clock last night, but as the master, Captain Oliver, is a stranger to this port, the vessel was anchored outside until 5 o'clock this morning, when she came up to the wharf. The steamer, being under charter to the. German Government, brought nothing beyond despatches to the Consul and a few letters. Captain Oliver states thai; the Wainui only stayed at Apia about 24 hours. Though he was not on shore himself he noticed that proclamations in various languages were affixed to the trees, but did not read them. Being tinder engagement to the Germans, he was requested not to supply information or furnish copies of the Samoan Times. When asked what he thought of the appearance of affairs, he replied, " Well, to tell you the truth, I think they are playing a three-handed game of euchre." Shortly after the Wainui arrived at Apia, the English Consul boarded her and told them to be careful, as war might break out at any moment. Immediately after the Wainui arrived at Apia the German Consul (Dr Enapp) endeavoured to obtain a meeting with Mataafa. He went to the German House in the neighbourhood of Mataafa's camp and sent a message to the King-elect asking 'him to come and see him, but that Mataafa refused to do, and sept four chiefs. It is rumoured that a number of proposals were made by the Consul, and it, is stated that amongst others he offered to declare Mataafa king, and put a stop to hostilities if he would consent to rule under German control. Mataafa refused, but a meeting of natives was to be held after the departure of the Wainui to decide the question. The result of the German Consul's visit to Mataafa could not have been satisfactory to him, as Captain Fritz, of the Adler, has issued a proclamation requesting all civilians at Apia to give information to the German troops of the number of firearms and 'quantity of ammunition in their possession, and stating that arms and ammunition not required for self-defence would be sealed. If; firearms &c. were not delivered up, the parties in whose houses they are found will be imprisoned or deported. From the tenor of this proclamation, it is expected that the Germans intend to make an attack on Samoa. When the German Consul declared war, the British and American Consuls issued a proclamation to their countrymen stating that they did not recognise the martial law attempted to be established by Germans. Germans' are in a perfect 'fog, and do not know what to do in face of these various documents. All communication with Mataafa's camp is prohibited by the Germans, who boarded the steamer Richmond and arrested a passenger,' a Mr Gilling, he having gone out one day before to see the King. He was taken on board the warship Adler and tried by court martial,' but after being two hours in custody he was released on the demand of the British Consul, and partly by the intercession of Captain Hund, of H.M.S. Royalist. It is said that the captain of the Adler told Captain Hund that the Germans had power to arrest and detain any British subject, and that they intended to use that power. The German troops boarded the British barque Longfellow the other day before a boat from the English warship could reach the veßsel,and theiy took possession by putting' a guard, of four armed men on board. The captain, however, protested and the guard was removed next morning. i British residents were anxiously awaiting the arrival of H.M.S. Calliope, which was signalled outside the port just before the Wainui left. It is hoped that the vessel will proceed to Fiji, and return with Sir John Thurston, in order that he may endeavour to effect a settlement. Thomas Mellor, seaman on board the Wainui, narrowly escaped shooting, while on shore 'at Samoa. Three natives were coming along the road carrying bottles of cocoanut oil, and one of the Germans constituting the body guard at the Consul's residence shouted to the Samoans to stop. They did not do ,so, and the , Germans fired two shots, one of which grazed one of the natives, whilst the other passed yery close to Mellor. The natives ran,- and a white policeman came up and struck one of them with his cane. The German who fired said he' thought the natives had cartridges in their belts, but they were searched, and no cartridges were found/ Mr W. Brown, German Consul at Auckland, pooh-poohs the whole matter. He say it will be settled amongst the Great Powers by diplomacy, not by fwar, and that all that the Germans have done is go to Mataafa and say: " Now, you had better be quiet. Let us have no more bloodshed. The affair must be settled amicably." . ; Sir George Grey, when interviewed on the subject, stated that it was a very dangerous thing for the English Government to encourage foreign nations to come to the Pacific by bartering 'islands to secure British interests nearer home. It would be far preferable to leave each of these places independent with an independent Government, guided,' if deemed expedient, by a Commission of foreign Powers, and settling all disputes by arbitration, America is aiming at this line, of policy, not annexing the islands herself, and doing her utmost to preserve the peace of the Pacific; and his opinion is that America is becoming, the leader of the AngloSaxon 'race. He looked upon this latest occurrence in Samoa as the most important event of his' lifetime, as it was clear that the centre of power was shifting from Britain to America, as the centre of population had already g6ne. j Despatches from the American Consul at Samoa were telegraphed to Washington to-day from Auckland by Captain Webb, United States Consul, and 5Mr Brown also forwarded despatoheg to Berlin, - (Per Press Association.) ; Hobart, January 31. At to-day's sitting of the Federal Council a committee was appointed to prepare an address for presentaHon to her Majesty the Queen dealing with the Pacific question. The Hon. A. Deakin, Chief Secretary of Victoria, in moving for the committee, said that the foreign annexation of Samoa would be detrimental to the best interests of Australasia. Samoa had, he said, been selected as one of the Pacific cable stations, and both New South Wales and New Zealand j had substantial . interests in the trade to the islands. If Germany annexed the Samoan group, then Fiji would be hemmed in between French and German possessions: The American Government, however, had the spirit to defend Samoa {.and this council, he thought, was justified Jn demanding that the neutrality of -the group be preserved. • = ' 'Washington, January 30. The German Minister to the fyuted States has assured M* ' Bayard that 'the German Govern-

ment are sincerely desirous of satisfying America with regard to Samoa, and that they disclaim any intention of offending American susceptibilities. A resolution h&s been submitted to the House of Representatives requesting President Cleveland to insist on Germany restoring Samoa to the same condition as preceding the Washington Conference, and also to aid in securing responsible native Government for the group. In the Senate to-day Mr John Sherman accused Great Britain of coinciding with Germany in respect to Samoan affairs. The newspapers are publishing Prince Bismarck's charges against the American Consul at Samoa of inciting the natives against Germany, and also Mr Bayard's charges of a similar nature against the German Consul with regard to America. February 1. Senators belonging to both parties show feelings of irritation at German aggression at Samoa. Prince Bismarck desires a fresh basis for parleying, but will not resume the deliberations of the Washington Conference. It is reported that German operations at Samoa have been delayed till reinforcements arrive. The Senate voted on the Pagapago question after a debate bellicose towards Germany. February 2. The Charleston, an American cruiser, is equipping for Samoa. Replying to Mr Bayard's protests, Prince Bismarck states that he has directed that foreigners in Samoa are to be exempt from martial law; and has ordered the German Consul to withdraw his demands regarding the administration of the island. The United States Senate has unanimously instructed the Foreign Affairs Committee 'to report on the measures necessary to protect the interests of America and discharge the obligation to protect the Samoan Government against foreign aggression. The House of Representatives is prepared :to authorise the President to resort to force. The situation is grave unless Germany parleys on the basis of the statiis quo ante. It is reported in Berlin that Germany will temporarily occupy one or more places in Samoa. February 3. There is a calmer feeling abroad in reference to Samoa. Berlin, January 31. Prince Bismarck proposes that another conference on Samoan affairs shall be held at Washington. February 2. Prince Bismarck suggests that a conference on Samoan affairs shall be held at Berlin. It is explained at Berlin that the declaring of war by the Germans in Samoa was to prevent foreigners arming the rebels. The Nord Deutsche Gazette says that the report that Germany has declared war against. Samoa is untrue. She has merely acted on the defensive. February 4. The German press advocate that Germany should retreat from Samoa. The National Zeitung asserts that the American rights at Pagopago have lapsed through not being availed of within the specified time. London, February 3. The Standard says that it will be madness on the part of Germany to enter on a war wit*h the United States at the present juncture. Count Herbert Bismarck, in an interview with a representative of the New York Herald- on the situation in Samoa, stated that the matter was unworthy of a single angry despatoh being written. It was needful to punish Mataaf a, but Germany was anxious to co-operate with England and America. Germany would recall any of hec officials if they had exceeded their duty, February 4. . The American naval anthorities are sending large supplies of coal to Pagopago. The Times, referring to the Samoan question, holds that it is the duty of England to support the views of the Australian colonies. The London Times states that the attitude of England is secret and suspicious, and it is essential that it should be divulged. It is regrettable that the defence of the freedom of the islands should have devolved on the United States, and says there will be a repetition of the New Guinea incident unless the views of Australia are upheld by the Imperial Government. The American warship Mohican will probably proceed to Samoa. In reference to the Samoan complication, the Hon. B. Mitchelson has received the following telegram from the Hon. T. Fergus: — "A few days, ago we communicated with the Federal Council, in reply to a query from them, reiterating our protest against allowing any Power to obtain a footing in Samoa. - We have done nothing further. The Governor no doubt will inform the Imperial authorities of the situation."