A.—2.

rExtract from the Times, Friday, 18th January, 1889." Samoa. Sydney, 17th January. The " Liibeeif," which has arrived here from Samoa, reports that all was quiet in the islands when she left on the Bth instant. The foreign war-vessels then at Apia comprised Her Majesty's cruiser " Royalist,'.' the United States sloop " Nipsic," the German corvette "Olga," and the gunboats " Adler" and "Eber."

'Extract from the Times, Monday, 21st January, 1889.] The Samoan Question. Philadelphia, 20th January. Detailed accounts of reported recent conflicts in Samoa have been received via San Francisco, with descriptions of outrages said to have been committed by German sailors upon the American flag and on American citizens. The Secretary of State thinks the reports are exaggerated. He says that the Government is fully advised of the situation in Samoa, and anticipates no infringement of American rights. He states that the position of the United States is thoroughly understood by Germany, through her Minister at Washington. Washington, 20th January. Mr. Bayard, Secretary of State, has received advices from Apia stating that the American subjects who were seized by the Germans were immediately afterwards released. The latest reports received at the Foreign Affairs Department here state that all was quiet in Samoa. New York, 19th January. Despatches from Samoa, received via San. Francisco, and dated from Apia the sth instant, represent the situation as having become very serious since the conflict on the 18th December between the adherents of Mataafa and the sailors of the German warships " Adler," " Olga," and " Eber," when twenty-two of the latter were killed and thirty-two wounded. According to these despatches the German warships have burnt several American houses, and torn down and burnt American flags. Some United States subjects in neutral waters are also said to have been seized and taken prisoners on board a German war-ship. It is further stated that a boat's crew from a German war-vessel, commanded by an officer, shot at the captain and a lieutenant of the British war-vessel. Note.-^-In connection with the above statements it should be pointed out that a Reuters telegram from Sydney, dated the 17th instant, announced the arrival at that port from Apia of the " Liibeck," which reported that all was quiet in Samoa when she left the islands on the 18th instant —three days subsequently, that is to say, to the despatch of the San Francisco mails from Apia. Auckland, 20th January. The German gunboat "Eber" has arrived here from Samoa. She brings intelligence that there had been no further fighting up to the time of her departure. The German Consulate and two German stores adjoining had been destroyed by fire.

[Extract from the Times, Tuesday, 22nd January, 1889.; The Peench Pacific Islands. Paris, 21st January. Bishop Feeppel addressed a question to-day to the Minister of Marine as to the measures which the Government would take, or the negotiations it meant to open, in order to preserve in its integrity the colonial position of France in the Pacific Ocean, especially as regarded Easter Island, the Tubuai Islands, and the Cook Archipelago. Whatever, he said, might be the differences of opinion among members of the Chamber as to the direction that French colonial policy should take, there was one point on which they all agreed—namely, that their honour and the national interest enjoined them to preserve what they possessed in the way of colonies, and not to permit any foreign Power to intrude upon their lights. If his information was correct, and unfortunately he had reason to believe it was, it did not seem to him that, in face of unjustifiable enterprises, the colonial administration had taken the attitude required for the defence of French interests. Easter Island, he said, situated midway between the American continent and French possessions in Tahiti, had very considerable commercial and maritime importance. It was, in fact, the only island which the Australian route passed through before Tahiti. Assuming that a ship could not continue its voyage for more than twenty days without fresh stores, Easter Island would be the necessary touchingpoint for all ships proceeding from Panama to Australia. The nation which possessed this exceptional position would command the route to Australia. That fact could not be disputed, and he hoped no attempt would be made to call it in question. France possessed indubitable rights to Easter Island. It was a Frenchman, M. Dutron Bornier, who, in 1868, had made it French soil. From 1868 to 1879 the French flag had been hoisted on it, and three times-—in 1872,1877, and 1881 —the natives had applied for the organization of a French protectorate. Whatever point of view they took, France possessed indisputable rights over the island. He wanted to know if the Government had abandoned to Chili that key of the Australian route. That was the first part of his question. The second related to the Tubuai Archipelago. In virtue of the treaty concluded on the 29th of June, 1880, with Pomare, Tahiti and the whole archipelago depending on it had been placed under the rule of France. Now, there could be no doubt that the Tubuai Islands formed a dependency of Tahiti. In 1846 the kings of Tubuai had written to Louis Philippe, asking for the protection of France, which was given ; and in°lß7l Queen Pomare had proceeded to these islands,"accompanied by a French Commissary, and had been welcomed as queen of the archipelago. The rights of France accordingly were not doubtful. Now, the English had just proclaimed the annexation of two of these islands, which were the nearest to Tahiti. It would be conceded that this proceeding

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