A.—2

20

rExtract from the Times, Monday, 4th February, 1889.J The Samoan Question. Philadelphia, 2nd February. The correspondence on Samoan affairs sent to Congress yesterday afternoon may be thus briefly summarised* 1. Secretary Bayard on the 31st January instructed the American Minister at Berlin— Mr. Pendleton —to inform the German Government that advices from Apia stated that the German Consul there had declared Germany to be at war with Mataafa, and Samoa to be under martial law. Mr. Bayard informs Minister Pendleton that the German Minister at this capital, under instructions from Prince Bismarck, had already acquainted this Government of the declaration of war by Germany against Mataafa, and had accompanied the notification with a statement that Germany would, of course, abide by the agreements with America and England touching Samoa, and preserve in all circumstances the rights of this Government, established by treaty. But, in view of advice from Apia, Mr. Bayard instructed Mr. Pendleton to say that this Government assumed that the German officials in Samoa would be instructed carefully to refrain from interference with American citizens and property there, since no declaration of martial law r could extend German jurisdiction. so as to include the control of Americans in Samoa, and such a pretension could not be recognised or conceded by this Government. On the same day Mr. Bayard sent a similar note to the German Minister in Washington. This Minister, Count Arco-Valley, under instructions from the PrinceChancellor on the Ist February, first informed Mr. Bayard that, as a state of war was declared against Mataafa, the commander of the German squadron had issued a proclamation by which foreigners established in Samoa were subjected to martial law. " International law," he added, " would to a certain extent not prevent such a measure ; but, as Prince Bismarck is of opinion that our military authority has gone too far in this instance, the military commander has received telegraphic orders to withdraw the part of the proclamation concerning foreigners. In negotiating with Mataafa our Consul at Samoa has asked that the administration of the islands of Samoa might be temporarily handed over to him ; which demand not being in conformity with our previous promise regarding the neutrality and independence of Samoa, Dr. Knappe has been ordered by telegram to withdraw immediately from his command." The President also transmits copies of the papers ceding Pagopago Harbour to the United States, on the sth August, 1878. Prince Bismarck's instructions above quoted are regarded as indicative of the desire of the German Government to treat the United States with all due courtesy consistent with their Samoan interests. The Chancellor took action immediately on receiving Mr. Pendleton's despatch. The Secretary of State to-day received a telegram from Melbourne stating that the Australasian Federal Council had adopted an address to the Crown referring with deep anxiety to recent events in Samoa, approving the treaties guaranteeing Samoan independence, and expressing an opinion that foreign dominion in Samoa endangered the safety of Australasia. 3rd February. The Navy Department is arranging for the despatch of large quantities of anthracite coal to Pagopago Bay, Samoa, thus establishing a coaling-station for American ships. Messrs. Benjamin Packard and C. Chapman have been chartered to carry 5,000 tons, and other charters will follow. Berlin, 3rd February. Prince Bismarck's concessions to the Government of Washington with respect to Samoa are on the whole approved by the Press, though the National Zeitung thinks that the knowledge of this disavowal of the acts of German officials in the Pacific would have come with a better grace from the German Government itself, not from that of the United States. For the rest, remarks the National Zeitung, defiant speeches in America will just as little provoke Germany to take any unwarrantable step as keep her from maintaining her just rights. Berlin, 2nd February. The announcement from Washington that Prince Bismarck has given orders for the exemption of foreigners from the operation of martial law in Samoa, and instructed the German Consul to withdraw from the control of the administration, has evoked from the Press very general expressions of surprise, not unmixed in some cases with satisfaction. While giving a qualified approval to the Chancellor's action, the Vossische Zeitung remarks that proceedings of this sort are not calculated to strengthen the German local authority in the present strained state of affairs in the Samoan Islands. The Government journals recognise the propriety of respecting the rights and interests of foreigners, but insist on the necessity of adopting reprisals for the attack on the Germans by Mataafa's adherents on the 28th December last. Washington, 2nd February. Mr. Bayard, Secretary of State, explains that Prince Bismarck's communication announcing his instructions to the German naval commander and to the German Consul in Samoa anticipated his own telegram to Mr. Pendleton, the American Minister in Berlin, and therefore Prince Bismarck's despatch was not a reply to his (Mr. Bayard's) telegram, but an anticipation of it. The House of Eepresentatives to-day adopted the amendment to the Naval Appropriation Bill appropriating the sum of $100,000 for the permanent establishment and maintenance of a coal-station at Pagopago.

[Extract from the Times, Tuesday, sth February, 1889.] The Samoan Question. Philadelphia, 4th February. The Secretary of State has received from Prince Bismarck a proposal that a Conference on Samoan affairs should be held at Berlin, .renewing the Conference held at Washington in 1887. Berlin, 4th February. A Foreign Office communique to the North German Gazette of this evening says : " According to some Press telegrams from Washington, dated the 2nd instant, President Cleveland has sent to