RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY BETWEEN ENGLAND AND SAMOA.

Samoa Times and South Sea Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 162, 4 September 1880, Page 2

RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY BETWEEN ENGLAND AND SAMOA.

Through tho courtesy of Capt. Kunllys, Aide-de-camp to His Excellency Sir A. Gordon, wo are now able to place before our readers the remarks marie by His Excellency on the occasion of his visit to Mulinuu on Friday the 27th ultimo, to exchange the ratifications of the Treaty and Convention concluded between His Excelleucy, on behalf of Her Majesty • Queen, Victoria, and King Maliutoo, in ' August and September of last year. — , Tho ratifications of the Treaty and Convention of the 28th August and 2nd , September respectively of last year, having been interchanged between H.B.M. High ' Commissioner for the Western Pacific and the King of Samoa. His Excellency ad--1 dressed the King to the following effect.— His Excellency congratulated the King on having completed the final formalities attending bis recognition, by exchanging, , against that of Her Majesty, his own ratification of tho Treaty between the Queen and himself. Ho would, no doubt, re- ; member that when His Excellency came ■ here a year ago, he had addressed a few > words to those assembled in that room, ' and had, among other things, advised him ■ strongly not ioseektoean upon ono nation to ' tho prejudice of another, or to consult one 1 consul to the exclusion of thoothcrs, but invariably to regard them as a whole, and [ to be guided by their joint advice. This, ,- His Excellency believed His Majesty had t done, and he rejoiced to see on the ono hand how uninterrupted tho cordial unity • of action among the foreign representatives - had been, and on the other how completely 1 His Majesty had apparently abstained from trying to play off tho supposed interests of individual nationalities, or to rouse petty jealousies between them. This was satisfactory. It was otherwise whon His . Excellency remembered how strongly he ; had urged on His Majesty peace and unity. His expectations in that respect i had been disappointed by this unfortunate renewal of hostilities after only a short interval of peace. Through the whole of tho past year there had either been actual civil war or imminent danger of it, and now, after all differences had , appeared healed, discord was again in [ the ascendant. The ratification by His Majesty of the . Treaty with Groat Britain was now complete, but His Excellency hail been pained to learn that he had neglected to receive that of Her Majesty's ally, the Emperor of Germany, to the Treaty made with him, although he had been at least three times invited to do so, and it was now wailing his acceptance. This was, in His Excellency's opinion, a great inis- . take. Even if the Treaty contained pro- • visions of which His Majesty did notj npprovo, be was bound by honour as a King and ns a gentleman to fulfil the! promise he. hail given, but His i3xculleney ; i believed that he was equally miitaksii in l i supposing that the provisions of the Treaty were open to objection, His Excellency understood that the; . King was under the apprehension that if he ratified the Treaty, he would be hound I to pay all the claims against tho former j Government. The Treaty contained no snelv provision, and ho was authorized by tho German Consul-General to declare that His Majesty was wholly mistaken in tho supposition that it involved any Such objection. Any claims of such a nature rested on quite a different foundation. His Excellency also understood that His Majesty feared tho effect of the aitiele as to tho salo of lands. That article was the same in substance as the ono the King had just ratified in the Treaty with England, ami here too he i was authorised by the German ConsulGeneral to say that it was by uo moans intended to validate any disputed sale without previous strict inquiry. His Excellency fully trusted—and fell suro that His Majesty might equally trust—tho sincerity and honour of these declarations, and in that, belief lie, the repiv•entative of Great Britain, was prepared to give his guanuitjo to the King as to tin' interpretation of the articles in question. He earnestly advised the King, , from a regard both for his personal honour and bis politioal interests, to lose not a moment in accepting the Emperor's ratification, and in.uxmesaing bis regret that he should no long havo delayed doing so. , In roverling once more to the stnto of | the country, His Kxcolleucy was anxious ' that the liotitiotl of the foreign powers in

1 relation thereto should not be misunder- • Btood by the King. It was not from any » preference for any particular party in i Samoa that the King had received the , support he had done from the three ; powers, but because it appeared essential 1 to the maintenance of peace and the pos- • sibility of prosperity, and to th« safe nud > prolitable residence of foreigners in Samoa ' that the power actually in authority should lie rendered sttongenough to preserve order nnd good government. Against, external or unprovoked attack the King had accordingly been promised assistance, but he must not expect the same support in • carrying out his own measures against those of bis subjects from whom he i might approhend future danger. Against unprovoked assault the King would be protected, but the Great Powers represented here would not allow themselves to be dragged, at His Majesty's pleasure, as unwilling auxiliaries, iuto a contest undertaken to punish those whom be might regard as disobedient- to his authority, or whom lie might desire to crush. Hw Excellency did not for a moment dispute 3lis Majesty's right as nn independent Sovereign to take such measures as he thought it and suw need for, but it i was right to give him the most, distinct, warning that in such contests ho could not expect armed support. Nothing would he done against him, but nothing would be done to aid him. On this point His Excellency was especially desirous that there should be no mistake or misapprehension. There were some matters of minor importance whivk might, with advantage he discussed in private at a later time, and liis Excellency would now only repeat his- oimioM. hopes for the welfare ami prosperity of Samoa. Hi.-, Majesty would not foiget that be told iiini last year that the first duty of a King in Samoa was not towards foreign powers or foreign consuls, but towards the Samoans themselves. It was their interests, their welfare, their peace and . prospeiity that the King was bound l "to promote. Whether the King himself was sincerely working for peace, God and his own conscience knew. His Excellency did not pretend to judge him, although . no doubt appearances on the surface would , seem to indicate that the late outbreak of hostilities was in some decree due to acts ' sanctioned if not directed by His .Majesty. His Excellency bogged to express his thanks to the King for the patience with . which His Majesty had heard him to-day. The King then proposed to come and discuss other matters privately with the , High Commissioner, and asked whether , he should bo accompanied by Mr. Hunt, to which His Excellency returned a decided negative, alleging that it was impossible for him to recognise that gentleman's official character.