THE GERMANS IN SAMOA.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1369, 13 October 1886, Page 3

THE GERMANS IN SAMOA.

It has transpired from German official sources (writes the London correspondentof the Argus) that the three treaty Powers interested in Samoa have sent special Commissioners there to pave the way for a definite settlement of disputes. It is significantly staled that these Commissioners “ have had no share in past disagreements,” still (heir personal qualifications are a pledge that they will report impartially. The consular frictions at Apia appear to be sufficiently seriots to considerably ruffle the Foreign Office at Berlin. An official m t fication in the German Gazelle remarks : “ The English 00-sul is Influenced by the endeavor to annex Samoa to the Colony of Now Zetland, while the man hi herto acting as his American colleague follows the renegade like habit of many of Ivs emigrated countrymen, and takes part against his former fatherland. The three Powers interested in Samoa agree not to alter the status quo without mutual assent, and therefore there can be no question of declaring a German Protectorate over the Islands without (be sane ion of England and America.” This won't! seem to imply that in spi eof many denials the Germans do ready covd ;ha Samoan group, a feeling which msy help to explain the nature th >' sinpuar protocol concluded with the French last December, and which is held by thern to justify their claims upon t'e New Hebrides. Speculation has been frequen ly indulged in as to what quid pro quo Prince Biemark really received for hts apparently purposeless concessions to the French on that occasion.