Page image
Page image

A.—3

9

Beelin 12th January.—With regard to the statements published yesterday in London as to the alleged proceedings of the Germans in Samoa, it is pointed out in official quarters that the latest intelligence received from Samoa by the Government extends to the 30th December last, and that these communications contained no reference to the events referred to, which can consequently only have taken place subsequent to that date. In any case, it is added, the statements must be considered a complete distortion of the facts. It is known that the seat of Government of the King had been under sequestration by the German Consul for some months, in consequence of certain legal disputes, and it is considered probable that if, indeed, anything has taken place since the 30th December, the King may have attempted to bring about the removal of the sequestration, which attempts would have been frustrated. Finally, it is declared that, inasmuch as a treaty exists between Germany, England, and the United States with regard to Samoa, there can be no question of an annexation of the islands by Germany.

rExtract from the Times, Thursday, 14th January, 1886.] Samoa . Berlin 13th January.—ln official circles here it is pretended, and seemingly with truth, that no direct intelligence has been received at the Foreign Office confirmatory of the statements which have lately reached England with respect to a German annexation of Samoa. It is pointed out that such an act is precluded by the terms of the agreement between England, Germany, and the United States, under which the Samoan Islands cannot be annexed by one of these countries without the concurrence of the other two. It is certain that the Imperial squadron which has been lying for some time back off Zanzibar has steamed away in the direction of the Samoan Islands ; but in the same official circles it is maintained that the squadron received its sailing orders to this effect before the news of any troubles m Samoa reached Europe.

"Extract from tho Daily News, Thursday, 11th January, 1886.] Germany and Samoa. —Official Statement. New York, Wednesday.—The State Department has received official information from the American Consul in Samoa confirming the news of the German seizure as published. The brother of the Consul, living at San Francisco, received to-day a letter from him, in which he states that he has constantly warned the American Government that he suspected Germany intended to take possession of the" Samoan Islands. He says that strong jealousy always existed among the consuls in consequence of the desire of each to protect the commercial interests of his own countrymen. This was intensified between the German and American Consuls by the fact that the latter was a German-American. The primary cause of the ill-feeling was the progress American trade has been making in the islands during recent years at the expense of German trade. The letter says that if Germany were to annex Samoa it would be the death-blow to all other foreign interests there.

{Extract from the Daily Telegraph, Friday, 15th January, 1886.! Germany and Samoa. Beelin, 14th January.—With reference to the news received in New York respecting the seizure of Samoa by the Germans, it is declared in official circles here that there can be no question of such a step, and that the incidents referred to can only be connected with measures taken to prevent an illegal attempt on the part of King Malietoa to withdraw the guarantees he had given to the Germans. °In any case, it is added, nothing can have occurred which could in any way affect the existing treaty between Germany, England, and the United States. The following letter, written by Earl Granville to Sir E. Malet for communication to the German Government, explains the nature of the arrangement which exists between Germany, England, and America in relation to the Samoan Islands : " Foreign Office, 19th December, 1884.— Sir,—Count Minister called at this office on the 15th instant to say that Prince Bismarck was very clad to learn, from the memorandum which your Excellency had delivered to him, that Her Majesty's Government had the best intentions towards the German Government in respect to Samoa and Tonga, and His Excellency was instructed to thank me for this communication. His Excellency observed that some private individuals had been working in those islands for British annexation, and it would be desirable that the Government of Samoa should be informed that such a movement was disapproved by Her Majesty's Government. As to the proposal for an engagement to respect the independence of Samoa and Tonga, the German Government had already declared in 1879 and in 1880 their willingness to do so, and they were now quite willing to enter into negotiations with that object." It is understood that Prince yon Bismarck has, on the part of his Government, repudiated the action of the German representatives in Samoa, and that the King of Samoa's flag will be immediately rehoisted throughout the island.

[Extract from the Standard, Friday, 15th January, 1886.] Germany and Samoa. New Yokk, Thursday Night.—A letter which has been published here, dated Apia, 9th December, leads people to discredit the German version of the recent occurrences at Samoa. It states that King Malietoa's fear of the chiefs who maintained a perpetual rebellion against him induced him to secure himself by placing a territory measuring five miles by two under the power of the representatives of Great Britain, Germany, arid the United States. Within this territory, which includes Apia, Germany could neither have a just difference with the King, nor injure him without affronting the other nations associated' with her in this gwasi-protectorate. The American commerce with the Samoa group has lately largely increased, and hence some jealousy has arisen between the several 2—A. 3.

Log in or create a Papers Past website account

Use your Papers Past website account to correct newspaper text.

By creating and using this account you agree to our terms of use.

Log in with RealMe®

If you’ve used a RealMe login somewhere else, you can use it here too. If you don’t already have a username and password, just click Log in and you can choose to create one.


Log in again to continue your work

Your session has expired.

Log in again with RealMe®


Alert