Samoa Under the Sailing Gods
II
II
The first German Governor of Western Samoa was Dr. Solf, who prior to 1900 had been President of the Municipality in Apia; and so, under the terms of the Berlin Act, had already been in a position of considerable authority. He went first to Fiji, where he made a study of British administrative methods, and came back and modelled his administration accordingly. The arms of the warring native parties were called in, and paid for, and the country settled down to an era of peace.
With the twentieth century, I should explain, Eastern Samoa—Tutuila, Manua, etc.—must pass from my purview. The Stars and Stripes still fly there. Its history has been mainly uneventful. Its administration has been that of American naval officers. The natives voluntarily ceded their islands to the United States not long since, so apparently they are well satisfied.
Dr. Solf took over a country where there were practically no public buildings, and but few roads, and which recently had been riven with civil war. The office of King had already been abolished by the Joint Commission. He appointed Mataafa Alii Sili, or principal chief; but on the death of Mataafa in 1912 that office also was abolished.
The German Governor acted as his own Secretary of Native Affairs. He collected a small staff of white officials around him. As Deputy Administrator (Resident Commissioner) of Savaii he appointed an Irishman—Dick Williams—who controlled the island single-handed. Indeed, the whole administration of Western Samoa was patriarchal. There were, of course, such officials as Collector of Customs, Harbour Master, and Chief of Police, with for the most part half-caste and native subordinates.
Under German rule, the European residents maintain, they lived like "one happy family." In fact the British profess that they were even better treated by the Government than were the Germans. There was about this Administration, unlikely though it would have seemed, a sort of wisdom and joviality which might almost be termed Olympian. An interesting side-light is thrown by a story which tells that Dr. Solf, home on leave and present at the Reichstag, was accused by political opponents, among other things, of going around in Samoa with flowers in his hair. "Flowers in my hair, gentlemen!" said the Governor, a big man, rising and bowing—disclosing a perfectly bald head.
Every New Year's Day the German Governor met the residents at the Court House, where they all received a hearty welcome. New Year's congratulations were exchanged. The Governor drank the health of the people, and the people drank the health of the Governor and the Executive of the Administration. "And best of all, the healths were drunk in sparkling champagne. On such occasions everybody, irrespective of rank or nationality, attended the Governor's social function, and all received the same gracious hospitality." A special reception was arranged for the chiefs.
It was in Sili, Savaii, that the old obscene dances and games were staged by the Deputy Administrator, for the information of the Governor; probably for the last time.
The first year of the German administration showed a gross revenue of about £14,000; with an expenditure of some ten thousand pounds more, which was largely for reconstruction. Imperial donations started in the first year, 1901, and ceased in 1908. The largest, in 1903, amounted to £13,000.
The revenue increased, until by 1911 it had reached the sum total of £41,350; and surpluses were already being shown since 1903. These figures I believe are substantially correct. In 1910, Samoa began to contribute to the expenses of the Samoa branch of the German Colonial Office.
During this time roads were made, bridges built, and public buildings erected. The administration appears to have been a model of quiet and easy-going efficiency. A local disorder arose among the Samoans in 1908, when the orator Lauati led a party of warriors from Savaii, apparently because an American had perturbed them about the national finances. Dr. Solf went out alone from Apia to meet the war-party, and shortly after Lauati was arrested and deported to the Ladrone Islands; otherwise nothing seems to have ruffled the fourteen years' calm, nor was there aught else that partook of the rigorous.
Dr. Solf was succeeded in 1910 by Dr. Schultz, who had been Chief Justice. Dr. Solf became Secretary for the Colonies.