17

J\., ij

England and France; the French Government abandons the salmon fisheries in the rivers; and French fishermen are to be exempt from paying duty for articles necessary for their fishing. Should this arrangement prove acceptable to the colonial Government it will put an end once for all to a dispute which has lasted for more than a century and a half.

[Extract from the Times, Tuesday, 19th January, 1880.] Samoa. Philadelphia, 18th January.—The Secretary of the Navy has ordered one naval vessel on the Pacific Station to be sent forthwith to the Samoan Islands.

[Extract from the Times, Friday, 22nd January, 188G.] House of Loeds, 21st January.—The Addeess. Eael Geanville.— .... It was rumoured the other day that Samoa had been annexed by the German Government. We all know the interest which Germany has in that island, but I felt sure when I saw the statement that it was not a fact, or that it had been done by an individual officer, and would be disowned by the German Chancellor. lam glad to learn that that is the case The Marquis of Salisbuey, who was received with cheers, said, — .... With respect to foreign affairs, allow me, in the first instance, in answer to the first question put by the noble Earl, to state that I think he is in error in supposing that there has been, in any hypothesis, any annexation of Samoa by Germany. There have been events which are imperfectly reported, and which, strangely, never reached the Court of Berlin at all, and we are at present unable to place an exact interpretation on the news which has come to us ; but this, which is quite satisfactory, we have received—namely, the most positive assurance on the part of Germany that she will adhere to the treaties in respect to Samoa which already exist

Extract from Leading Article. —Lord Salisbury is not only Prime Minister, but Foreign Secretary as well. When, therefore, he speaks on foreign affairs he speaks with the whole authority of the Government. He gave, in the first place, a welcome explanation of the exact position of the question which has lately arisen concerning the relations of Germany and Samoa. There has not been, he said, in any hypothesis any annexation of Samoa by Germany. The events which have actually occurred have been imperfectly reported, and no account of them seems as yet to have reached Berlin. But the German Government have given the most positive assurances that Germany will adhere to the treaties which already exist in respect to Samoa. We have no doubt that this assurance, coming as it does with all the weight of Lord Salisbury's authority, will be regarded by the country as eminently satisfactory

[Extract from the Daily News, Saturday, 23rd January, 188G.] The Samoan Islands. Berlin, Friday. —The proposal for a radical settlement of the Samoan question by the definite partition of the group among the three Powers most nearly interested appears to find much support, particularly in commercial circles in Hamburg. According to this plan England would receive the westernmost island, Savaii, the largest of the group, Germany taking the middle island, Upolu, with the Port of Apia. The eastern islands, including Tutuila, with Pagopago Harbour, would go to the United States. It is contended that this partition, which would accord best with the distribution of the trading stations of the three Powers on the islands, has become both a political and a commercial necessity. Of course the execution of the proposal is dependent on the modification of the agreement between the three Powers which terminates two years hence. As yet there is no indication of German intentions in the matter.

[Extract from the Times, Wednesday, 27th January, 1886.] Samoa. Philadelphia, 26th January. —Captain Churchward, the British Consul in Samoa, has arrived at San Francisco en route to London. Captain Churchward, in explaining the recent Samoan-German difficulty, states that Millin Point, in the City of Apia, the seat of the Samoan Government, many years ago came into the hands of Herr Weber, formerly German Consul, and head of a leading firm in Samoa. Notice was given to the Government to remove itself; and, although Herr Weber was offered the previously-stipulated price for the land, he refused to accept it, and the Samoan King was compelled to remove his residence to another part of Apia. Herr Weber's action was supported by the German Consul, Herr Steubel. The King hoisted the Samoan flag over the part of the city to which he had removed; but subsequently, owing to an alleged insult to the German Government by that of Samoa, Consul Steubel forbade the King to display his flag anywhere within the municipality of Apia. The Consul went personally to the King and commanded him to pull his flag down. This the King refused to do. Consul Steubel then went on board of the German gunboat " Albatross," which happened to be in the harbour, brought a party of armed sailors on shore, and forcibly, and against the protests of the United States and British Consuls, pulled the flag down. Captain Churchward concluded by stating that two Samoan high chiefs afterwards went to New Zealand to claim sympathy in their troubles, and from their story the report of a German annexation of Samoa probably arose. Captain Churchward has been sent to London to lay despatches relative to the recent disturbance caused on the Samoan Islands by Germany before the British Foreign Office. The vessel bearing German despatches regarding the affair failed to catch at Honolulu the steamer which brought Captain Churchward, and these despatches will consequently be late in reaching Berlin. 3—A. 3.