SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

Otago Witness, Issue 956, 16 May 1889, Page 10

SAMOAN AFFAIRS.

(Pcr 1 Press Association.) ' " , . •.. Bbbun, May 11. > The Allegmeine Zeitung, in an' article on Sarnoan affairs, suggests that America should, abandon Pagopago, Jlarbour and. convert Suwarrow Island, on which the British 'flag has recently been hoisted,- into a; coaling station. The paper declares that the Samoan Conference is arranging for the appointment of an adviser to the. King of Samoa,- to represent each power, and the term of office of ' each to be for one year. May 12. At the sitting of the Samoan Conference yesterday 'the report of the committee appointed to inquire ( int6 the' question was approved." Mr Kasson, American Minister at Berlin and one of, the delegates at she conference, in a speech on the fight which took place between the German sailors and Samoans under Mataafa, exonerated the latter from any blame in the matter, and he refused to agree to the demand of Germany for redress from Mataafa. May 13. It is believed that' the conference will create a neutral zone at Apia; that equal rights will be given to all the powers, and j that import, and export duties will be imposed.* London, May 13. ; ,The Berlin correspondent of The Times! states that the Powers concerned have agreed | to restrict the importation and sale of fire- 1 arms and liquors in Samoa. Equal com--mercial rights are to be granted to all the ! Powers. The sub-committee has decided to recommend a tripartite administration of the municipal district of Apia, and to allow the natives to elect their own' king. ' England has assumed a neutral attitude The conference is not now expected to conclude for a fortnight. , : Sydney, May 8. i The Lubeck has arrived from Samoa. All was quiet when she left. Tamasese still occupies his old and' Mataafa is encamped at the back' of the town.' Both are awaiting the result of the Berlin conference. 1 Admiral Kimberley, of the United States, has' issued a proclamation advising them to sink their disputes and become friends and brothers. , '• Ex Consul Knappe has left, and the new German Consul, Dr Stenbel, has arrived. The American store ship Monongatela has ' arrived. The Rockton, which was chartered at Sydney to take the American sailors home, j has sailed with 450 men for San Francisco. Only 80 are now left. The guns have been recovered from the Trenton and Adler 1 . H.M.S. Rapid Visited Suwarrow Island, 1000 miles east of ' Samoa, and hoisted the British flag. ' ' May \l, The New South Wales branch of the London Missionary Society is appealing fpr subscriptions in aid of the Samoans, who are said to be on the verge of famine, information from .Apia states, ,that all the schools there have been closed in -.order to allow the students to seek a livelihood, and one letter says the natives are on the eve of' a bad famine. The society will require a sum of £500 to tide over the emergency. (From Our Own Correspondent.), i Auckland, May 14. Now, that the Samoan question w before the Berlin Conference, it is curious to note how in May 1880 Sir* Gteorge Grey, in a -letter to King Malietoa of Samoa, foreshadowed much of what has come to pass. Malietoa had writtea to Sir George in a time of difficulty and trouble for advice, and the latter 'frankly gave it in an admirable letter, .in .which; he reviewed, the political relations of Samoa with the .great powers. -The Herald publishes some extracts from the letter of Sir George; which are curiously prophetic. The American Government received a copy of, this letter from their representative at Samoa. It was referred to' at the Washington Conference, and the American Government have in their relations with Samoa adopted somewhat similar views to those held by Sir George Grey,