THE DECLARATION OF WAR. RIVAL PROCLAMATIONS. (From a German Source. ) Apia, January 22.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 341, 9 February 1889, Page 6

THE DECLARATION OF WAR. RIVAL PROCLAMATIONS. (From a German Source. ) Apia, January 22.

Since Mataafa bad been driven out of his position ab Luulii on the 18ih of December, 1888, and Matatagatele had been shelled, ib seemed as if the war movements had come to a standstill. Seveial times it appeared as if the robols were inclined to submit and enter into negotiations with the German Consul, but rumours weie spread which made it iinposssible to come to any understanding. It was stated that Tamasese was about to attack Mataafa under the assistance of the German guns. The German men of war would shell the villages of Manono. Apia, it was also said, would be bombarded and utterly destroyed. These rumours evidently were invented at the bar of some public house by professional agitatois, and soon found their way to the lebels. In consequence of the unlimited ciedulity of the Samoans, the aims of these men were perfectly and easily reached. When such individuals as the American who n'red the first shot on the German marines on the 18th of December were allowed to go daily from Apia to the lebels' camp, it can be imagined the ideas Mataafa and his chiefs held with regard to the plans of the Germans. The fact is that Mataafa, having agreed to an intcniew with the German Consul, finally withdrew, making ib a condition thab the .Engli&h and American Consuls should be present and that the German Consul, being a proficient in the Samoan language, as only few foreigners are, should in order to bo better controlled by those witnesses, not be permitted to use the Samoan language, but negotiace through an interpreter in tho English language. In short, the intrigues of foreigners made a coming to terras impossible. The s.s. Richmond, making her appearance here on the 18bh inst, seems to have effected a remaikable change in the state of ailairs bringing important instructions from tlio German Foreign Office. "What the nature of these instructions were, can be gathered from tho following proclamation, i&sued by the German Consul on the morning of tho 19th inst. : —

PROCLAMATION. By order of the Imperial Gorman Government I hereby proclaim the stole of war for the Samoan Islands. Any assistance to the rebels will be punished by Martial Law. irrespective of any nationality. The introduction of contraband o£ war is prohibited. All vessels and boats are liable to be searched by German nuthorines. The Police of Apia henceforth will act under instructions fiom the Imperial German Government. The residents o£ Apia arc requested to assist in keeping law and older. Apia, Januaiy 19, 1889. Dr. Knavvf, Imperial German Consul, Everybody can see that in the first instanco these measuies are destined to remove the difficulties caused by the foreigners alluded to above. The only way to do this is that Germany, being attacked and forced by the rebels, proclaims martial law over the Samoan Inlands and over all those who reside in the territory whore the war is reigning, concentrating at the same time the whole power in the hands of the naval commander. There should be no doubt that under the existing circumstances the German Government aie quite light in doing so, even without having declared war. Virtually the war has been existing since the 18th of December, a. p., and a declaration of war coming forth now, would be one month too late. However, an official statement of the facb of there being war, is necessary according to international law in order to induce all those measures which are comprised under the name of martial la v. | This is what International Jurisprudence calls : " Proclamation of the state of war " {Erklaeruny dcs Knegziistandes) Declaration da Velat de guerre. Martial law, it is establiphed, "consists in tho suspension, by the- occupying military authority, of the criminal and civil law, and of the domestic administration and government in the occupied place or territory, and in the substitution of military rule and force for the same, as well as in tho dictation of geneial laws, as far as military necessity requires this suspension, substitution, or dictation. There is no doubt that martial law does not only extend to the subjects of the enemy but to all inhabitants of the country to whatcser nationality they belong. Even the Consuls of the foreign powers are nob exempted from this rulo. In the instructions for tho United States in ttie 'field, issued in

1863, it is formally stated' thab :—" Any delinquency' committed by the consuls against the established military rule may be punished as in the ca&e of any other inhabitant, and such punishment furnishes no reasonable ground for international complaint. 1 ' i There may arise serious consequences if, as has happened with the English Consul, such official does not respect these rules of the International Law. 1 80, Consul H. de Goetlogron, issued the following proclamation, in reply to the' proclamation of the German Consul :•—

NOTICE TO BRITISH SUBJECTS IN SAMOA, All British subjects in Samoa are hereby commanded to talce notice that, notwithstanding the proclamation ot the Imperial Gci'man Consul in Samoa, dated tho 19th instant, proclaiming martial law. irrespective of nationality, they are subject solely and entirely to the jurisdiction of Her Majesty the Queen, and to my authority as Her Majc3ty's Consul and Deputy Commissioner, and to that of His Excellency tlio High Commibsioner for the Western Pacific and other appointed servants of Her Majesty, and to Her Maiesty's Order-in-Covm-cil. I enjoin all JJntish subjects to observe strict neutrality, and by their conduct and action to maintain tho dignity and honour of Great Brit a n. Dated at Apia this 20th day of January, 1889, H. DE COE I LOGON, H.M. Consul and Deputy Commissioner for Samoa. Supposing the German commander took steps against a British subject, by oldering for instance, that a ship flying the English flag should be searched for war contraband, what could be the consequence? The English Consul having assured the master of the vessel that he waR solely and entirely under his power ' and jurisdiction, it could not' be wondetcd ot if the captain resisted the German \ authorities, and should the Germans be obliged to proceed by force of arms the English Consul would be responsible. In order to avoid such occurrences, Captain Fiitze, commander of the German forces, decided to is&ue the following notice: A proclamation has been issued by II cc Coetlogon, 11. B. Majesty's Consul for Samoa, stating that Br.tish subjects are solely and entirely under the jurisdiction of Her Majesty the Queen and under authority of Her Majesty's i onsul and Deputy Commissioner, notwithstanding the declaration of martial law in the Samoan Islands by the Imperial German Government. I herewith declare that all British subjects in Samoa are under martial law, and that they will bo tried by martial law it they should interfere with the German authorities. Apia, January 20th, 1889. (Signed) Fritze Corveitex. Captain and Commandcnt S.M.Ker Adler. The English Consul replied to this proclamation by another, which was to create fresh doubts of the state of affairs, and which was as follows :—: — Having been officially informed by tho Imperial German Consul that war has been dcc'ared by the Imperial German Government against the Samoan Islands, I strictly enjoin all masters and othcrsin charge of British vessels in Samoan waters to submit themselves peacefully to all reasonable search for contraband of war. H. dk Coetj-ogon, H.M. Consul and Deputy Coininissionei" of Samoa. Dated, Apia, this 21st day of January, 1889. It is to be hoped that the English residents of Apia will, in their own interest, be leasonable enough not to interfere with measures of the German authorities. The American Vice-Consul also was in the field with a notice for the Ameiican citizens. He seems to have a better understanding of the seriousness ot the situation than his English colleague. His proclamation reads as follows :—: —

TO ALL CITIZENS OP TEE UNITED STATES, Having been informed by the Imperial German Consul that Germany is at war with Mataafa and his followers, I hereby notify you that you are foi bidden to take any part in the hostile operations on either side. So long as you remain non-combatants, you are entitled to personal immunity and protection. Any offence committed against you or your property is an offence against the Jaws of war, and should be i rjmptly reported to mo, so that the oliendcr 01 offenders may be brought to justice. W. Blackiock, United States Vice Consul. Apia, Samoa, 22nd January, 1889.