9

A.—B

can Consul was opposed to his resigning, but, sooner than cause any disturbance or ill-feeling, Mr. Mabin afterwards agreed to resign. 4. In Apia the British residents have been looking to the American Consul as the only one who could aid them as against German domination, and it is, I think, to be regretted that such should have to be the case. It can be readily understood how German trade has developed when German Consuls and men-of-war practically rule the islands, and it seems from what has taken place recently at Samoa as if the British Government did not object to the continued dominance of Germany in the Navigator Group. It is well known that it is not the policy of the United States to extend their territory beyond America,. All they look for is trade, and unless Samoan affairs are to be put on some stable footing, and the British Consul not placed so much under German influence, British subjects will leave and British interests cease in a great part of the Pacific. It has also been reported to me that Mr. Powell, the British Consul, has been recalled to England, and Mr. Greenebaum, the Consular Officer of the United States, has also, it has been stated, superseded. 5. The result of the action regarding Mr. Mabin and the recall of these Consuls will of course conclusively prove to the Samoans that the Germans are all-powerful, and that the other nations are not to be compared with Germany in influence. Eumours have been circulated in Samoa that the reason of Mr. Powell's leaving is that he opposed Dr. Stuebel, the German Consul. On the native mind this can have only one effect. 6. If the Navigator Group had been a German colony or a place that could be colonized by German people, it might fairly have been urged that that great Empire should not be denied such a colonial outlet for its surplus population. The fact is, however, that the whole German interests in Samoa are practically in the hands of one German company and one German firm, and the labour that has to be employed by the company is almost wholly Polynesian. To leave the rule of the island in German hands is not therefore to promote the settlement of German people, but to foster the interests of two trading concerns, and to aid them at the expense of all the other traders located in the island. 7. In view of the proposed conference in Washington on Samoan affairs, it may be well to represent to the Imperial Government the need for some international arrangement that will leave trade open to all, and that will not place the Samoan kingdom under the dominion of any one nationality. 8. If it is found impossible to continue the arrangement of the three foreign Consuls advising the native King, with, practically, a foreign municipality not under the King at Apia, the question will be raised what Power is to rule. Annexation by Britain is, I suppose, out of the question, though the native people all desire it, and though guarantees might be given to Germany to protect the interests of her traders. What will then be proposed ? I am afraid that Germany may urge that, as her trade is the largest, she should have the rule. As I have said, this would simply mean annexation by Germany. I feel sure that sooner than see this brought about we should much prefer to have the islands placed under the United States. Could this be arranged? Sir F. Dillon Bell, K.C.M.G., C.8., the Agent-General I have, &c, of New Zealand, London. Bobeiit Stout.

Enclosure. Sir, — H.B.M.'s Consulate, Samoa, 27th September, 1886. I have the honour to inform you that I have received a despatch from Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in which I am instructed to request you to retire from the office of Municipal Magistrate at the expiration of six months from the 3rd of April last. At the same time I would venture to convey to you my expressions of regret on losing the services as Police Magistrate of so able and efficient an officer as you have proved yourself to be. I have, &c, Wili-'eed Powell, Thomas Mabin, Esq., Municipal Magistrate. H.B.M.'s Consul.

Sic, — Apia, 30th September, 1886. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th instant, in which you state that you have received instructions from the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to request me to retire from the position of Municipal Magistrate of Apia, at the same time expressing your regret at losing the services as Police Magistrate of so able and efficient an officer as I have proved myself to be. In reply to your letter I beg to say that, as you have given no reasons whatever as to why this remarkable request is .made, I feel compelled to assert my rights as a free man, and to tell you that I do not consider myself a servant of the British Foreign Office, but of the Municipal Board, and that when a majority of that body requests me to resign I shall do so, but not till then. Had I been guilty of any dereliction of duty in my capacity of Magistrate I could have understood being asked to resign by you, but after reading the concluding paragraph of your letter I certainly feel that I would be acting an undignified part were I to quietly submit to the demands of an authority that in this case I do not recognize. In most civilized countries were men. are employed in an official capacity with no definite- term fixed for their retiring, they (if they have performed the duties of their office faithfully) generally get timely notice that their services will be dispensed with, or a money equivalent for the same, but in»this case you, or rather, as you state, the British Foreign Office, requests mo to voluntarily retire from a purely local and hitherto non-political position, when the doing so would cancel any just claim I could have for compensation on account of 2—A. 3.