§ MR. DAVITTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a German citizen, resident near Apia, in Samoa, has been arrested by a British naval officer, and is now in custody on one of Her Majesty's war ships; whether such action has been taken with the sanction of Her Majesty's Government; and if any explanation has been offered to the Government of Germany?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. ST. JOHN BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordWe are informed that the manager of the plantation near Apia, in which the recent skirmish took place, was arrested by the senior British naval officer on sworn evidence that he had been seen directing the native assailants. The action was taken without any opportunity of communication with Her Majesty's Government. We are informed by the admiral that he was handed over to the commander of the German ship of war on 4th April on a, promise that he should be detained on board.
§ MR. DAVITTI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether British naval officers joined in recognising Mataafa as king at Apia, in the interests of peace, after the earlier (recent) outbreak in Samoa; whether he can explain why such officers subsequently reversed their action and bombarded the coast near Apia, in the interest of the rival claimant; and whether the latest bloodshed in the island is owing to this attempt to impose an unpopular chief upon the Samoan people?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe answer to the first paragraph is in the negative. The arrangement recognised by the British, German, and United States Consuls was that Mataafa and 13 chiefs of his party should be recognised as a provisional government pending instructions from the three Powers. The telegraphic reports hitherto received do not afford sufficient materials for a judgment as to the cause of the recent hostilities, but as far as can be ascertained the action of the United States and British naval officers was caused by some aggression on British and United States subjects or property which they were bound to defend.
§ SIR E. ASHMEAD-BARTLETT (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether instructions will be given to Her Majesty's commanding officer at Samoa, pending the arrival of the new Commissioners, to cease offensive operations against the followers of King Mataafa, who constitute the majority of the inhabitants of Samoa?
§ MR. BRODRICKAuthority has been given to our representative in Samoa to join, if he finds it desirable, in a joint proclamation with the other two Consuls, calling upon all the inhabitants to abstain from hostilities pending the arrival of the three Commissioners. But Her Majesty's commanding officer will be bound to take the requisite measures for the protection of British lives and property in the group should these be threatened by either of the rival factions in Samoa.