| Primary
Source |
| Imperialism |
Colonial Policy | [P|S|M] |
Atlas German Colonies, with Yearbook, edited by the German Colonial Society, 1908, Retrospect on the
Development of the German Protectorates in the Pacific in 1907
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Retrospect
on the Development of the German Protectorates in the Pacific in 1907
The German Protectorates in the Pacific, namely Kaiser-Wilhelmsland, the
Bismarck-Archipelago, the Carolinas with Palau and the Marianas, the Marshall
Islands and Samoa have also in 1907 been fully spared by the elements, as it had
repeatedly been the case in the previous years. These taifuns, in tremendous
fury, have annihilated the cultures of entire islands for years to come, and the
population would have starved to death, if the German government would not have
come to their aid, supplying them with food and partially shipping them to other
islands. On Samoa, in uninterrupted activity the volcano of Sawaii has poured
streams of Lava downhill, in part subterraneously, so that they fed into the
sea. But the cultures have suffered considerable damage from absconding gas.
Peace has been undisturbed, almost everywhere. The collection of the
weapons of the Micronesian groups has continued without disturbance. These
peoples, which we believed to be doomed, have not only stopped to decline in
number, but frequently increased in number, as this has been undisputably proven
by a census on Samoa.
With a few exceptions, the white population also has increased. On the
Marshall Islands, naturally, it declined, because the administration of Jaluit
has been terminated and thus the number of officials has declined. On the other
hand it grew, where, as on Nauru, newly started large enterprises attracted
people. Relations between the white and coloured population have not only
been peaceful, as previously mentioned, but there are indications that, on the
side of the aborigines, the benefit of colonization is begun to be seen. As an
example the measures taken by the Governor of Samoa for the benefit of the
coloured population are mentioned. This was expressed when the chiefs and
representatives of the Samoans held a Fono, a chiefs' assembly according to old
tradition, at Apia on August 14th and 15th. As everywhere, where lower races get
in contact with Europeans, among the Samoans a careless attitude in regard to
the sale of land has been observed. Gradually, a large proportion of Samoan
property has passed into European hands. Related with it is carelessness in
taking up credits. It was a ceremonial moment, when, on this Fono, the
white-haired Mataafa, in the name of the Samoan people and of his sub-chiefs,
proclaimed the resolutions of the chiefs assembly, according to which future
sale and lease of land is forbidden. It had a certain seriosity, when the
governor admonished the assembly, to overcome the tendency toward lazyness,
which is inherent to the inhabitants of this paradisical land more than to other
inhabitants of the earth, and to take on regular work. In future, land sales may
only be conducted in the presence of experts, and not without their approval.
Perhaps the most important event on Neuguinea was the Guttapercha- and
Caoutchouc Expedition, begun in summer 1907, supported with a sum of about
1,000,000 Mark by the German Colonial Society; it is calculated to take 3 years
and to bring thorough information regarding the presence of Caoutchouc and
Guttapercha in Kaiser-Wilhelmsland. The expeditions begin at Konstantinhafen and
reach mainly into the Oertzen and Finisterre Mountains, as well as into the Ramu
valley and the Bismarck Mountains. Already at an earlier date, Guttapercha had
been found in the Oertzen Mountains. So far the expedition has brought
satisfactory results, and found gutta trees at several locations.
In the report year, Neuguinea, for the first time, exported a small amount of
Caoutchouc, which achieved good prices in Hamburg. The main worry is to
acquire workers well-instructed in the tapping of the trees. Unfortunately
the natives have proven not to be suited, so that Javanese had to be enlisted
(p.24).
The economic development of Kaiser-Wilhelmsland, unfortunately,
progresses slowly.
The large enterprise of the Neuguinea-Kompagnie can not plant the lands at its
disposal as fast as it wishes, because of lacking workers. The enlisting of
foreign workers has become more and more necessary.
The small settlers settled in the Baining Mountains seem to thrive, and
losses caused by death and emigration have been replaced immediately. One has
begun to settle more settlers on further farms. It has been judged by official
site, that it still has to be seen if the measure is a success.
The phosphate open-cast mines of Nauru and a few adjacent islands
gradually gain great importance for the entire Pacific colonies. They have
already contributed to elevating the revenues of the Micronesian island region
over that of the old protectorate of Neuguinea; they promote import and
provide occupation and nourishment for a large number of persons. For the
current year, a phosphate export of 75,000 tons is expected, for which the
protectorate is given a fee of 25,000 M. As workers, on Nauru Chinese are
employed.
These also play a decisive role in Samoa's economy, because due to the
lethargy of the aborigines, no plantations could operate otherwise. In recent
years no complaints regarding their actions have been heard, so that the
governor has decided to permit those plait-bearers who have acted decently to
prolong their stay in the protectorate. In China people think that thir men in
Samoa live well.
The Samoan cocoa culture would be unimaginable without the Chinese. This
product is of sprecial, highly-priced quality. Because of the favourable
economic development, we may expect the time to come, when it will become completely
independent from the motherland's finances. This would be a nice triumph of
Governor Dr. Solf, who, as the representative of the German Kaiser , is in
charge of the administration of this island for almost a decade.
Overall the Berlin Chamber of Commerce assesses progress of our Pacific
colonies, which it describes as all the more remarkable, as, on Neuguinea, the
Carolinas and the Marshall Islands, is to be thanked to a rather small number
of enterprises, and as all areas, including Samoa, suffer under unfavourable
labour conditions, as well as from a location far from the arteries of world
traffic, which places upon them extraordinarily high burdens, especially
shipping rates.
Books
concerning the South Sea in 1907
Kleintitschen, Miss P. A. Die Küstenbewohner der Gazellehalbinsel, ihre Sitten
und Gebräuche unt. Benutzung der Monatshefte, m. Kn, (The coastal inhabitants
of the Gazelle Peninsula, their customs and traditions, with reference to the
Monatshefte) Herz-Jesu-Missionshaus, Hiltrup b. Munster i. Westf.
Parkinson, R. Dreissig Jahre in der Südsee, Land und Leute, Sitten und Gebräuche
im Bismarckarchipel und auf den deutschen Salomoinseln. (30 years in the
Pacific. Land and people, customs and traditions in the Bismarck Archipelago and
on the German Solomon Islands) Strecker & Schröder, Stuttgart 1907. 16 M.
Schultz, Oberrichter Dr. Sprichwortliche Redensarten der Samoaner. Gesammelt, übersetzt
und erklärt. (Sayings of the Samoans. Collected, translated and explained) E. Lübcke,
Apia 1906.
Further information on literature and maps are contained in "Dietrich
Reimer's Mitteilungen". - 4 numbers of 30 Pfg. each annually. Dietrich
Reimer (Ernst Vohsen) Berlin SW. 48.
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Source:
Deutscher Kolonial-Atlas mit Jahrbuch (Atlas German Colonies with
Yearbook), edited by the Deutsche Kolonialgesellschaft (German Colonial
Society). Berlin 1908, p.23f |
GM
(digitalisation) and AG
(translation)
posted on the web for psm-data;
many thanks to
Staatsbibliothek
zu Berlin / Preußischer Kulturbesitz
Kartenabteilung
Dokument in deutscher
Sprache
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