The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1886-12-30
THURSDAY. DECEMB'R 80, 1886.
EUROPE AND AMERICA IN THE
PACIFIC.

Great Britain has the largest interest
n the islands OF the Pacific Ocean.
Br- e Australian Colonies are reck-
rather as continent The old
.finition of an island was portion Of
land surrounded by water. But all
continents are surrounded by water.
Australia, so far as it is occupied by
British Colonies, is entitled to the dig
nifty of a continent Australia proper,
New Zealand, the Fijis and small slip
of New Guinea The three last-named
possessions are islands in the ordinary
sense, although they may originally
have been parts of continent. There
is at present strong disposition on the
part of leading European Governments
to divide up all the islands of the Pa
cific Ocean. This disposition appears
to be strongest on the part of Germany
and Great Britain. A writer in the
November number of The Nineteenth
CenfE,y afirns, that for political pur-
poses, Germany and Great Britain have
agreed, through diplomatic arrange
ments, that the Western Pacific shall
mean that part of the Pacific Ocean
lying between the 18th parallel of N.
latitude and the 3oth parallel Of S. lati-
tude, and between the I65th degree Of
west longitude and the I3oth. east Of
Greenwich. Six months ago important
declarations were made, and an under
standing was reached by the govern
ments Of Great Britain and the German
Empire, "relating to demarcation of
British and German spheres of infiu-
ence in the Western Pacific" and espe-
cially with reference to protectorates in
the regions described. This under
standing relates to such islands as had
not at that time protectorates, and were
net considered as colonies Of either
country. The Galapagos Islands were
excluded as already belonging TO the
Republic of Ecuador. But Pitcairn
and Easter Islands were included
This diplomatic agreement further sti
pulates: "For these purposes the area
of the Western Pacific was revised a:
above, and a conventional line of de
marcation agreed upon starting from
the northeast coast of New Guines
at point near Miter Rock, on the 9Th
parallel Of south latitude, which is the
boundary between the British and Ger
man possessions on that coast, and fol
lowing that parallel to point A, anc
thence continuing to points b, c, ID
f, F and G, as indicated in the accom-
panying chart. East, southeast ol
south of this line Germany has engaged
not to acquire land, accept protectoratt
or interfere with the extension of Brit
ish influence, and to give up acquisi
tons of territory or protectorates al
ready established in that part of thu
Western Pacific Great Britain ha'
entered into similar engagements con
cerning that part of the Western Pacific
.yine % the west, northwest or north o
4 nventional line"
ne stipulation here set forth doe
OF apply to the Samoan Islands, witt
reference to which there are treaties IL
force ON the part Of Germany, Grea
Britain and the United States; nor to thu
Friendly Islands (ronga), nor are they
applicable to any islands in the West
ern Pacific now under the soyereignt,
or protection of any friendly Power
The one fact, however, is sign Fl AN
that the two leading Powers of Europe
have settled upon policy with respec
to a considerable part OF the islant
world Of the Pacific. One Power is no
to interfere with the other. And b,
inference both are to proceed in the bust
ness of acquiring possession of ever,
unoccupied island In the Pacific within
the limits described. In the Northern
Pacific and beyond the diplomats
agreement here noted are the Sandwich
Islands, constituting the Hawaiian
Kingdom, having about six thousant
square miles. The independence o
this small kingdom is guaranteed b,
England, France and the Unite'