A HOME PAPER OX SAMOA

Samoa Weekly Herald, Volume 1, Issue 2, 3 December 1892, Page 3

A HOME PAPER OX SAMOA

(HAMBURGER NACHKICHTES, SEPT. 2S, 1802. The Manchester Guardian lately informed the public that matters in Samoa arc gradually assuming an alarming aspect, that the Fiual Act of the Berlin Conference has turned out to l»c utterly unworkable, and that one and all insist on reform. " Generally speaking," says the Voss. Ztg., "this report is in every way founded on facts. In Borlin official circles also it is made no secret that the Samoan act is the most uuliappy imaginable document that German diplomacy has to place on record. The settlement of the administration by tho Three Treaty Powers has by appointment of a Chief Justice and Municipal President also created a number of officials, whose salaries have become a heavy burden to tho Samoan Government. The only reasonable suggestion made at the Berlin Conference—to lay a cable to Samoa at the expense of the three Powers concerned—was rejected, and thereby the difficulty added, that the Consular reports take several months to reach their destination. The Bame time is required before the instructions of the Governments can be sent tx> their representatives. In this interval tho political aspect, has. naturally changed considerably, so that as a matter of fact neither of the Governments know tho atato of affairs in Samoa at a certain timo, nor are the Consuls in speedy possession of instructions regarding special cases. Another grovo error committed by the Conference is that when Malictoa was made King Mataafa was not finally disposed of. Tho latter now maintains, with his strong following, a continued opposition against Malietoa, and thereby makes a prosperous development of tho newly-founded administration impossible, lleforc a change for the lnjUer can take place in Samoa tho above-mentioned evils must bo rectified. To restore law and order tho best step would be to disarm all natives if such can 1» effected. As matters arc at present they cannot possibly continuo for long. That an alteration of tho Samoan act is imperative is an assured fact to tho throe rowers concerned, but how such can bo effected is not clear to either. Neither cares to tako the initiative, and bo shoulder tho responsibility for the future.