THE ANNEXATION OF SAMOA.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3278, 30 March 1885, Page 3

THE ANNEXATION OF SAMOA.

(By Telegraph.) Wellington, March 29. The following long but interesting letter on the annexation of Samoa has been sent to the Agent-General by the Hon. Mr Stout, the Premier. Government Offices, Wellington, March 19th. 1885. Sir— My absence from Wellington has prevented my more promptly informing you m detail as to what the Government have done regarding Samoa. You have learned from our telegrams what were generally the viovts of the Government on the subject, and you have no doubt ascertained from the Colonial Office what has passed between the colony and Lord Derby. I desire now, however, for your guidance m any future discussion respecting the Pacific Islands question to narrate briefly all that has lately taken place as to Samoa. The papers relating to confederation and annexation which were presented to the Assembly during the two sessions of 1884, show the correspondence, etc., from 1884, the dote of publication between the New Zealand and the Imperial Governments regarding the annexation of various Pacific Islands, the papers containing the earlier correspondence being included. I need not rem ind you that that there is a considerable trade between New Zealand and the Samoan Group, but yon may not bo aware that New Zealand colonists have obtained possession of land there, and that surveyors are even now engaged m surveying the lands so granted. There seems to be a hope that our trade with Samoa will rapidly develope, and efforts are being made by many persons, especially m the northern parts of the colony, to promote such a development. It was with a view of holding (?) m that direction that tho Government last session obtained from Parliament a vote for a steam mail service to Samoa, Tonga and Tahiti. Tenders have now been invited for such a service, and from what has been stnted to mo I have no doubt that offers to do the work will bo received within the limits as to the cost stated m the House of Representatives by the PostmasterGeneral. In order to show the extent of our trade as compared with that of other colonies. [Here follow statistics.] You will observe that, so far as these Islands — inclusive of Fiji, New Caledonia, and Hawaii (Honolulu) — are concerned, our trade exceeds that of New South Wales, and is larger than that of all the other Australian Colonies together, and our trade is increasing, as the following figures show. Total value of imports and exports, 1882 :— £72,859, £71,318; 1883, £81,260, £115,969 ; 1884, £100,181, £90,070. Wishing to establish this mail communication and also to ascertain for ourselves the feeling of the Samoan people towards New Zealand, wo determined to send tho Government steamer Hinemoa with the Colonial Secretary on board to Apia. Before wo came to this determination we had been informed by a letter from residents that a petition was being prepared m Samoa for the annexation of the group to New Zealand. The step we contemplated taking being an important one which might, as we recognised, cause considerable discussion m England, we felt it to be our duty to bring the subject before His Excellency the Governor. lie was at the time residing m Christchureb, and I sent to him there the following memo : — " Ministers present their respectful compliments to His Excellency the Governor m view of the present state of Samoa, and the reported anxiety of the chiefs and people to be united with New Zealand, Ministers deem it of importance that the Hon. tho Colonial Secretary should at once visit Famoa. His Excellency is aware that a sum was voted by Parliament to establish a postal service between New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, and it is thought Samoa and Tonga should be included m this service, to see what opening there is for our trade. The visit of the Colonial Secretary will also be of advantage Ministers propose that the Hinemoa should be sent down, and that His Excellency will be able to defer for a short time his visit to Marlborough and the West Coast. The Hinemoa will return as speedily as possible, and wfll then be available for His Excellency. It is not necessary to add that it is of the utmost importance that the visit of tho Colonial Secretary should be kept secret. — Robert Stout. Dunedin, December 26th, 1884." (5) I subsequently saw His Excellency m Christchurch, and stated what we intended to do. I also stated what we had heard as to a petition, and I added that letters received by us from Samoa informed us that tho people of the group wore anxious for annexation to England or to New Zealand. I left for Wellington the same day, and only arrived here when I received a telegram from His Excellency saying that he found he had omitted to inform the Government that he had received the petition from the King and the people of Samoa praying for annexation, and that he had about a fortnight before forwarded it to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The potition is printed herewith, as is also a letter respecting it written by King Malietoa to Her Majesty the Queen. (6) His Excellency came to Wellington on Decomber 31st, and the whole matter having been on the same day discussed m tha Executive Council it was ageed that a telegram should he sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, m substance as follows : — " My Ministers wish me to reiterate their desire for the annexation of Tonga and Samoa. They would be prepared next session to propose to Parliament that New Zealand should pay tha cost, and should the Imperial Government wish to, they would be ready also to undertake the government of Fiji. Information received by my Ministers from Samoa leads them to believe that the views expressed m the petition already forwarded to Your Lordship are those genuinely felt by the Samoan people. My Ministers propose seven days after the date of this message to despatch the Hinemoa, with a Minister on board, to make enquiries on the subject." (7) I think you have been informed that on November 19th, being strongly impressed with the urgent necessity for the Imperial Government taking steps to preserve its power m tho Central Pacific, and to annpx Samoa, we advised Hi 3 Excellency to despatch tho following telegram to the Secretary of State for the Colonies : — " My Ministers urge tha annexation of Samoa and Tonga, and are prepared to propose to Parliament that New Zealand shall bear the expense." The reply to this message, which did not rpach Ministers until tho 28th December, was m substance as follows : — " Representation will be fuljy ppnsidered, but foreign interests there present difficulties." We, therefore, had this reply before us when the Executive Council was considering what step* should be taken regarding the despatch of the Hipomoa, and it was afterwards determined that the Hjnemoa should lcavo for Auckland, conveying the Hon. Sir Julius Yogel to Waiwera, and that the steamer should remain at Auckland with tho Hon. the Colonial Secretary until His Excellency received a reply from the Colonial office. (9) Lord Derby's reply, dated 31st Jan., was received by His Excellency on tho 6th. In substance it was ' With reference to your telpgram of the 31st ult., Her Majesty's Government regret that they are unable to meet the wishes of the New Zealand Government. My telegram x>f the 24th ult. reminded (?) that the foreign interests m Samoa and Tonga prevent British annexation. Within the lost few days the German Qo : vernment have given and received renewed assurance that the independence of the Islands shall be maintained. If, therefore, the Government of New Zealand ahoujd unfortunately send the Colonial Secretary to Samoa, the German Government would have strong justification for annexing these islands. Her Majesty's Government hop*, therefore, that the New- Zealaud Government will not preclude the internationalisation of the islands, which is obviously the best course at the present junettu-o for British interests." (10) About this time intelligence reached us from Samoa that a German man-of-war h&d visited Apia, and had made a new treaty or .convention with tho King. This wo deomed of go £?ueh importance that we at 00P& advised His Excellency to telegraph to the JSarl of Derby, which he accoruinnjly did .on January 5tU. The message was e'ub^tanliI ally as follows : — " Referring to my telegram

of tho 3rd January, the Colonial Secretary ■will not be sent to Samoa. Intelligence has been received from Samoa a few days ago, that two German war vessels had arrived there, and on learning the King and chiefs hod petitioned Her Majesty for annexation, tho officers made a treaty -with the King for five years. The King states he was forced to do this and his chiefs were not consulted. The chiefs and people repudiate the treaty, and the S.imoan Parliament declined to ratify it. The treaty gives the whole authority of the Government to Germany. The German representative and tho Foreign Consuls were not consulted My Ministers consider if Germany keeps New Guinea and the adjacent Islands Samoa and Tonga should become British. They hope a compact with France aboiit the New Hebrides will be maintained." A further telegram giving full details of the new treaty was sent by His Excellency on the Bth January. After tho Earl of Derby's telegram of the 3rd January objecting to our sending the Hinemoa to Samoa, we still pressed our views on the Colonial Office through His Excellency the Governor and you. It is not necessary I should hero relate it. (11) We further learned that after this treaty or convention had been signed King Malietoa wrote to tho British Consul at Apia, E. B. Churchward, Esq., a letter protesting against it, and stating that it had only been agreed to for the sake of present peace. (12) The substance of this intelligence was communicated to you by telegram. The Hon. Mr Service, Premier of Victoria, was also as Chairman of the Intercolonial Convention Committee informed by us of the news we had received and the steps we had taken and proposed to take, so that it could not be said New Zealand was acting without the knowledge of the other colonies with respect to anything that was being done regarding the Pacific (13) Although Lord Derby objected to the Hinemoa being "despatched to Samoa, we learned that H.M.S. Miranda had been sent from Sydney to Apia to ascertain what was taking place m Samoa. You will doubtless have heard that either through want of proper preparation or because she had to leave m great haste she seemed not to be capable of making a long passage, and it took her 22 days to reach Apia. When sho arrived there, the King and the Sainoan people, who had boen looking very anxiously for the arrival of a British man of- war to protect them, discovered that the Captain of the Miranda had no power to do anything. This caused great grief to the Samoans, who seem to have been m daily terror that their country would be annexed by Germany. The Miranda remained a few days at Apia, their presence there appeared to have a good effect, because those who wore hostile to the existing Government seemed content not to make any demonstrations against it, so long as sho was m the harbor. She left Samoa, went to Fiji, and thence proceeded to Sydney, but we have not been informed of any result arising from her mission, nor what report her captain has sent to the Colonial Office or to the Admiralty: (14) Affairs m Samoa since the Miranda left the Group seem to have been m a state of unrest. The King and his people are very distressed by the attitude assumed by the Acting German Consul, Mr Weber. (15) I think it well here to state shortly the relations that have existed between Great Britain, Germany, and the United States as to Samoa, m order that you may moro clearly understand the attitude of the German Consul. Since the forced treaty or convention with Germany was made m 1879, Boveral treaties or conventions were made by Samoa with the Powers I have named. There was a treaty of friendship between Her Majesty tho Queen and the King, and other agreements between His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of Germany and the King. There was also a convention entered into as to the Government of the town and district of Apia, which created a municipality and gave certain rights and powers to the three Governments already mentioned, and to their subjects. Iv addition there was an agreement between tho three consuls and the King, guaranteeing support to Malietoa as the head of the Government. These several documents are of interest. After the Miranda left, the information received here shows that various articles of the treaties were ignored by the German consul. To give an example, a correspondent writes : — " The other day the King wrote to the three consuls, stating that some of his scouts had brought m word that the rebels were about to attack the Government, and iv consequence he wished to be relieved from that clause of the convention which prohibits all assemblages of armed men within the neutral boundaries. The houses where tho King and Government live are within these, hence the necessity for permission to assemble a protective force. There is also a supplementary note to the convention which gives the King power under certain circumstances of dispensing with the prohibitory clause. Both the American and British Consuls considered that under the existing circumstances the King would be perfectly justified m collecting a suflicient number of armed men to protect himself and Government, but the German Consul, pursuing his usual tactics, thought differently, and told the King if he assembled an armed force he would disperse) them by force if necessary. As he is the only Consul who has the services of war at his command, he can — and does— do very much as he likes." (16) The hist letter we have received from Samoa is dated February 24. ; We are of course not aware what has happened there since then, but from what we know it is perfectly clear that the treaties or -conventions made m 1879 have not been respected by tho acting German Consul ; that the power and authority of the King of Samoa have been .weakened, and that the Samoans are living m dread that their beautiful Island will become a German possession. (17) From the information forwarded to us from the Colonial Office, nnd by yourself, it seems useless for us to press upon the Imperial Government the desirableness of yielding to the prayer of the petition from the King and people of Samoa. I may, however , point out m order that you may, should circumstances warrant you m so doing, urge this view upon the Colonial Office, that this request for the annexation of Samoa differs entirely from almost every other request made to the Colonial Office from other parts of the Pacific. There has been recognised m Samoa by great Britain, by Germany, and by the United States a King and a Parliament, for there is provision m Article 3 of the German treaty, dated December 23rd, 1879, for the creation of what may be termed two Houses of Parliament. Each province is to appoint two chiefs, called Tainni, and also to appoint Taipule, the one answering to our second Chamber, and the other to our first.. If then a State, at all events somewhat civilised, and witli a Government recognised by two JSuropean Powers and by tho United States of America, desires to code its territory to Great Britain, wliafc obiecfjon can fairly be raised to such a proceeding P If the treaty or convention with Germany provided that Samoa was to remain neutral territory, and that thp King and Government should not be at liberty to cede its sovereignty to any foreign Power, no doubt Germany might havp rpiwon for objecting to any such eessionj though there js not wanting authority to show that suoh a treaty or convention might be deemed transient m its oharaotor. Thp position taken by Count Cavour respecting the annexation of Samoa is strongly to the point. There is notliing m any treaty with Germany which limits m the slightest degree the power of the King and people of Samoa to make treaties with other bationa or fntprfere with their right to yield up if 'they ptaase the sovereignly of thoir Islands. The question involved is quite distinct from that for oxamphv raited by Switzerland when the annexation of Savoy to France was being discussed. Then amongst of tier contentions it was urged that the defence of Switzerland would be weakened by the annexation, and, therefore, 1 that the Republic hq'd a right to ask that the provisions of the treaty of J.8J15 should bo regarded. But, can it as a ground for Germany's contention be pretended that there is any possibility of the German Empire as poneprts defence or otherwise being affected by the annexation of Samoa. If it should be ngreod that the King has no powpr to enter into arrangements with or cpde any rights of sovereignty (o Great Britain, I apprehend that the saino contention would bo valid as against tho right to mako the treaty or convention made with Germany on

the 10th of November, 1884. It is clear from thia treaty that the King oi Samoa did cede to Germany some of the rights of sovereignty he possessed, and that he ceded them m such a way as to interfere with the rights of subjects of Great Britain and of tho United States under existing treaties with those Powers. Moreover, this last treaty or convention with Germany wns made by the King without consulting the Parliament of Samoa or the leading chiefs. In fact it was extorted from tho King under prossure, and is m opposition to the general foaling of the Samoan people. Tho request for annexation to Great Britain on the other hand comes spontaneously from the King, chiefs and people. (18) Unless, therefore, there has been some treaty or arrangement come to between Great Britain and Germany to make Samoa neutral territory, or unless it can bo shown that annexation as now asked for would be an injury to tho German Empiro, I cannot see how Great Britain can refuse to accede to the prayer of the petition forwarded to Her Majesty. (19) The extracts from the German White Book you were good enough to forward with your letter of December 31st, containing reports by Dr Steinhel to the German Colonial Office, show that the only desire of Germany m obtaining possession of the Pacific Islands is to further the German trade. He says that if Germany does not appoint a larger number of Consular offices, and arrange for a demonstration of )>ower by war ships, etc., m tho Pacific, Gorman trade will be weakened. I need not remind you that a differential tariff has never been imposed m any British colony. Goods from Great Britain aro subject to the same Customs duties as goods from Germany. In Now Zealand, as well as m the Australian Colonies generally, there are representatives of German houses dealing solely m German goods. I believe that trade with Continental houses is increasing m New Zealand. French and Belgian houses, as well as those of Germany, are sending representatives to theso colonies to search for trade. If it could bo shown that the annexation of Samoa, as prayed for, could by any possibility prevent Germans trading with those Islands, there might be some force m what Dr Steinhel urges. As a fact, however, were Samoa annexed to-morrow there would he no interference whatever with German trade or plantations. The policy of New Zealand has been to encourage settlers of all nations to como here, and as you are aware, special German and Scandinavian settlements have been made. Many of the other colonies have given to foreigners like facilities. Unless tho German trado can only exist by obtaining a monopoly, or enjoying undue advantage as compared with other trades, it would not be m tho slightest degree affected m the Pacific by the annexation of the Samoan group. If there were any chance of injury being done to Gorman trade or plantations, Germany would have the right to ask that m tho annexation of Samoa, the rights of German subjects should be preserved, and so far as New Zealand is concerned, if the Colonial Office would only consent to the annexation on such conditions, we should do all we could to loyally fulfil them. (20) It is true, as Dr Steinhel has represented, that German trade with. Samoa has increased. The number of British and foreign vessels that visited Samoa are reported as follows .— ln 1867, 26 British, 5701 tons ;31 foreign, 3800 tons ; m 1868, 34 British, 8038 tons; 29 foreign, 6947 tons. In 1883,16 British, 45 foreign. Of the 29 foreign vessels m 1868, five of 3072 tons belonged to the United State i, antl 24 of 3875 tons to Germany, whilst m 1883 36 of the foreign vessels were German and nine American. The explanation of this large development of German trado is not, however, difficult to discover. Ift thereport for 1883, of Mr Churchward, the British Consul at Apia, there is this significant passage " only two labor ships arrived during the year with about 120 laborers, but none were returned to their homes. Members of the foreign laborers working on the German plantations are long over their contract dates without any steps beiug taken to return them. This, of course, militates effectually against the procuration of more labor from the places these men come from, whether for German or any other people requiring them m Samoa. British subjects wishing to follow pursuits requiring labor are at present unable to engage m them, not being allowed to import Polynesians until regulations are issued concerning recruiting, and tho rule of such labor m countries like Samoa not under British rule." The German planters have not been compelled to fulfil their contracts with their laborers, while British planters have not even been permitted to engage any. How ourefully the interests of German merchants and planters are guarded will be seen if the the number of war ships that visit the group is noted. In 1882 seven war vessels visited the port of Apia, four of them being German, and tho other three respectively British, American and French, and doubtless tho dispi'oportion would be shown to be greater were statistics for 1883 nnd 1884 available. The fact is that the German Government seems to lose no opportunity of aiding its merchants and planters m the development of their colonial enterprises, while tho British Government does not do much m that direction ; it fact, were it not for the enterprise of some New Zeuland firms it may be doubted whether there would be any trade between British possessions and the Samoan Group. (21) It is scarcely necessary, I should say, to tell you that although New Zealand and the Australian colonies have never sought the proclamation of a Munroe doctrine for tho Pacific, yet, looking to the future, noither we nor they desire to see the Pacific become the place m which European quarrels are to bo fought out, and there is good ground for fearing that if the islands of the Pacific aro allowed to be treated by foreign nations as coaling dep6ts and trading stations merely, there will be danger of such a result. So far as French possessions m the Pacific are concerned, wo aro threatened with even further ovils, namely, making these depots for French criminals. Wo venture to hope, however, from what iB taking place m France, and from the great efforts you yourself have used to prevent such a catastrophe, that the French nation will come to see that to mako thoir colonial possessions convict depots is to destroy these colonies, and to render them useless for foreign trade. (22) On receiving your telegram respecting the probability of Germany proposing to surrender what she had taken of New Guinea if Samoa were given up to her, I telegraphed directing you to protest strongly against any such arrangement. I also, on February 6th, sent tho following message to the Premiers of Victoria, South Australia aud Queensland, and to the Hon Mr Dalley, who was acting during tho absence of tho Hon Mr Stuart, the Premier of New South Wales :— " Have received a message from our Agent-Genoral that probably a proposal will be made by Germany to givo up her claims on New Guiuea iv exchange for Samoa. We protest most strongly against this proposal and hope you will also instruct your Agent-General to do so, as if carried out, the control of tho Central Pacific will vest m Gormuny." The Hon.. Mr Service replied that he had instructed tho Victorian Agent-General to heartily support you iv protesting against any such exchange, and he added that m his opinion it whs deplorablo such a thing should over have been thought of. From South Australia we received _ assurances of general agreement with Victoria and New Zealand and the Queensland Governments, instructed thoir Agent-General to niiike urgent representations to the Seoretary of State for the Colonies that it was of the greatest importance effect should bo given to thp resolutions passed by the Convention, and that any furfchor donacpurp from, those resolutions With respect to tho Now Hohrides, Samoa or Tonga would cause' muoh dissatisfaction to the' Australian' colonies. The reply of the non. Mr Daley was— " Have received no official informal ion of German proposals etmcainjng Sainofi, and deem' if premature ' to base a protest upon rumors, but if the report' ho true wp arc unabje to agree with your view p,f the situation." The reply of New South Wales 'seemed fo us, to say the lens), very peculiar, considering hpw \yo helped thp Australian Oplonies with regard to Now Guinea, aiul after our agreeing to pay guv sharp of tho £15,000 required for thp purposes of tho Npw Guinea protectorate. You aro well aware that the acquisitiou of Now Guinea by Great Britain was of little or no importance to New Zealund from a trade point of view, or, mi-

i j deed, from any other save as regards keeping ' tho Pacific free from European complications » or their effects. Howevor, m this respect, at ; well as m some others, Now South Wales i seems to stand alone, and we trust that if . this matter should be mentioned again you ; will very clearly point out to the Colonial Office i that the acquisition of Samoa and of the other Islands of the Pacific is of as much moment to New Zealand as the possession of any part of New Guinea can be to Australia. (23) We are not yet aware what is likely to be done with respect to Samoa. If from 1 foreign relationships, or from questions of expediency, or relating to the policy of the British Empire, it is not deemed desirable to annex the group, we hope that some treaty or convention will bo agreed to between Great Britain, Germany, and the United States that will preserve Samoa as neutral territory. It is perfectly clear to us that Germany has obtained an ascendanoy there during tho last two or three months, and that should the King's authority be consequently weakened, there will be danger of civil war m Samoa should such happen, and as no treaty or convention of tho kind indicated lias been come to Germany may claim tho right to further interfere nominally for the protection of its interests m the group, but it would really mean that Samoa was to become a Gorman possession. We look to the British Government to prevent this. Wo have offered, as you are aware, to pay the full cost, and to undertake tho full responsibility of managing Samoa. Wo ask nothing from the British Government except that she will yield to the joint representations of tho Samoan King, the people and of ourselves, and proclaim that Samoa's part of the British Empire. If this cannot bo obtained because of diplomatic engagements, we again urge upon you to represent to the Colonial Office the absolute necessity of some such treaty or convention between tho three Powers as I have indicated, and tho urgent need there is of keeping one or two men-of-war m tho central Pacific continually cruising among tho Islands and visiting them occasionally. Germany has done this, and has thereby m some respects succeeded m overawing the people. We do not think it creditable to tho British nation that tho islands of the Pacific should bo taught that Germany is the more powerful, and that Great Britain is unable to help them m their difficulty. (24) I desire to say m conclusion that no decision has yet been communicated to us as to whether the Confederation and Annexation Bill passed by the New Zealand Parliament of 1883 is to be assented to by Her Majesty. The reason stated by Lord Derby for not tendering advice on the subject was that he desired to wait until the question of Australian federation was settled. We cannot understand what tho Bill has to do with such federation, seeing that if it were completed to-morrow, the Federal Council would certainly not attempt to interfere with Samoa or its affairs, but we do urge more strongly than we have before done, that the Group ought to become part of the British Empire. I have, etc., Robeiii Stout. To Sir F. Dillon Bell, K.C.M.G., AgentGeneral of New Zealand, London. After tho foregoing letter had been written, I received important documents relating to Samoa. They are — (1) Letter from Mr John Lundon (who has just returned to Auckland from the group), stating what has recently happened there, and what he believes will happen unless Samoa is at once annexed to New Zealand ; (2) a copy and translation of an Act passed by the Samoan Parliament for giving effect to such annexation, and appointing Sir George Grey and Mr Lundon as agents, with full power to complete arrangements thereof ; (3) letter and translation from King Malietoa to myself relative to the Act, etc., and urging that effect be at once given to it. I telegraphed to you on tho 20th inst., as soon as I received those documents : — " Samoan Parliament passed an Act annexing Samoa to New Zealand. Have received Act. Inform Colonial Office." Ido not think I am called upon to comment on tho importance of the position which these documents disclose, unless there is to be a new departure as regards the foreign policy of the Empire. The Imperial Government can hardly refuse to consent to receive what the Samoan islanders offer. We cannot here believe that the British nation is not willing to annex any territory unless it m doing so receives the sanction of the great statesman who rules tho , destinies of Germany. A number of appendices are attached, but the whole particulars aro included m the above.

catalogued, 11,500 being withdrawn. Crossbreds were firm, snd merinos active. Clothing, medium and faulty sorts were neglected. There was a keen competition among the French buyers, but the Home and German buyers were somewhat reserved.