A.—4d

32

No. 86. Ministers to His Excellency. Memorandum for His Excellency the Governor. Ministers have the honour to remark upon Despatches No. 19, of the 15th April, 1885, and No. 21, of the 22nd April, 1885, of the Eight Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies concerning Samoa. They have also perused the translation of the note of Count Miinster to Earl Granville dated the 28th January last, published in the Blue Book C.-4273, page 145. Eegarding Despatch No. 19, they think that having brought the position of Samoa prominently, before the Colonial Office, and Her Majesty's Government having come to an agreement with the Government of Germany to internationalize that group of islands, it is not necessary that they should make further remarks. They understand that they are to rely that the agreement entered into will secure the independence of Samoa and its sovereign. There is a passage in the note of Count Miinster to Earl Granville which Ministers consider they are called on to notice. The note ends thus : " The Imperial Government expect with confidence that the instructions now contemplated by the Eoyal British Government will also have the result of putting an end to the agitation for the same object which is instigated from New Zealand." So far as this colony is concerned, it was not the instigation of any movement for annexation in Samoa. There had been for years past a desire amongst the islanders to come under British rule. It is not necessary that the reasons for this desire should be given. The New Zealand Parliament passed an Act, which has not yet been assented to by Her Majesty, called the Confederation Act, allowing any islands to join New Zealand if they desired to do so. So far from New Zealand taking part in instigating Samoa in favour of annexation, it rather discouraged any movement of the sort. The present and the preceding Ministry alike refused to allow New Zealand colonists who were going to the islands to carry with them any official proposition or any statement to the recognized authorities in the islands that federation or annexation would be accepted. Ministers hope that it will be conveyed to the Government of Germany that they have no unfriendly feeling towards the subjects of that nation. German colonists have always been warmly welcomed in New Zealand, and a large trade is carried on with Germany. Further, Ministers venture to express the opinion that had Samoa been annexed to New Zealand, the interests of Germany and of Germans would have benefited by the change to the care of a stable Government which has always shown its high appreciation of German enterprise, and for a long time supplied free passages to German immigrants. Wellington, 15th July, 1885. Eobert Stout.

Nos. 78 and 80,

No. 46,

APPENDICES.

APPENDIX I. Petition to Her Majesty the Queen. Mulinuu, Samoa, sth November, 1884. To Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. Your Majesty,— We, the King and Chiefs of Samoa, now write to your Majesty that you will grant this our humble request. Our King wrote nearly a year ago, begging your Majesty to take possession of Samoa, and we have waited anxiously for a reply, but have received none. Your Majesty, great is our respect for your Government, and we know that you will protect our people, and that they will be contented under your rule; and we therefore earnestly pray your Majesty to relieve us from our great anxiety and trouble by quickly extending your government over Samoa, and either making it a British colony, or allowing us to be governed by New Zealand. Your Majesty, our minds are full of trouble, and we are much afraid that other nations desire to take our country, against the wish of our people; and we therefore implore your Majesty to save us by granting our petition. We wish to make this clear to your Majesty, that we, the King and Chiefs, will give over our country to the Government of Great Britain; and we rely upon your Majesty to protect our people. We pray to God that He will bless your Majesty and Government. (1.5.) Malietoa, King of Samoa. Tupua, Vice-King. [Here follow the signatures of 48 Chiefs and members of the Government.]