[Inclosure.]
Mr. Maben to
the Marquis of Salisbury.
Mulnuu, Samoa, June 23, 1892.
My Lord: I beg most respectfully to be
allowed to address your lordship unofficially on the matter of my
taking the position of secretary of state in the Samoan Government.
I presume that our consul here has reported the fact by the same
mail that takes this. I felt that, as a British subject, I might be
permitted to address a letter to your lordship, as well and shortly
as I could, stating my reasons for accepting the appointment in the
present unsettled state of the country.
It seems that the King, the chief justice, and the president of the
municipal council had come to the conclusion that it had become
necessary to appoint some one
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with local knowledge to administer the
internal affairs of the country, and their choice fell upon me.
I felt considerable hesitation in accepting the position offered me,
because I saw that the time had gone past when a vigorous
administrative policy might have welded the different factions in
Samoa together, and caused the laws to be obeyed and the taxes paid
by all the people on these islands. On the other hand, I thought
that as I have held the post of surveyor-general for some time past
I might accept the new appointment in addition to the one already
held, and if I could succeed in bringing about a better state of
affairs, well and good; if I failed, the country would be in a no
worse position than when I took office. I am very anxious to make
this clear, that the office was not of my asking, and that I am not
at all sanguine that I can now effect much improvement in the
condition of the country, because I think that the opportunity for
vigorous action was lost when the chief justice arrived here.
Had the whole machinery of government been reorganized and carried
into effect at that time, I feel sure that the Mataafa opposition
would not now be in existence. The Samoans at that time fully
believed that the provisions of the final act of the treaty of
Berlin would be strictly enforced by the three powers, if necessary.
Now they hold a different opinion, and they feel that, with a strong
faction in opposition to the Government, they can set the law at
defiance.
To attempt to enforce the payment of taxes from the opposition party,
without the aid of outside pressure, would, I feel certain, lead to
civil war. This the Governments are trying all they can to avoid by
not taking aggressive action.
The last year’s taxes are three months overdue, and the attempt is
only now being made to collect them. The people are naturally averse
to paying taxes, and if, by joining the faction opposed to the
Government, they can seeure exemption, they are very likely to take
that course.
I will not trouble your lordship with further details, as I have no
doubt you are kept well informed from here. My only object in
writing is to place the facts in connection with my appointment
before your lordship, so that you may judge of the circumstances
surrounding the position at the present time.
I have, etc.,
