GERMANS IN THE PACIFIC.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1918, Page 6

GERMANS IN THE PACIFIC.

SIGNIFICANT INCIDENTS.

LETTER FROM THE ANGLICAN PRIMATE.

Writes the Anglican Primate to the i.Ellington Dominion: —As the question of Germany in the Pacific Islands is treated as one still open to discussion and Dr. Solf has recently done his best to play upon the well-known British tendency to compromise, I think it worth while to compare his recent utterances as to the "non-aggressive policy" pursued by the Germans in Samoa and "the merits they have shown in the protection of the colored people" with facts which fell under my own observation at a time when Dr Solf 'himself was the German Consul in Apia.

Dr. Solf, replying to a speech by Mr Balfour, declared that "colonisation means mission work. Those States which endeavored to act before the war on the principle of respecting humanity also in the colored Taees have ( won a moral right tft be colonial Powers. This right was won by ■ Germany before the war." I wish to apply this test to German actions in the Pacific which I had the opportunity of witness-

ing. My mission, encouraged by the late Primate (Dr Harper), was purely for purposes of religious inquiry. I was accompanied by the Rev. A. R. Kerkham, then of Roslyu, and our visit extended to certain islands of the Tougan Group and to Samoa, spending some days in each group. As to Tonga, 1 need say nothing, although leading natives were eager to communicate reports of largo gifts of money and other presents from Germany to very influential persons, but on arrival at Apia we found the condition of affairs touch more serious. There was a triumvirate of three Consuls—English,. American, and German—supposed to exercise joint authority with the nominal King Malietoa, but of these the only real power was exercised by the German Consul, acting chiefly through the politico-com-mercial firm of Godefroi and Co. The English Consul was a delicate man. The American was with me daily, and wa3 persuaded that war would break out very soon, the Germans having put up a creature of their own named Tamacese, who was to overthrow the followers of Malietoa and so leave the Germans in virtual possession. As to poor Malietoa 'himself? he was in fear of his life. The Germans had erected a gallows in front of his house, and declared that if he dared to come out he would immediately be hung.

Malietoa, having heard that I was a areat officer of Queen Victoria's religion, sent Salu, his chief minister, with an urgent request that I would meet him and his ODUJieil in his own 'priljate house. This, at t'lie appointed time, Mr Kerkham and I did, and saw the aforesaid gibbet' at the entrance to the King's grounds. The meeting was conducted with great formality, seats having been placed for us opposite to the King, whose council wvre ranged in rows'behind him, while Salu, as interpreter, stood at his side. The chief point of the conference was that Malietoa and his council urgently desired that I would represent to the Queen that he and his people anxiously desired that she would take possession of his islands. On my asking why they so much desired this, the answer came back at once. •'Because we know that if she would take care of us everyone would possess his own, but if not nobody will have anything to possess." I told them that I was not a person of importance, but I promised at their earnest solicitation to do anything in mv power, and before leaving Apia I wrote to Lord Salisbury, the then Prime Minister, a letter, for which he afterwards thanked me. I am anxious not to make this letter too long, but before closing I ought to just mention two other incidents w'bich afford their own comment upon Dr. SoU's declaration that in the Pacific "Wo pursue no aggressive policy. We strive for no supremacy.' Takina a walk along the hillside in the cool of an early morning I coidd overlook the yards at the back of the Godefroi premises. What was my surprise to see there a number of young Germans drawing small cannon about the vard, and placing them sometimes in one order and sometimes in another Later on, seeing the manager, I told him what I hail seen, and asked him what it meant. He said: "Oh, we find it necessary in this climate to give our clerks a good deal of exercise, it keeps them in good health!" "But how about the cannon?" said I. "Oh!" replied ho, "there was "a, vessel wrecked here some years ago, and these arc the guns she carried." Both 'lie and I smiled a little. . .

The other incident took place on my departure. In order to return to New Zealand it was necessary for me to take passage by a schooner to Tutuila, about seventy miles off, in- order to intercept the American mail. We had no sooner got round the point of Apia harbor than the skipper let down the sail and waited until about a dozen native? came out in outriggers, and jumping on board left their little craft empty. We reached the island in due course and spent a day and a night at Leone, at the extreme point of Tutuila, and early the fallowing morning a halfeast'e native chief came to consult me, as he felt 'himself in a difficult position. He told me that the men who came over with me from Apia had been arguing with him the whole night,. that they had been sent by the Germans an* that t'hey had told him that it would go hard with him if he and his people did not join Tamasese. I questioned him on the matter and he said, in effect, that Malietoa was the rightful king and that 'be had no quarrel with him, but that •he could not get rid of these men, and asked me what he should say, to them. I replied: "Be firm, tell them that you bclon" Malietoa, that you did not ask thenAo come, and that t'hey ce-ld go back" I then left Leone and was fortunate in intercepting the American All this affords a sufficient answer to Dr. Solf's assertion that "we strive for no supremacy," and as to his other affirmation that "colonisation means mission work," I could say much about the treatment of the native girls in_ flagrant immorality, but my letter is already too long, and I conclude by saying that I earnestly urge our political authorities to see that the magnificent harbors of Vavau and Tutuila shall never become naval bases of a Power so inimical to the well-being of Australia, and New Zealand.