A.—2.

But the fact that treaty obligations of the kind alluded to do not exist will not, of course, prevent Germany from respecting the rights acquired by other States through treaties with Samoa." Berlin, 24th January. It is stated in well-informed quarters that the German Government has repeatedly declared, both in London and Washington, that Germany has no intention of annexing Samoa, or of interfering^ with the rights of the other treaty Powers. The North German Gazette observes that since the Sackville incident the relations of Great Britain and America seem to be little compatible with the idea of diplomatic intimacy. Cologne, 24th January. The Cologne Gazette, in an article to-day on the Samoan question, declares that there is no occasion to fear that the excellent relations between Germany and the United States are in danger of undergoing any radical change. The journal continues: " Comparatively little importance is to be attached to the last acts of the American Government about to quit office. Under the Presidency of General Harrison a complete clearance of President Cleveland's official staff becomes unavoidable. President Cleveland's most recent steps have consequently lost their importance, and his actions are in no way binding upon General Harrison. From intelligence to hand it is evident that the present American Government treats the Samoan question in a spirit hostile to Germany and on the basis of incorrect suppositions. It is incorrect to speak of the violation by Germany of actual agreements between the treaty Powers, as no treaty was ever concluded between Germany, Great Britain, and the United States with regard to Samoa, while, on the other hand, such a treaty does exist between Germany and England. The excitement in America is therefore incomprehensible. Mr. Bayard declared that he did not know that Mr. Klein was an American subject; but the American Secretary of State is nevertheless in a measure responsible for his misdeeds."

[Extraofc from the Times, Friday, 25th January, 1889.] The Tubuai Islands. Paris, 24th January. Lobd Lyttox, the British Ambassador here, says the Temps, yesterday informed M. Goblet, Minister for Foreign Affairs, that Great Britain had taken no steps, up to the present, towards the annexation of the Tubuai Islands. New York, 24th January. By the latest advices from Honolulu, the British men-of-war " Hyacinth," " Cormorant," and " Conquest " were at that place on the 15th instant. The Hawaiian Gazette, which has arrived by mail, states that after the " Hyacinth " left the Cook or Hervey Islands the King of Ravutu and the Queen of Rimatara, two of the Tubuai Islands, arrived at Rarotonga, the principal of the Cook group, for the purpose of inducing Captain Bourke, of the " Hyacinth," to establish a British protectorate over their islands. Being disappointed in their wish, the two potentates drew up a petition to Queen Victoria for the protection of the British flag. The petition has been forwarded through the consular officials.

[Extract from the Times, Saturday, 26th January, 1880.] The Samoan Question. Philadelphia, '25th January. The Foreign Affairs Committee of the House has appointed a sub-committee on the Samoan question, which both Houses are now investigating. Increased interest is shown in the subject throughout the country, and the belief is spreading that Germany is overriding American rights. The newspapers all over the country write strongly about the matter, and the German Legation at Washington has been sending copious telegrams to Berlin, quoting the newspaper articles and opinions of prominent men. Washington, 25th January. Mr. Bayard, Secretary of State, is reported to have declared, in reference to the recent article upon Samoan affairs published by the North German Gazette, that he did not know the writer, and therefore could not assume that his statements were official. It might prove to be newspaper gossip, although the declaration concerning the boundaries of the German and British dominions in the Western Pacific, signed in Berlin in 1886, would preclude German acquisitions in Samoa. Senator Edmunds is also stated to have spoken upon the subject as follows : " I suppose that if Prince Bismarck wants to express his opinion on any subject he will feel at perfect liberty to do so. I also suppose that the expression of such opinion will not deter America from carrying out any policy desirable or necessary. The Samoan Islands are on the highway of commerce across the Pacific, and are very important in relation to the development of trade via the projected canals across the Isthmus of Panama and Nicaragua. For the Powers whose ships go long cruises to establish coaling-stations is a necessity, and the location of one on the central islands of the Samoan group, as provided for in the Bill now before the Foreign Relations Committee, is regarded as being important to the United States." Senator Frye, speaking on the same subject, is represented to have declared that American treaty rights did not permit of the independence of Samoa being violated. At the same time he regarded the idea of war as absurd. Berlin, 25th January. Referring to the action of the Senatorial Committee on Foreign Relations in Washington in the Samoa affair, the National Zeitung this evening remarks that measures for the protection of the autonomy of the islands are superfluous, as that is not threatend by any one. " The. sole interest of the United States in the matter," it continues, " appears to us to consist in this: not to allow a century's good relations with Germany to be jeopardized by a few intriguing adventurers." Taking exception to the argument of the semi-official article in the Cologne Gazette of yester-

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