THE SAMOAN QUESTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1321, 31 March 1885, Page 3

THE SAMOAN QUESTION.

The Premier has addressed a letter to the Agent-General on the question of annexing Samoa. It occupies three and a-half columns of the daily papers. He says that some New Zealanders have already acquired land in Samoa, and the trade will rapidly devolope. Our trade with Samoa is larger than New South Wales and all the other colonies put together. It amounted in 1884 to £lOO,lBl imports, and £90,070 exports. It was to develops this trade the mail service was established. He then explains the flinemoa mystery— Letters reached the Ministry informing them that a petition wasgaining signatures in Samoa which prayed for annexation with New Zealand, and they determined to send the Colonial Secretary to Samoa. His Excellency the Governor had also received a petition from Samoa and forwarded it to the Secretary of State. After describing the other steps taken, lie gives the following, received from Lord Derby “ With reference to your telegram of the 31st ult,, Her Majesty’s Government regret that they are unable r,o meet, the wishes of the New Zealand Govf rnraent. Within the last few days the German Government have given and received renewed assurance that the independence of the Islands shall be maintained. If, therefore, the Government of New Zealand should unfortunately vend the Colonial Secretary to Samoa, the German Government would have strong justification for annexing these islands. 'Pier Majesty’s Government hope, therefore, that the N ew Z-aland Government will not preclude the internationalisation of the islands, which is obviously the best, course at ihe present juncture for British interests,” A reply was sent that the Hinetnoa would not be sent, but he points out that the Miranda was sent, and that the people were in terror of being annexeo by Germany. He also refers lo the treaties which exist, and to the fact that the German Consul does not yespect them, and points out that though there is very little hope of getting Lord Derby to agree to New Zealand annexing Samoa, still as the people and King of Samoa agree to it he sees no valid objection. In the German While Rook it waq asserted that all that Germany required was to secure the trade of these Islands, As German goods were ulv/ays allowed into all Australian ports on the same terms this was no valid

reason, because if Samoa were annexed to New Zealand Germany would have the same opportunity of trading with it. Mr Churchward, the British Consul at Apia, statec “Only two labor ships arrived during the year, with about 120 laborers, but none were returned to their homes. Numbers of the foreign laborers working on the German plantations are long over their contract dates without any steps being taken to return them. This, of course, militates effectually against the procuration of more labor from the places these men come from, whether for German or any other people requiring them in Samoa. British subjects wishing to follow pursuits requiring lebor are at present unable to engage in thorn, not being allowed to import Polynesians until regulations are issued concerning recruiting, and the rule of such labor in countries like Samoa not under British rule.” In 1882 seven war vessels visited Samoa, four of which were German, and three of them British, American and French respectively. This fact showed that Germany was protecting her subjects in Samoa, whilst England was not. As regards the proposal that Germany should give up what she had taken of New Guinea provided Samoa was surrendered to her, he had telegraphed to protest against, it and all the Australian Colonies with the exception of New South Wales joined in the protest as this would vest the control of the Southern Pacific in Germany. The German Consul had now acquiesced an ascendancy in Samoa and did as he liked, and unless it was annexed to New Zealand there would be a civil war there, and Germany would step in and claim the right to interfere. Either Samoa would have to be annexed or a new treaty entered into between England, America and Germany. The letter also refers to the Act passed by the Samoan Parliament annexing Samoa to New Zealand, and winds up by asserting that the Government cannot believe that the British people refuse to annex any Island unless they receive the sanction of Prince Bismarck, *