The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-03-05

to the Imperial Government in this !
uni-lateral agreement, to abrogate it |
after the lapse of six months. Sub
sequent events show that this right |
was acted upon to the fullest possible
extent. Not only was the agreement
abrogated, but the shadow of indie
pendence which Sa moa retaiaed I'M
der it was utterly dissipated by the
formal annexation of the archi-
pelago to the German empire.
That this act of annexation was
contrary to the wishes and policy of
the Samoan people is beyond ques-
ton, and if England were now gov
erned by Tory administration, the
seizure of Samoa would become an
international question with Ger
many. But the Whig-Liberal Adj
ministration of Mr.. Gladstone is
without any definite foreign policy,
and is always prepared to recognize
accomplished accounts, however in
furious to the British empire. Just
what may be the outcome, when
Parliament meets, it is not for US to
say; but it is quite evident to any
person conversant with International
policy that the unity of the British
empire cannot be perfected by sub
servience to either Germany or
France in the matter of colonial ex-
tension.
New Zealand was prepared to ac-
cept the responsibility of administer
ing Samoan affairs, and the Samoan
King and Parliament asked to be an
nexed to that dependency of the
British Crown; but Earl Derby abso-
lutely forbade the Wellington Gov
eminent from taking action in the
premises, although steam was up on
| the Government steamer Hinemoa,
and Sir Julius Vogel, Colonial Treas
urer, was ready to proceed to Samoa
and complete the act of voluntary ces-
| sion. Lord Derby assured New Zea-
land that there was an agreement
| with Germany that England and
Germany should respect the indie
| pendence of Samoa. The Secretary
of State for the Colonies, therefore,
was either guilty of wilfuI deception,
or Germany has violated it's agree
ment regarding Samoa, just as France
has done regarding certain islands in
Oceania, over which the French flag
has been flying for three years, de-
spite a convention with England
guaranteeing their independence, dat
ing as far back as the reign of Louis
Philippe, and subsequently reviewed
and assented to by both Governments
1t is unnecessary to say that this
act of annexation by Germany is OPP
posed to Hawaiian policy; but as q
thing of course we are powerless in
the matter. Nor do we suppose for a
moment that an appeal to the ma
tional conscience of Germany would
do any good. Prince Bismarck wants
to found colonies to create markets
for German manufactures. He has
seized upon the country of the Came
rooms in the Gulf of Guinea, north o.
the equator, and Angra Pequena in
the Great Namqua country south Of
it, to found German colonies in West
Africa. He has taken possession Of
the eastern portion of New Guines
and certain islands commanding the
navigation of Torres Straits, together
with New Ireland and other large
islands of Meianasia lying between
New Guinea and New Zealand. Las
of all he has seized upon Samoa
which occupies the same position
geographically, in the South Pacific
that the Hawaiian Islands occupy il
the North Pacific. Germany has
adopted close protective tariff, anc
must find an outlet for it's manufac
lures. It thinks that it can manage
it's colonies as well as England ha!
done. There is no reason why i
should not. What concerns US, how
l ever, is how this policy of German
annexation is likely to effect Ha
wailan interests. This we shall en-
deavor to explain in future issue.