A.—3.

and English citizens, and a diplomatic controversy was carried on which ended in the meeting of the Conference at Berlin. Prince Bismarck, no doubt, saw that he had been deceived about the state of things in Samoa, and, at any rate, he had too keen a perception of the relations which ought to subsist between ends and means to care to engage in an embittered quarrel with the American Government, under the influence of Mr. Blame's Chauvinism, for the sake of the German adventurers in Samoa. The Conference soon arrived at a settlement, and among the immediate results was the restoration of Malietoa. It must be admitted that the German authorities at Samoa might have carried out the policy of concession and conciliation imposed upon them by the Conference in a less churlish manner. It would be unfair to blame the Government at Berlin for the ungracious attempts to prevent Malietoa from obtaining an enthusiastic popular reception among the people to whom he has been restored. These attempts, after all, were only in part successful. Malietoa's reception was such as to remove all doubt concerning his popularity. Informally, but not the less plainly, his return has been recognised as a victory of British and American sympathies. If Mataafa had held jealously aloof the restoration would have been overshadowed by the prospect of a dangerous rivalry, but the victorious chief has laid aside his personal ambitions, and is content to share his old master's power. The interests of this country and of the United States have every reason to rejoice in the restoration of Malietoa, under which the annoying system of petty commercial persecutions carried on under Tamasese's reign will be impossible. Nor has Germany any cause whatever to regret the restriction within moderate limits of a policy which, if left without restraint, would have aroused the hostility of America for the, sake of the most paltry objects. The Samoan occupation has turned out to be costly, inglorious, and in every way unsatisfactory. It will always be associated in the minds of the German people with that disastrous cyclone which inflicted a heavy blow upon the Imperial Navy.

No. 2. The Agent-Geneeal to the Peemiek. Sir, — Westminster Chambers, 13, Victoria Street, London, S.W., 20th February, 1890. I beg to enclose a parliamentary paper issued a few days ago on the affairs of Samoa, containing the history of the Berlin Conference of last year, together with the Final Act as signed by all the plenipotentiaries, and correspondence relating to the events in the islands ending in the re-election of Malietoa to be King. The Samoan treaty was ratified by the Senate of the United States on the sth instant. I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. F. D. Bell.

Enclosures. No. I.—Mr. White to the Marquis of Salisbury.—(Eeceived sth April.) My Lord, — Legation of the United States, London, 4th April, 1889. I have the honour to acquaint your Lordship that I have been instructed by Mr. Blaine to inform Her Majesty's Government that Mr. John A. Kasson, William Walter Phelps, and George H. Bates have been appointed Commissioners from the United States to the Conference which is shortly to be held at Berlin with respect to Samoan affairs. I have, &c, Heney White.

No. 2.—The Marquis of Salisbuey to Mr. White. Sir,— Foreign Office, 10th April, 1889. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th instant, informing me that Messrs. John A. Kasson, William Walter Phelps, and George H. Bates have been appointed Commissioners from the United States to the Conference to be held at Berlin in regard to Samoan affairs, and I beg leave to thank you for your communication. I have, &c, Salisbury.

No. 3. —Sir E. Malet to the Marquis of Salisbuey. —(Eeceived 16th April.) My Loed,— Berlin, 13th April, 1889. I have the honour to enclose herewith translation of a note, dated to-day, which I have received from Count Bismarck, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, stating that, the Governments of Germany, England, and the United States having agreed to continue the Conference on Samoa which was adjourned at Washington in 1887, and official intelligence having been received of the intended departure of the American delegates, the Imperial Government proposes the last week of this month for the meeting of the Conference at Berlin. I have, &c, Edwabd B. Malet,

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