Sacrifice of Samoa.

Observer, Volume XVIII, Issue 1092, 2 December 1899, Page 10

Sacrifice of Samoa.

The Teuton's Triumph and the

Colonials' Collapse

By an Ex-Resident,

The solution of the Samoau problem has been a shock to some and a surprise to all. To the Anglo-Colonial residents in the islands the shock will be most severe, and the surprise most profound And yet those same Anglo-Colonial residents have contributed very largely to a result which is now undoubtedly exciting their astonishment and indignation. Their interference in the kingship question, a matter which was of no real concern to them at all, has really compassed their own discomfiture. In 1887-8 9 the Anglo-Colonials in Samoa were the enthusiastic supporters of Mataafa against Tamaeese. In the late trouble they were Mataafa's bitter opponents, and for no other earthly reason than because he was being supported by the Germans. Under the old arrangements it really did not matter a straw to the foreign residents who occupied the throne, for the king of Samoa was without power, without patronage, and without money. Bat the silly intrigues of the foreigners, arising from international jealousy, have for years kept Samoa in a continual ferment.

Had Mataafa been elected king last year without opposition, no trouble would have taken place. Had the Samoans been left to themselves, he would have been elected without opposition, and thing 9 would have gone on as they were, at least for some years. But the Germans favonred Mataafa, and the Anglo Colonials literally dragged young Tanu from his school, and the trouble began. He and Tamasese became their joint protegees, although, prior to this, Tanu was almost absolutely unknown, and no one had a good word to Bay for Tamaeese. Then came the muchdiscussed decision of Chief Justice Chambers against Mataafa, and the upBetting of that decision by force of arms.

The Provisional Government of Mataafa was organised and proclaimed by the Consuls, and the whole matter was referred to the Powers. Again there was a chance of the matter being settled quietly and of things going on ~as formerly, but the British and Colonials succeeded in persuading Admiral Kautz that he ought to put their man on the throne, and so, without waiting for the instructions from the Powers, the shelling of Samoan villages and the fatalities of March and April last ensued.

Even when the kingship was abolished, Tanu was still styled kiDg by his European supporters, and it was notorious that he was being encouraged in the notion that he would be reinstated as king. Tamasese waß incited to acts of sedition, against the Government bet up by the High Commissioners, in the belief that renewed trouble would convince the Powers that tripartite control was absolutely impossible, and that annexation musG take place, the Anglo - Colonials believing that the "only kind of annexation possible was British.

Annexation no doubt will take place, but it will not be the sort they expected. In order to keep the Kaiser sweet and ami able, Britain has sacrificed her interests in Samoa, mainly to Germany. In Upolo and Savaii the German flag will float where it was predicted the Union Jack would be seen. German law will be administered The German tongue will become the official language, and German money, after having been banished for several years, will be re-introduced. By next mail from Samoa we shall certainly hear of weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth on the part of the Anglo-Colonials, and the jubilation of the Germans.

Germany has undoubtedly made by far the best of the triangular bargain between the Powers She has given up little or nothing, and has secured two islands of surpassing beauty, of great fertility, and of rapidly increasing strategical value. But the most curious feature about the whole affair has been the silent acquiesence of the colonies, especially of New Zealand. In view of the generous support which the colonies are now rendering Great Britain, there can be little doubt that even a mild protest against the sacrifice of Samoa would have been effectual. The thing is now past recall, but it is not by any means improbable that some day New Zealand, and perhaps Great Britain, will bitterly regret the deal we have made.