The Manawatu Standard. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 1885. GERMAN ANNEXATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 28, 3 January 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard. (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. SATURDAY, JANUARY 3, 1885. GERMAN ANNEXATION.

♦ Tt would seem, according to latest cable news, that Germany is intent upon extending the area of her newly annexed territory m New Guinea. There can be r.o doubt that England's procrastination m thismalter has beeu Germany's opportunity, and the indiarnation expressed by the Colonies at fche unexpected and very objeotionable turn of affairs have taken is not surprising. Then, again, there is a difference of opinion between the colonies as to the form of protest that should be adopted. We cannot see that piotests will now be of much avail. The German flag has been hoisted and is not likely to be removed because of any protest, however earnest and emphatic. The Germans will naturally conceive they have a perfect right to establish a colony under their own flag m New Guinea, and had England taken the initiative as vnofct undoubtedly she should have done when so strongly mged by the Colonies, the position would have been very different today, both for Great Britain and Australasia. It has been no secret that the North German press has been pretty outspoken m its advocacy of the step that has now been taken. It will be remembered that the German war ship Elizabeth left Sydney m a somewhat mysterious manner, just prior to the departure of Commodore Erskine, and the Auckland IJerald said at the time that it would not be surprised if, on his arrival at Now

Guinea to t-sUblish a British protectorate, tho C'oinin idoro wore to fin 1 that t\\<*. Germnn Hag had already been hoisted somewhere on its shores. The result has shown that our North em contemporary's surmise was not far om, and the stealthy process of annexing as many available portions of die globe as possible, winch Bismarck has for some time been pursuing, is still being adhered to. It turns out, however, that the purpose of the Elizabeth's movements was, though somewhat altered, yet quite as extensive as at first conjectured. Her destination would seem to have been New Guinea after all. avoiding that portion of the island which Britain with much parade, and after much procrastination, had proclaimed her intention of placing under her flag thu coramandea of the Elizabeth quietly proceeded to hoist the German flag over the northern portion of it, and to take the wind out of the British sails, by seizing the islands lying to the north east of New Guinea besides. As to the political effect of these annexations by Germany, that furnishes abundant scope for speculation. Our Aucklaud contemporary points out that m the first place her seizure of the islands New Britain, New Ireland, &c, is sure to caune a feeling of irrilancy, on the part of at least some of the colonies, against the Imperial Government m failing to include them m the New Guinea protectorate. It is now nearly a year and a half since the Victorian Government strongly urged this course, and a similar representation, though including a wider range, was made by the Sydney Convention. But thai hesitation which has clung to to tho Gladstone Ministry like a chronic disease, prevented action from being taken at the proper time, and the opportunity is now lost. In one sense the possession of these islands by Germany is not to be regretted, as there is thus furnished a guarantee lor their orderly government, and the influence of Germany iv the Pacific will perhaps furnish the most effective check io the aggressiveness and convictsettlement designs of France. Still it is somewhat galling to those colonists who regarded the possession of these islands as necessary to the future development aud protection of the Aus tralasian colonies to find their anticipations thwarted by Imperial inaction. Viewed m a strategical light, the posseasion of these islands by a hostile Power will be a source of danger not only to the south-east portion of New Guinea, over which we have established a piotectorate, but to the whole eastern coast of Australia. The neglect to include them m the protectorate was therefore a great naval blunder. The extension of the High Commissioner's jurisdiction to the D'Entrecasteaux fslands, situate to the south-east of New Guinea, would seem to indicate that the Imperial authorities had become aware of the action of Germany, and resolved on this step as a partial remedy of their mistake. But though this may reduce the danger with which, m the time of war, the Australasian and South New Guinea coasts may be threatened from Now Britain and New Ireland, it will certainly not remove it ; while the defence of these coasts will, m the future, be rendered much more expensive. The Imperial Government have by this action of Germany been again reminded of the often unheeded lesson that, m annexation as m war, time is everything. Bismarck has once more taught them that when his plans are formed, he does not sleep over them or do things by halves as is the fashion with them.