Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/424

 416] FOREIGN HISTORY. [1899.

— the German Consul protesting and publicly asserting his support of the insurgent chief Mataafa.

The result of the controversy was an agreement between the three Powers for the appointment of a joint commission to inquire into the condition of Samoa and the working of the Treaty. The High Commissioner arrived at Samoa on May 13. Since then the destinies of Samoa were settled by a treaty between the three Powers, by which the islands, with the exception of Tutuila, in which the Americans have the naval port of Pago Pago, were ceded to Germany — Great Britain receiving a compensation in being acknowledged to be sole mistress of the Tongas, and in other ways. Equal liberty of trade with Samoa was one of the stipulations.

Upon a report that the Germans contemplated the seizure of one of the islands in satisfaction of a debt due to a local German trader, H.M.S. Tauranga visited Tonga. Her com- mander succeeded in making a treaty with the King, whereby his Majesty undertook not to cede any portion of his dominion to any foreign Power. Since then the over-lordship of Great Britain over the islands, about which there never was any question, so far as the Tongans were concerned, has been formally acknowledged. Thus one cause of future trouble in these seas, which was a source of anxiety to the Australian colonies was happily removed.

After three years of inaction the great volcano of Mauna- Loa in Hawaii suddenly, on July 4, oegan to show signs of unrest. Its irruption was accompanied by a violent earthquake, by which 200 people lost their lives.

The appointment of a new High Commissioner in British New Guinea, and the recognition of British rights over the Solomon Archipelago were among the chief incidents in the history of British Polynesia.