§ MR. W. A. M'ARTHUR (Cornwall, Mid, St. Austell)asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether Her Majesty's Government have received information of the successful rising of the Samoan people against Tamasese; whether the seat of Government and the Government Offices are now in the hands of Mataafa; whether a vast majority of the Samoan people recognise Mataafa as the representative of the exiled King, Malietoa; whether Mataafa is de facto King of Samoa; whether the Government recognize Mataafa as King of Samoa; and, whether, during the present troubles, the Government could undertake to station a man-of-war at Apia?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JAMES FERGUSSON) (Manchester, N.E.)Our latest information is of the 10th of October, when it appeared that the result of the fighting between the adherents of Tamasese and Mataafa had been so far in favour of the latter. Tamasese had transferred the seat of his Government. Her Majesty's Consul had, in pursuance of his orders, observed neutrality between the contending parties. Tamasese was recognized as the de facto Ruler, and no fresh recognition of any one else has yet been made. We are as yet hardly in a position to express a decided opinion as to the predominant balance of strength.
§ MR. W. A. M'ARTHURWill the right hon. Gentleman kindly answer the last paragraph of my Question?
§ SIR JAMES FERGUSSONA man-of-war is there at present.