H.—l9c

9

I annex hereto a copy of the Proclamation, bearing date the 29th August, 1914, issued by me, which will serve to show you the policy of the military Administration which I have established. To this policy I desire you to conform as closely as the circumstances will permit. You will note that, subject to the special provisions of the above-mentioned Proclamation, and subject also to such further orders as I may give, the military Government will carry on the administration on the same lines, as nearly as possible, as it was carried on under the German Government, employing where convenient the same officials and the same police as were employed by the German Government. Hen* Pfeil, however, who has been administering the Island of Savaii on behalf of the German Government, is to deliver to you all such documents, funds, and other property of the German Governmen as are in his possession, and is then to return to Apia forthwith. A. letter from the Chief Justice of Samoa to Herr Pfeil on this subject is enclosed herewith, and should be handed by you to Herr Pfeil. Robert Logan, Colonel, To Richard Williams, Esq., Apia. Administrator of Samoa. Sub-enclosure 5 to Despatch No. 1. Sir, — American Consulate, Apia, Samoa, 31st August, 191.4. I have the honour to inform you, in reply to your instructions of the 30th instant that, representing Bis British Majesty's Government, you have established a British provisional Government in the islands of Opolu and Savaii, in the Samoan Group, in consequence thereof I respectfully resign the representation of British interests assumed hj me on Bth August, 1914, in accordance with instructions received from the Department of State of the United States of America. I have, &c, Administrator Colonel Logan, Apia, Samoa. Mason Mitchell, American Consul.

Enclosure 2 in No. 12. (Despatch No. 2.) Your Excellency,— Government House, Apia, Samoa, sth September, 1914. I am pleased to be able to inform Your Excellency that since the date of despatch No. f matteis in connection with the occupation of Samoa have progressed as smoothly as could be expected. The troops undei my command have now moved into two camps on sound ground conveniently situated for the defence of Apia, and measures have been taken for the safeguarding of the port. Wireless. —I accidentally omitted to state in despatch No. 1 that a light petrol railway, leading from the harbour to the wireless station, was found to be unworkable, owing to parts of the engine having been removed. lam glad to be able to state, however, that the engine has now been repaired, and in a very few days the engine should be again running right out to the wireless station, and already the railway has been of considerable service. The wireless installation is now working satisfactorily, and, as Your Excellency is aware, we aie now able to send messages. Out power to do so, however, is necessarily limited owing to our inability to use the engines propcilj belonging to the installation. Food-supplies. —H.M. Transport " Monowai " arrived from Suva this morning, and is now discharging some 30 tons of rice obtained at that port. This will, for the time at any rate, supply the want mentioned in my last despatch. Government House. —I have now, with my staff, taken up my residence at " Vailima," the late residence of Dr. Schultz. * * * * * Administration. —I find that most of the taxes had fallen due just prior to our arrival here, but owing to the present low price obtaining for copra the German authorities did not press for taxes, and little, if any, had been collected. I think it advisable that we should also allow some latitude before pressing for the payment of taxes. In my last despatch I reported to Your Excellency that all the late officials, except two, had been retained in their positions. T subsequently found, however, that most of these officials did not properly understand their position, since they believed themselves to be carrying on the administration of Samoa on behalf of Germany, and were continuing to use the German seal on documents used by them. I had dealt with tfiis point at my first meeting with these officials, and I thought that I had made myself clear. I have, howevei, since conferred with the leading officials, and have insisted on the attitude which, for greater clearness, I have to-day embodied in a memorandum handed by me to the officials, a copy of which memorandum I attach hereto for Your Excellency's perusal [sub-enclosure I]. The officials are to consider the matter and will then let me know as to whether they are prepared to continue in. their offices. I think it possible that most of the officials will decide to remain in office, but it appears to be not unlikely that the judicial officers will decline to continue to carry out their functions. A careful inquiry is being made into the administration of the various departments and into the functions of the various officials, but this is now delayed pending the reply of the officials to the memorandum above referred to.

2—H. 19c.