A.—4a

30

No. 73. The Agent-Geneeal to the Prhmieb. Samoa Conference closing; result doubtful; am trying to keep question open. 3rd April, 1884. F. D. Bell.

No. 74. The Agent-Geneeal to the Premieb. Samoa Conference, Krauel. Not slightest chance German entertain any proposal for New Zealand annexing. London, 4th April, 1885. F. D. Bell.

No. 75. The Premier to Mr. John Lukdon. Sir, — Premier's Office, Wellington, sth April, 1885. I am directed by the Premier to acknowledge his receipt of your letter of the 25th March, enclosing copies of letters, &c, relating to Samoa. I am also to forward copy of a letter to King Malietoa, which was posted last evening. I have, &c., John Lundon, Esq., Onehunga. E. Fox.

No. 66. No. 72,

No. 76. The Premier to the Agent-General. Samoa. Can you arrange conference Apia between Consuls and New Zealand representatives arrange new convention. State have no feeling hostility Germany. 7th April, 1885. Eobert Stout.

No. 77. The Agent-General to the Premier. Samoa. Germany would not consent conference Apia, but I think new convention might be arranged here, while Kranel, Thurston, negotiating if Government approve of proposal to do so. 15th April, 1885. F. D. Bell.

No. 78. The Secretary of State to Governor Sir W. F. D. Jeevois, G.C.M.G., C.B. Sib,— Downing Street, 15th April, 1885. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 20, of the 31st of January last, with its enclosures, respecting the proposed annexation of Samoa. Her Majesty's Government have given very careful consideration to the wishes and representations of the New Zealand Government, and are quite satisfied that they would have been able to make good arrangements for administering these islands if it had been possible to entertain the proposal for their annexation by this country. It was, however, not possible to avoid the conclusion that, even if there were not in existence an explicit understanding with the German Government that neither country should annex the Navigators' and Friendly Islands, the extent of German interests in them would preclude Her Majesty's Government from advising that measure unless with the full concurrence of the German Government. The number of German subjects in the Navigators, and the bulk of German trade, are reported to be largely in excess (nearly double) of the British population and trade, and Her Majesty's Government cannon but feel confident that the Government of New Zealand will appreciate the importance, no less to Australasia than to other parts of the Empire, of recognizing frankly the good claims of a great friendly Power, and of co-operating effectively with Germany in the protection and development of European trade in those places in which either country has such established interests as may preclude the establishment within it of the sovereignty of the other. I have, &c, Governor Sir W. F. D. Jervois, G.C.M.G., &c. Derby.

A.-L, No. 25,

No. 79. The Agent-Genebal to the Pkemibb. Sib, — 7, Westminster Chambers, London, S.W., 20th April, 1885. Upon conferring at the Colonial Office respecting your proposal that a meeting should take place at Apia, between the Consuls of Germany, England, and America, and representatives to be sent from New Zealand, for the purpose of arranging a new convention for Samoa, I learnt that there was no chance of Germany consenting to a conference taking place on the spot, but that a new convention might perhaps be arranged here (in London), while the German ConsulGeneral (Dr. Kranel) and Mr. Thurston were negotiating upon other questions. I therefore