The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-02-26
GERs1ANY,s COLONIAL POLICY.


Assistance of France Was Secured.
| LONDON, Feb. Pa Blue Book was issued
| this morning which is taken up with correspond
| dence concerning New Guinea and Samoa. It
| contains report from Sir Edward Malet, Brit
| ish minister at Berlin, of an interview with him
| and Prince Bismarck. The latter read to Sir
| Edward dispatch which he (Bismarck) had
| sent to Count Munster German minister at Ion
don. This dispatch is dated May 5, 1884, and its
object was to show the British government that
England could render Germany signal service
| In the latters colonial extension In case Eng
| land should undertake to grant this favor, the
| dispatch indicated that Germany, in return,
would support English interests nearer home.
The dispatch further gave it to be understood
that in event of failure to secure the desired ar
rangement with. England, Germany would be
under the necessity of seeking from France, On
| similar terms, the assistance which England re-
fused. After reading this dispatch, Bis
| Inarck told Sir Edward that Count
Won Munster had laid the matter
before the British government, but had failed
to obtain from it the understanding which Ger
many desired. Thereupon Bismarck said that,
fearing Count Won Munster had not stated the
points involved in the dispatch to Granville
with sufficient clearness and precision, he sent
his son, Count Herbert Bismarck, to England.
in the hope that ne might succeed where Count
Won Munster had failed. Count Herbert ex-
planned the situation as the German Chancellor
| regarded it, but he succeeded little better than
Count Won Munster in .persuading England to
commit herself to the proposed policy. He only
oletainad sRisYno said from Epr1opd oouora1
assurances of friendlness and good will, which
have proved absolutely valueless in the face of
subsequent events.
At this point Sir Edward expressed regret at
the situation. He assured Bismarck that
England had never had any intention of thwart-
ing Germany's colonial aspirations. He asked
Bismarck what Germany wanted. Did she want
New Guinea or Zululand? Bismarck replied
that it was impossible for him to answer Sir
Edwards query. Germany had now come to an
understanding with France, and this precluded
him from making any further explanations
Another interesting document in the Blue
Book is dispatch from Earl Granville to Sir
Edward Malet, dated Feb. Z, 1885. In this
dispatch the British Foreign Secretary takes oc-
casion to combat the assertions of Bismarck,
that England was influenced by jealousy of Ger
many's colonization policy Far from this being
the case, Granville asserted that beth his state
ments and those of Gladstone have always been
favorable to the development of colonial policy
on the part of Germany.
Correspondence in regard to the Samoan Is
lands shows that England was the recipient of
frequent requests from the people of that coun-
try for the establishment Of British protector
ate. In consequence of these requests, Germany
asked England to join with her giving mutual
assurances that the independence of the Samoan
and Tonga islands should be respected by these
two powers. England acceded to this
arrangement, and, in conSonance with it. re-
peated petitions Of the King and chiefs of Samoa,
praying that their dominions be annexed by
England were disregarded and no thought of
annexing them was entertained.
On Jan. g. this year, Earl Derby, Colonial
Secretary Of State, received a cable dispatch
from Lieutenant general Sir William Jerevois,
Governor of New Zealand, which stated that two
German vessels had arrived at tho Samoan is
lands, and that the officers on board had forced
the King to sign q treaty by which the whole
authority OF the government was turned over to
the German represen tative On Feb. 16, Earl
Granville wrote Count Won Munster asking
him to inquire into the accuracy Of the above
report On Dec 20, 1884, the King of Samoa
wrote a letter to the Emperor of Germany pro-
testing against the action of the German officers.
The last dispatch in the Blue book is one from
Earl Derby to the Governor of New Zealand
This is dated Feb. Is, and drects the Governor
to instruct the British CONSUL in Samoa, not to
countenance any movement looking toward an
nexaton of the islands by Great Britain.
The Blue Book also contains portions of con-
versaton between Bismarck and Mr.. Meade the
British Assistant Colonial Secretary, while the
latter was attending the Congo conference To
Mr.. Meade the German Chancellor said the system
Germany pursued in her colonial movements was
to follow the course of German trade; whenever
German commercial houses were established in
countries not under foreign jurisdiction, it was
the Empires policy to afford protection to Ger.
many. Mr. Meade read telegram from the Pre-
mier of Victoria, in which he said if England did
not prevent the annexation by Germany of New
Guinea, the evaporation of the Greenlanders
would be simply 5oundless, and the feeling of
bitterness would outliye the present generatinn