The New York herald., 1868-05-11
POLYNESIA.
AserIc.vi Terrft Orial Acquisitions In the Fce}ee
IsIssis-Mr. Stewards Ultimatum KiaS
Thua1 mbau.

An,erIc.s, Territ orial Acquisitions In the Fce}es
IsTnsi.-Mr. Stewards Ultimatum to Kias
Tha&embau.
From the Melbourne Argus, Feb. Al
Integencehas been received from the Feejee Islands
to tse effect that the United States government have
demsaded payment Of a long standing account
amcunting with interest and charges, to the sum Of
$So,sO0 and have given formal notice, through the
commander of the Tuscarora, that IL the money be
nos forthcoming by the 1st May proxmo the Amer.
isan nag will he hoisted In the Archisclago. The
americans have shown excellent judgment when,
among the numerous islands which dot the south
central portion of the Pacific Ocean, they have chosen
the Feoieean group the nucleus OF POlynesan col
ony Eighty thoussnd dollars for Feeee Is certainly
much better bargain than $1,000, 900 for Russian
America; and the islands are also too near to our
own shores, and too important by reason of their
great and varied capabilities to justify In viewing
with indifference transaction which will unques-
tlouably have adecided and permanent influence on
the future destiny Of the whole OF Polynesia.
The origin ofthe debt liz invOlvedin some obscurty
but II Is said TO have arisen out OF fire which
CURED some years ago among the American settle
mentS. The Feejeeans say that the fire caused by
me carelessness OF the Americans themselves but on
the other hand the Americans allege that 1t was q
diabolca attempt upon their lives and property. At
any rate, the Americans insist In enforcing their
claim, and as King ThakOmbau Is severely pressed by
rival sovereign, he will probably be content to ac-
cept the protection of the United States ana digni
fed retirement u'eder their rule
There are some hundreds Of Australians, prnci.
pay victerans, settled in Feejee. The great indus
try cotton planting. The plant thrves well and
promises in few years to become great branch OF
trade. Sugar and cof1ee can also be cultivated
cessfully- Travellers who have visited FeeJee all
speak OF the great resources of the islands, and all
agree that the application of little capital would
give an immense impetus to the planting and
trading interests. settler when he arrives there
generally buys more land than he ought to do, and
has little means left to cultivate 1t, and when
he has raised crop lie has difficulty In shipping or
disposing of 1t to advantage. What Is wanted is
establishment strong enough to assist the settlers in
these various particulars and to arrange for the set
tement OF the national debt; and, with good manage.
ment Feeiee company, with limited capital, might
have obtained the same position in Polynesia as the
honorable East India Company did in India. 1t is
true that Great Britain declined to add the Feeee
Islands to her colonial empire for which ap
peared perfectly sound and satisfactory at the tne
but the subject bears different aspect when looked
at fren Australian point of view to that it pre-
sents when viewed from British one; and we GER
tanly cannot suppose that the Americans would take
the trouble OF founding colony few thousand
miles distant from their own shores they guided
by no weghtier considerations than the enforcement
or paltry debt OF $50 900 due by King Thakombau
certain citizens OF the United States.