TONGAN AFFAIRS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1441, 29 April 1905, Page 2

TONGAN AFFAIRS.

ADVICE TO SEEK INDEPENDENCE

(Pec Press Association.) s Auckland, last night. Two Tongan nobles, who were obtaining signatures on behalf of the King’s party from nobles and representatives to a document protesting against tho changes made by the High Commissioner, involving violation of the Tonga constitution and treaty, were compelled to desist, and were charged with circulating a paper designed to disturb the peace. The case was adjourned. The vessel in which they were visiting the islands of the group for the purposo of obtaining signatures was seized on the allegation that it was irregularly introduced to Tonga a year ago by tho deported exPremier Sateki.'

i Thirty-one nobles and 31 representatives e of the people constitute the legislative o Assembly of Tonga. The document which y the accused chiefs were getting signed a stated that the nobles and representatives, 3 having considered" the High Comrnisi sioner’s address, are not willing that any t officers or representatives of the British 7 Government ehall interfere with the intert nal administration of the kingdom, where 1 the interests of British subjects or foreign- - era are not concerned. “We are not will- , ing to place ourselves in subjection with . any British officer or agent, as sot fo-th in i the address referred to. We are not willj ing that our constitution shall be violated , and the treaty broken as implied by the i ohanges insisted upon by the High Commissioner, We feel deeply hurt by the i threat that if the King did not agree he would be taken to Fiji.” Wellington, last night. The Times publishes correspondence which has passed between W. J. Hunt (who styles himself the adopted son of King Mahatoa of Samoa) and King George of Tonga, relative to the action of the High Commissioner in deporting the Premier of Tonga and his son to Fiji. Mr Hunt urges King George to endeavour to oonolude treaties with France, Russia, Japan and other countries in order "to strengthen the position of Tonga as an independent State, and advises the King to make a firm stand against what he terms the aggression of the High Commissioner. If the King demanded tnat the matters in dispute be re ferred to the Hague 'Convention he feel" confident the British Government would instruct the High Commissioner not to’interfere with the affairs of Tonga. Mr Hunt ! condemns as an illegal outrage the depor- 1 tation of tho Premier of Tonga. J Auckland, last night. , Interviewed regarding the reports of i trouble at Tonga, King George stated that ( his information was unofficial,having come i in friendly letters from the islands. Not c knowing the facts fully he was disinclined £ to comment. Regarding Mr Hunt’s pro- c posal that he should favor treaties with ( other powers to assert Tongan independ- J ence, King George characterised thß suggestion as nonsensical and impossible. Mr Hunt,in puting it forward,had no encouragement from the King, whom he interviewed at Wellington.