b. The Government is to permit the introduction of foreign labour (Chinese, as well as other islanders). Copies of contracts to be lodged with the Government; all such labour to be voluntary, and their grievances as well as all complaints against them subject to courts of law and decision; each labourer to be registered with name, age, and place of birth or nativity, to be furnished with a Government permit, and at the expiration of the time of contract to be at liberty to depart, or recontract, or remain a citizen at Samoa, with all rights, privileges, and immunities, but subject to general law. Each labourer, however, to be free and exempt from direct taxation or compulsory delivery of produce (see Art. g) during their contract time, but the contractor to pay a per cap. tax of 50c. per annum to the Samoan Government for each and every adult male labourer. The Samoan Government to furnish to those ships which the manager of the establishment of J. C. Godeffroy & Son points out as destined to import foreign labourers into Samoa the necessary permit passports. c. That free trade be the establishment of the Samoan Government. No export or import duties except on the importation of spirits as hereinafter mentioned (see Art. k) to be levied. d. That the harbour dues at Apia shall not exceed the amount created for Pagopago by the American officers, say 3c. per register ton; this not to apply to tenders, small craft under 200 tons register, acting as coasters or carriers for larger vessels. e. Pilotage to be under the jurisdiction of a Board of Harbour Commissioners, who are to appoint persons of trustworthy character as pilots-the scale of pilotage to be fixed in accordance with present customs and after consultation with the managers of the establishment of J. C. Godeffroy & Son at Apia. f. That a per cap. tax shall be levied upon each adult male inhabitant of the Samoan group, except imported labourers as hereinafter mentioned; to be paid to the Samoan Government in kind-say, copra, cocoa-nut fibre, or other articles of export; however, at least one-half in copra or cocoa fibre, having a specific and fixed value; and that the Samoan Government be responsible for the value and quality of such material. g. That the Government of Samoa create a contingent fund exclusive of other taxation, to be provided for by a law making it compulsory for each head of a family (foreign labourers excepted) to produce and furnish to the national treasury of Samoa sixty pounds of well-dried sound copra and sixty pounds of cocoa fibre for each and every member of his family, himself included. h. All copra and cocoa fibre in the hands of the Samoan Government through taxation payment of Government employés, or settlement of disabilities, to be sold to the establishment of J. C. Godeffroy & Son at Apia at the price of one and a half cent per pound for either article for a period of the next ten years, to be delivered at the office of the said establishment at Apia, or at one of their agents or stations in the Samoan group, and to commence after the establishment of the Government, and the introduction of corresponding laws. After the expiration of the first ten years the price for copra and cocoa fibre is to be agreed upon again for the next ten years between the Government of Samoa and the establishment of J. C. Godeffroy & Son at Apia. This latter to abrogate such contracts at one year's notice. i. All land improved and under cultivation prior to the 1st of March, 1875, to be exempt from taxation for a period of ten years from that date. This provision, however, to apply to productive plantations (except cocoa-nut trees). All land coming into cultivation after the 1st of March, 1875, to be subject to an annual land tax. k. All spirits to be subject to a tax or import duty, wine and beer always excepted. 7. The Government of Samoa to grant a monopoly for the exportation of the bark of the ua,' or paper mulberry, to the establishment of J. C. Godeffroy & Son at Apia for Europe, and Walter S. Wilkinson, of Baltimore, for America, for a period of twenty years from date of establishment of intended Samoan Government. m. That after the 1st of January, 1875, all native lands can only be sold to the Samoan Government, and that hereafter only Government titles will be esteemed valid. n. Colonel A. B. Steinberger to exert his influence for speedy settlement and fulfilment of past difficulties and claims between the establishment of J. C. Godeffroy & Son at Apia and the Government of Samoa or Samoan chiefs or people. o. Col. A. B. Steinberger to use his influence and promote a steam communication between San Francisco and the Samoan group. p. That the establishment of J. C. Godeffroy & Son at Apia be appointed the bankers and the fiscal agents of the Samoan Government at Samoa; and J. C. Godeffroy & Son at Hamburg to be appointed the same for the world excepting the United States of America, but also there if they deem it political and advisable. q. The Samoan Government to fix a standard coin as a legal tender and, if necessary in order to facilitate the circulation, to create paper money to serve as legal tender in the Samoan Islands. The establishment of J. C. Godeffroy & Son at Apia to be entrusted with the execution of this measure and the coining of the circulating medium-say, of copper, nickel, or other metal-upon terms to be agreed upon between Colonel A. B. Steinberger and the manager of the said establishment. The establishment of a Government Bank and the conditions likewise to be discussed and fixed between Col. A. B. Steinberger and the manager of the establishment of J. C. Godeffroy & Son whenever the moment arises, and at all events the management of such a bank to be entrusted to said establishment. r. That of all copra and Government fibre sold by the Government of Samoa to the establishment of J. C. Godeffroy & Son, Apia, or any other agency or station of the same in the Samoan Islands (see Art. h) Col. A. B. Steinberger to receive from said establishment two dollars per ton weight delivered. s. That Col. A. B. Steinberger receive a commission of ten per cent. on the amount of purchase of all other produce or material sold by the Government of Samoa to the establishment of J. C. Godeffroy & Son. t. That Col. A. B. Steinberger receive a commission of ten per cent. upon the amount of all purchases made by the Samoan Government for material, &c., from the establishment of J. C. Godeffroy & Son in Samoa. In witness whereof we, the undersigned, have this 10th day of September, 1874, affixed our signatures. (Signed) A. B. STEINBERGER. J. C. GODEFFROY & SON. Attested. (Signed) GUSTAV GODEFFROY. JOHN D. THOMPSON. Early in 1875, Steinberger arrived in Samoa to carry out the Godeffroy agreement, and endeavoured to throw dust in the eyes of the European residents by representing himself as an emissary from the American Government sent out to pave the way for a more definite alliance between that country and Samoa. His success was complete, and in a few months he had changed the constitution, dethroned Tupua, made Malietoa sole king, and installed himself Prime Minister of the new Government. His authority, however, was but brief. Suspected of duplicity, he was called upon by the representatives of Great Britain, America, and Germany to produce his credentials. This, of course, he was unable to do. By the prompt interference of King Malietoa-for which he cannot be too highly commended-Steinberger was arrested and deported. Malietoa's action, however, cost him his throne, from which he was soon driven by the infuriated adherents of Steinberger. Civil war now raged again in Samoa, and the Consuls of the Great Powers found it necessary to issue to the chiefs and rulers in the various districts the following address. To the Chiefs and Rulers of the different Districts of Samoa. We, the Consuls of Foreign Powers, and the Commanders of men-of-war now in Apia, wish to address to the contending parties in Samoa some words of warning and of advice. It is with great distress we view the preparations for war now being made. We would willingly see you living peacefully together under a Government recognised, respected, and obeyed by all; but as such a Government does not at present exist, we desire to make clear our position and intention to both parties alike. We recognise the Government of either party only over such persons and lands as it may be able to control, but we do not recognise the Government of either party as the Government of the Samoan Islands, inasmuch as neither party exercises any Governmental functions beyond the limits of the recognised territory of that party. We intend strictly to enforce, without respect of parties, the neutrality of the Apia district according to the boundaries already laid down. We also insist on respect being paid to all land in the occupation of, or cultivated by, foreigners, and all property thereon owned by foreigners. As you have already received notice, such lands and property will be marked by a white flag, or the national flag of the owner. Should you determine on war, neither party will receive any assistance from us, or the Governments we represent. Before appealing to arms for the settlement of your disputes, we urge on you fully to consider the evils which must result therefrom both to your country and your race. Many of you will have to part with your lands to foreigners in order to buy arms and ammunition with which to kill one another. Your homes will be desolated, your houses and gardens destroyed. All this destruction may still be without result, and even should one party conquer, it will be at the expense of much of their own land and the lives of many of your fellow-countrymen. We therefore pray you to consider well the course you will take, and warn you not to listen to the words of foreigners who may have interest in the success of one side or the other; such persons have no authority or support from us or from our Governments. We will willingly assist as mediators between you should any arrangement be possible by which war may be averted; but we will not accept the position of arbiters in disputes which are Samoan in their origin, and which we think can only be settled satisfactorily by Samoans alone. We will hail with pleasure the day when your strife shall cease and you can live in peace under a Government respected and obeyed by Samoans and foreigners alike. Apia, Samoa, July 2, 1879. R. CHANDLER, Captain United States Navy, Commanding U.S.S. 'Lackawanna.' TH. WEBER, Imperial German Consul. After some further fighting, Malietoa's party once more resumed the reins of government, and on the arrival of Sir Arthur Gordon, who frequently visited these islands in his capacity as High Commissioner of Western Polynesia, the first official recognition of the present Government of Samoa took place by the publication of the following proclamation: Proclamation. Nearly two months have elapsed since the issue by the representatives of foreign powers in Samoa, on the 2nd of July, of a notification intimating the inability at that time to recognise either of the parties then contending for supremacy in the Samoan State as possessed of the attributes of a de facto Government. Since that time no decisive step has been taken by either faction; although the one has, during this period, steadily increased, and the other as steadily declined in influ ence. It is impossible to continue indefinitely a state of affairs so exceptional, and so injurious to the interests of foreign commerce and industry. We have accordingly resolved to resume official relations with the party which has for the last three months held undisputed possession of the seat of Government, and is supported by an overwhelming and increasing majority of the people of Samoa. We venture to express our earnest hope that the members of the former Government and their supporters will have sufficient regard for the best interests of their country to discontinue a contest the prolongation of which cannot but inflict the greatest evils on their nation, and that they will hasten to acquiesce in the restoration of the regal authority of the Malietoa family. Should our counsels in this respect prove fruitless, we emphatically warn the subjects of our different nations against taking part in internal strife. If they do so they will act at their own peril, and will forfeit all claim to protection or assistance from the representatives of their Governments in Samoa. A. GORDON. ALFRED P. MAUDSLAY. TH. WEBER, Imp. Germ. Consul. THOMAS M. DAWSON, United States Consul. J. HICKS GRAVES, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul. ROBT. S. SWANSTON, Depty. Commissioner. R. CHANDLER, Captain U.S. Navy, Commanding U.S. ship Lackawanna.' JAMES BRUCE, Commander Royal Navy, On August 27, 1879,6 England entered into the following treaty of friendship with King Malietoa Laupepa and the Government of Samoa, which remains in force to this day. I give the articles verbatim, as they clearly show what our present diplomatic relation with this island is on paper. What our position is de facto, my readers will be able to determine for themselves when they have finished reading the contents of these pages. ART. I. There shall be perpetual peace and friendship between the subjects of Her Britannic Majesty and those of the Samoan State. • Tide Samoa, No. 1 (1881). A similar treaty of reciprocity between America and Samoa also had been concluded with Malietoa. ART. II. The King and Government (Malo) of Samoa engage to grant to no other Sovereign or State any rights, privileges, authority, or predominance in Samoa in excess of such as are or may be accorded to Her Britannic Majesty. The subjects of Her Britannic Majesty shall always enjoy in Samoa whatever rights, privileges, and immunities shall be granted to those of the most-favoured nation, and no rights, privileges, or immunities shall be granted to the subjects of any foreign State that shall not be equally and unconditionally accorded to the subjects of Her Britannic Majesty. ART. III. Full liberty for the free pursuit of commerce, trade, and agriculture is guaranteed to British subjects, as well as the peaceable possession of all lands heretofore purchased by them from Samoaus in a customary and regular manner, and in the event of any dispute arising as to the fact of such purchase, it shall be determined by a Commission, to consist of one person nominated by the Samoan Government (Malo), and one nominated by Her Britannic Majesty's Consul; and, in the event of their disagreement, they shall themselves select an umpire; or, if they fail to do so, such umpire shall be appointed by Her Majesty's ConsulGeneral. All British subjects resident in Samoa shall be exempt from war contributions, military requisitions, and occupation of their houses and lands by war parties. ART. IV. If any subject of Her Britannic Majesty in Samoa is charged with a criminal offence cognisable by British law, such charge shall be tried by Her Britannic Majesty's High Commissioner for the Western Pacific Islands, or other British officer duly authorised by Her Britannic Majesty in that behalf. The expression British Law' in this Article includes any rules duly made and issued by Her Britannic Majesty's High Commissioner for the Western Pacific Islands, for the government of British subjects within his jurisdiction. ART. V. Every civil suit which may be brought in Samoa against any subject of Her Britannic Majesty shall be brought before, and shall be tried by, Her Britannic Majesty's High Commissioner, or such other British officer duly authorised as aforesaid. ART. VI. Every summons or warrant to appear as a witness before Her Britannic Majesty's High Commissioner, or such other British officer duly authorised as aforesaid, and directed to a Samoan subject, shall have the same authority, and may be enforced in like manner, as if such summons or warrant had been directed to a subject of Her Britannic Majesty. ART. VII. Her Britannic Majesty engages to cause Regulations to be issued to enforce the observance by British subjects of such of the existing Municipal Laws and Police Regulations of Samoa as may be hereafter agreed upon by agreement between the Government of Her Britannic Majesty and that of the Samoan State, and for the due observance of Quarantine by British subjects. ART. VIII. Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain may, if she think fit, establish on the shores of a Samoan harbour, to be hereafter designated by her Majesty, a naval station and coaling depot; but this Article shall not apply to the harbours of Apia or Saluafata, or to that part of the harbour of Pago-Pago which may be hereafter selected by the Government of the United States as a station under the provisions of the Treaty concluded between the United States of America and the Samoan Government, on the seventeenth day of January, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight. ART. IX. The present Treaty shall come into force from the date thereof, but shall again become null and of no effect if not ratified within the prescribed period. ART. X. The present Treaty, consisting of ten Articles, shall be ratified, and the ratifications exchanged at Apia within one year from the date thereof. In witness whereof, the respective Plenipotentiaries have signed the same, and have affixed thereto their seals. |