13

A.—3

11. SAMOA.

No. 1. Governor Sir Wm. F. D. Jeevois, G.C.M.G. CB. to the Eight Hon. the Earl of Deeby. My Lobd, — Government House, Wellington, December 8, 1883. I have the honour to transmit herewith, a copy of a despatch I have received from the Acting High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, dated the 26th October last, forwarding an extract from a letter sent to him from Samoa, concerning the action taken by a Mr. Lundon, with reference to the annexation to New Zealand of that group of islands. 2. I referred the despatch and enclosure to my Ministers, stating that I should be glad to receive from them a memorandum, which I might forward to the Acting High Commissioner by the mail leaving for Fiji that day, disavowing the proceedings complained of. 3. I transmit herewith, a copy of the memorandum from the Premier, Major Atkinson, in reply ; and of the covering letter with which I forwarded it to Sir G. W. Des Vceux. 4. I enclose the extracts from the New Zealand Herald of September 17th and 18th, 1883, to which the enclosure to Sir G. W. Des Voeux's despatch refers. 5. I should observe that neither I nor my Ministers had ever heard of this matter before the receipt of Sir G. W. Des Voeux's despatch. This may seem strange, considering that it was published in an Auckland newspaper; but the fact is that, amidst the numerous local journals of the colony, the paragraph escaped attention. I have, &c. The Eight Hon. the Earl of Derby. Wm. F. Deummond Jeevois.

Enclosure 1. The High Commissioneb of the Westebn Pacific to Sir Wm. Jeevois. Sie, — Government House, Suva, Fiji, October 26, 1883. I have the honour to enclose, for your Excellency's consideration, at the same time requesting that you will draw the attention of your Ministers to the subject, extract from a letter just received from Samoa, from one in whose information may be placed complete reliance. By way of explanation, I may mention that four years ago, the civilized Powers concerned succeeded in putting an end to warfare that had been going on for a long time, with only short intermission, by an arrangement under which one Malietoa was made king, and Tamasese, the head of the opposition, was made vice-king. Though this settlement has preserved the peace for four years, it has not, of course, suppressed the elements of discord; and, indeed, its nature is such as to afford a specially-favourable opportunity for creating agitation to those who are desirous of doing so. The course now being taken with a view to bring about a cession of the islands is one which, whatever its ultimate results, will inevitably produce a renewal of civil war; and, whether the annexation of Samoa to New Zealand be desirable or not, it is to be borne in mind that it would not probably be sanctioned without the previous consent of Germany, which has interests in the islands considerably greater than those of any other Power, and which deserves special consideration, as having afforded for years past the principal protection to all white settlers, by keeping ships of war almost continually in Samoan waters. As Germany is not a colonizing Power, it is not impossible that her Government might regard with favour the annexation of these islands by England, in the assurance that the possession of the private property of German subjects would be thereby guaranteed. But, however this may be, a disposition of this kind is not likely to be induced by an agitation which places in immediate peril interests which have hitherto been preserved at so heavy a sacrifice. The action now being taken by persons from New Zealand, is thus calculated to defeat the object which the Parliament of that Colony appear to have had in view in passing the recent permissive Annexation Act; and not only on this account, but with a view to obviate Imperial complications, and in the interest of the unfortunate islanders, I would earnestly ask your Government to exercise all its influence with a view to check the mischief which is going on. In confirmation of my correspondent's information, I have, by the same mail which brought this letter, received an official intimation that King Malietoa has requested the foreign Consuls to prevent the departure of Tamasese in any of the ships of their respective countries, inasmuch as he, Malietoa, is apprehensive that it would be the cause of civil war. I have, &c. G. William Des Va_ux. His Excellency Lieut.-General Sir William F. Drummond Jervois, G.C.M.G. &c. Governor of New Zealand, Wellington.

Sub-Enclosure. Considebable excitement __%s been caused here, by the appearance in the Neiv Zealand Herald of a draft of a petition, for Samoan signature, &c. drawn up at the instance of Sir George Grey and some other New Zealand people, on, as is stated, the strength of representations made by Mr. Lundon.

No. 1 (with its enclosures) is printed as No. 100, in the Imperial Blue Book, C.-3863,1884.