Page:EB1922 - Volume 32.djvu/18

2 entrance, and a part of Anchorage Islet on the reef is held by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty. The island is leased to a coco-nut company, but producing little owing to destruction by hurricane, and the pearl fishery has deteriorated. At Manihiki I. (pop. in 1916, 775) the pearl beds were closed when almost worked out, and at Penrhyn I. (pop. in 1916, 312) production fell off.

Marianas. The former German islands (excepting Guam [see GUAM], which belongs to the U.S.A.) were occupied by the Japa- nese in 1914, and were given to them under mandate in 1918.

Marquesas Islands. The Polynesian pop. has continued to dimin- ish, and was estimated in 1920 to be less than 3,500. The French administration (established at Hivaoa) was stated to neglect the commercial development of the islands, though in 1913 a German trading company was established there.

Marshall Islands. These islands, formerly German, were ac- quired by Japan under mandate in 1918. From 1888 to 1906 they were administered by the Jaluit Trading Co., of Hamburg, under agreement with and subsidized by the German Government. The Government itself subsequently administered them down to 1914. A recent estimate indicates a decreasing pop. numbering 9,200.

Nauru. This island, in o 33' S. lat., l6655' E. long., was ad- ministered along with the Marshall Is. by the Germans, but the phosphate deposits for which it is important were worked by a British company under agreement with the Jaluit company. The island surrendered to a vessel of the Australian navy in Sept. 1914 and came under British mandate in 1918. Pop. (1916), 1,284 natives, 449 Caroline islanders, 278 Chinese, 90 whites. The white settle- ment is at Yangor, where the phosphate company had its stores and drying plant. The deposits on the high ground (78 to 88% phos- phates) are transported by light railways worked by steam, gravity, or electricity, and are snipped by surf-boats from two wharves. Under the Nauru I. agreement. 1919, between the British, Aus- tralian and New Zealand Governments, it was enacted that the Australian Government should appoint an administrator for a term of five years, that each of the three Governments should appoint a member of a board of commissioners, that the phosphate company should be bought out by the three Governments and the deposits and their workings should be vested in the board, and that the expenses of the administration, so far as not otherwise met, should be paid out _of the sale of the phosphates. The island also yields copra. A wireless station was established by the Germans in 1913.

New Caledonia. Pop. (census of 1911), 50,608, including 28,075 natives, 19,319 whites, and 3,214 Asiatic immigrants. Noum6a con- tained 8,961 inhabitants, including 5,207 free whites, 1,245 convicts, 1,999 natives and other coloured people, and 396 troops. Among other centres of population, Thio on the E. coast is the chief nickel- mining centre, and Paagoumene on the W. coast the chief chrome- mining centre. Exports from New Caledonia and dependencies were valued in 1913 at 633,536 (copra, 67,932); imports at 708,- 316. The guano workings of Walpole I., 150 m. E. by S. of Noumea, have been recently developed by a company.

New Hebrides. The pop. has been recently estimated at 65,000 natives and 800 Europeans. Exports in 1919 were valued at 364,000 (copra, 134,30; cocoa, 79-000); imports at 166,847. The Anglo- French condominium is not generally regarded as successful. Accord- ing to a report of 1918, the confusion between the operations of this tribunal, the French and British courts, and the joint naval com- mission for native litigation, gave rise to complaints.

French settlers are said to hold the best land as a rule, though in the Banks and Tprr Is. British interests are the stronger; trade has been fostered mainly by French interests. The volcano of Ambrym Is. was in eruption on and after Dec. 6 1913, and caused damage.

Niuf. Pop. (1919), 3,664, including 20 whites and 160 half-castes. Exports (about six-sevenths copra) were valued in 1919 at 35,977, and imports at 21,783. The New Zealand Government contributes about 3,000 a year to the administration. A hurricane in 1915 severelv damaged the coco-nut plantations, but 15,000 nuts were planted in the course of peace celebrations.

Norfolk Island. Pop. (Dec. 1918), 815. The executive council now consists of six elected members and six members appointed by the administrator. It was reported in 1919 that the Melanesian Mission established here in 1867 was contemplating the removal of its headquarters. Exports were valued in 1919 at 5,238 (lemons, passion-fruit pulp, fish and whale products); imports at 13,398.

Paumotu or Tuamotu Archipelago (the latter is the proper form, and is used throughout this part of the Pacific). Pop. (1911), 4,581. Makatea (pop. 866) has become the most important island, owing to the working of phosphates, and is administered separately. It is an elevated coral island, unlike the other coral islands, which are atolls. From these, copra and pearl-shell are the chief exports. The de- pendent Gambier Is. yield the same commodities, but poorly, and their inhabitants are decreasing in numbers and physique.

Phoenix Islands. The majority have been leased to the Samoan Shipping qnd Trading Co., for coco-nut planting.

Rotumah (to Fiji). Pop. (1918), 2,263.

Samoa. The former German islands of western Samoa were occupied by a New Zealand expeditionary force on Aug. 30 1914. Although it was stated that there was some feeling in the islands against permanent administration by New Zealand, a mandate for them was given to that Dominion in 1919. The native pop. in 1918 was 30,636 after the epidemic of influenza in that year, which caused over 8,000 deaths. There were also 1,660 white men and half-castes, and 1,166 labourers imported under indenture. The shortage of labour is particularly acute. The Deutsche Handels- und Plantagen- Gesellschaft (German trading and plantation company), which held 8,820 ac. under the German Government, went into liquidation in 1916, and its holdings and other German plantations were taken over by the Government of New Zealand. Exports in 1919 were valued at 532,500, over four-fifths of the total value being in copra, which went chiefly to the United States. In 1918 exports were valued at 306,640; imports (mainly from the United States and New Zealand) at 319,521. Revenue for one year 1919-20 was estimated at 80,215, and expenditure was expected to balance this. Apia has a wireless station. The pop. of the American Samoan islands was estimated in 1920 at 7,55-. Copra is practically the only export. There is a high-powered wireless station at Tutuila.

Society Islands. The pop. of the whole of the French establish- ments in Oceania in 1911 (including the Society, Tubuai, Tuamotu and Marquesas groups) was 31,477, including 2,656 French, 484 British, 237 Americans and 975 Chinese: there appears to have been a large influx of the last since that date. A later estimate ascribes 11,000 inhabitants to Tahiti alone, but 4,000 lives were lost in this and adjacent islands in the influenza epidemic of 1918. Papeete, the capital (pop. in 1911, 4,099), was bombarded by German cruisers on Sept. 22 1914. Exports were valued in 191731 11,997,461 francs (chiefly copra, pearl-shell, and vanilla), and imports at 7,806,294 francs. Papeete has a wireless station.

Solomon Islands. The native pop. has been recently estimated at 150,000, the whites at 800, and there are a few Chinese. For the year 1918-9 revenue amounted to 29,476; expenditure to 30,205; exports were valued at 170,125; imports at 188,408. The natives are for the most part wild and backward, and the labour question is serious. For the (formerly) German Solomon Is. see NEW GUINEA.

Tonga. Pop. (1919), 22,689 natives, 350 Europeans. The in- fluenza epidemic of 1918 is said to have caused 1,000 deaths. The native government, under the king, consists of 32 nobles and the same number of elected members. The land is vested in the sovereign, but all his subjects hold some of it, and there is no pauperism or public debt. British officials assist the administration. The revenue in 1918 amounted to 58,340, and expenditure to 35,865. The value of exports in 1918 was 169,758, nearly the whole consisting of copra. Imports in 1918 were valued at 177,152. The copra is chiefly exported to America; imports are received mainly from Australia and New Zealand.

Tubuai Islands. Pop. (1911): Ravaivai, 432; Tubuai, 543; Rurutu, 911; Rimitara, 415; Rapa, 183. Rapa, possessing a fine natural harbour in Ahurei Bay, has been spoken of as a possible trans-oceanic port of call, for which purpose it was used in 1867-9. The island is volcanic, and the bay represents the old crater. The natives are noted sailors and are in demand for the crews of vessels.

Wallis and Home Islands. These, formerly a French protec- torate, have been declared a colony. When this annexation was proclaimed in 1913, opposition to the proclamation was fomented by Roman Catholic missionaries in Fotuna (Home Is.), and even in Uvea (Wallis), where the native chiefs had asked for the annexation, a retention of native law was stipulated, and native law could be only gradually replaced by French law. (O. J. R. H.)

PADEREWSKI, IGNACE JAN (1860- ), Polish pianist and diplomat (see 20.443), after the outbreak of the World War in 1914 gave numerous benefit concerts in America for Polish sufferers and delivered addresses in their behalf. He was appointed plenipotentiary in America for the National Polish Committee, which early had won official recognition by the Allies.

Among the Poles in America some millions there was great dissension as to the means of gaining independence for Poland. With rare skill he induced the stubborn factions to accept the authority of the National Polish Committee, of which he was the most influential member in Paris. In the words of Mr. Robert Lansing, who, as a peace delegate, came into constant contact with him there, he was " an able and tactful leader of his countrymen and a sagacious diplomat." He was among the statesmen, who, in Paris, Dec. 1918, formulated the terms of the Peace Treaty. Mean- while discord had arisen between the Polish Government and the National Committee. At the close of the year Paderewski returned to Poland and was received in triumph. In Jan. 1919 an agreement was reached with Gen. Pilsudski, whereby Paderewski headed a new coalition cabinet as premier and minister for foreign affairs. In this capacity he signed, June 28 1919, the Treaty of Versailles. He resigned as premier in Dec. 1919. It was generally felt that he had been more successful as a diplomat than as an administrator. In an interview given*to newspaper reporters after his return to America in Feb. 1921, he asserted that he would never again appear in piano recitals. His last professional appearance as a pianist had been at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, May 9 1917.

PAGE, THOMAS NELSON (1853- ), American author and diplomatist (see 20.450), was appointed ambassador to Italy by