The Samoa Trouble.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 280, 30 March 1889, Page 3

The Samoa Trouble.

London, Feb. 8. The readiness with which Prince Bismarck has given way in face of the protests of America regarding Samoa has been a matter of much surprise ; but he seems to have been sincere in the declarations he made before the Reichstag a fortnight ago, that he was not a “ colonial man,” and did not approve of Germany frittering away her strength in coio nial enterprises. We can well understand that with General Boulanger becoming supreme in France, and other threatening elements in the European situation, Prince Bismarck would not care to be involved in a quarrel with the United States, In fact, as he showed in the case of Spain and the Caroline Islands, he does not want to quarrel with anybody until matters have been settled with France and Russia. Up to a few days ago it was believed by many persons who make foreign politics a study that the Americans were indulging in mere empty boasting, and that as their interests in Samoa were really insignificant, they would not go to any great lengths in the defence of the same. But events have shown that the . United States were justified in the belief that Prince Bismarck would retreat if boldly withstood, and it is hoped that the example of the Washington Cabinet will not be lost upon our own Government. The German Chancellor has now not only ordered the withdrawal of the edict subjecting all foreigners in Apia to martial law, and cashiered Dr Knappe, the German Consul at that place, for being too zealous, but has proposed that the suspended Washington Conference on Samoa should be resumed at Berlin. At. the same time it must not be toohastily inferred from Prince Bismarck’s complaisance that Germany means to relax her hold upon Samoa. The United States have stepped forward as the champions of the status quo in that group, but interests threin are so small that it is not impossible that they may be induced to come to some compromise with Germany. The concern of America in the islands lies in the circumstance that they are on the highway of commerce across the Pacific; and that, if the Panama Canal is ever completed, they will become important places of call. With these contingencies in view, the Americans secured the right of erecting a coaling station at Pango-pango. This harbor Is on the Island of Tuituila, which is one of the longest of the group, and is some forty or fifty miles distant from the two large islands of Savaii and Upolo. There is, therefore, an excuse for assuming that if Germany offered to consent to America taking possession of Tuituila, America would not object to Germany becoming supreme in Savaii and Upolo.—N.Z. Herald*