A.—2.

observation of this department seeming to call for definite instructions to its officers, and the whole matter having subsequently been laid before Congress by the President, it would be preferable that this department should not anticipate conditions beyond its authority or control." The Navy Department, as this letter indicates, is curbed by the President and the State Department, and is failing to make a definite policy. Various letters from naval commanders on the Pacific to the department are made public, indicating that the German power in Samoa has enabled Tamasese to oppose Malietoa, whose supporters outnumber the former's. Commander Leary writes: "Except for the continuous assistance given by the Germans, Tamasese's forces would be whipped —routed in forty-eight hours. But the constant supply of arms, ammunition, and provisions by Germans alone makes it possible for the war to continue." Commander Mullan writes : " It is apparent to a thoughtful and unprejudiced mind that the aspirations of the Samoan people for a liberal and progressive Government are incompatible with German ideas of government in Samoa. After their numerous internal wars and revolutions, the party of liberal opinions would be triumphant were they not interfered with by outside influences, and the German men-of-war abreast of their fortifications are a menace and a warning, especially so on the eve of battle. The German man-of-war ' Eber,' now stationed in the harbour of Saluafata, nine miles away, is a menace and a threat to one of the belligerents, the Malietoa party, not to fight on or to occupy the property of German subjects in Samoa, thereby restricting the sovereignty of Samoa. The exclusion of the forces of one of the belligerents from fighting on the property of German subjects while those of the other are admitted is not deemed compatible with strict neutrality. Malietoa's party outnumbers by far that of Tamasese, and were not the former interfered with and hampered by the German element there is not a shadow of doubt that at an early day the former party would be successful, and set up its own government at Apia. But as long as the present state of affairs is allowed, it is my deliberate opinion that this internal war will last for some time to come, and may eventually end in placing Tamasese on the throne, not as the choice of the Samoan people, but placed there by German assistance. There is no use in disguising this fact." The Secretary of the Navy on the sth January wrote to the Secretary of State transmitting these reports, and. saying: " It appears clear that the conquest of these islands is intended by the German Government in the interests of a commercial company, and is being consummated by overt acts multiplying day by day." He adds : " The harbour at Samoa will become of national consequence to us in f ature as a naval Power ; but if the islands are to go under German dominion it will cease to be of use." He asks to be advised whether it is the purpose of the Government to announce any policy regarding the Samoan group of which its officers should be advised. No direct response was made by the Secretary of State, but the President referred the whole matter to Congress, where it rests, all correspondence being prepared for transmission to Congress, which will soon act. The exiled Samoan King Malietoa is at Jaliut-on-Bonkam, an island of the Marshall group. He was taken there on the 25th November on the German war-ship " Olga." He is guarded by German soldiers to prevent intercourse with the whites. The American Consul has vainly endeavoured to converse with him. Berlin, 26th January. The semi-official North German Gazette to-day publishes advices from San Francisco stating that the Chamber of Commerce there constituted the most active element of opposition to Germany's policy in Samoa, and that the anti-German feeling was heightened by Mr. Sewell, the United States Consul-General in Samoa. There was no question of a conflict between Germany and the United States, but only with Mr. Sewell and the American officials in Samoa, who were anxious to bring about complications..

[Extract from the Times, Tuesday, 29th January, 1889.] The Samoan Question. Philadelphia, 28th January. The Senators who have been visiting General Harrison, while not disclosing his views on the Samoan question, intimate that there will be no yielding by his Administration, but that, though the matter looks serious now, he will make a settlement satisfactory to the country. They call attention to the efforts put forth to build the new American navy. Twenty-two vessels are being constructed, and five double-turret monitors are being rebuilt. In all, nearly forty millions will be spent in improving the navy. American public opinion is now crystallized against what is regarded as the German project to steal Samoa.

[Extract from the Times, Wednesday, 30th January, 1889.] The Samoan Question. Philadelphia, 29th January. The][ Senate has approved all the items in the Diplomatic Bill proposed in connection with Samoan affairs. Mr. James G. Blame, who expects to be General Harrison's Secretary of State, is in Washington. It is reported that he outlines in conversation with the Senators a decidedly vigorous policy on the Samoan difficulty for the new Administration. Mr. Secretary Bayard, in the course of a recent interview, said : " The question for Americans to consider is whether we shall continue to maintain neutrality as between Mataafa and the Germans, or assume the role of a belligerent towards Germany on behalf of one of the two claimants for the throne. Thus far Germany hass given us absolutely no cause for war. The American flag burnt in Samoa had not been hoisted in assertion of American rights." Washington, 29th January. In the House of Eepresentatives to-day Mr. Morrow introduced a joint resolution requesting

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