Brought Peace To

Samoa

Work of Dr. Solf, First German Governor

Contributed By R. P. Berking

T\R WILHELM SOLE, who was the first German Governor of Samoa, died in Berlin in February, aged 73. During his 11 years in the South Seas, he teas a wise and able Administrator, ruling Europeans and Saynoans in a just and impartial manner.

The follounng account of Dr. Solfs work has been written by Mr. R. P. Berking, a well-known planter of Apia, who was a member of the German administration and for some years Collector of Customs at Apia.

CONNECTED with the name of Dr. Solf is a decade and more of the history of Samoa. He was the first German Governor —in fact, the first Governor Samoa ever had, as under the Tripartite Government right up to 1900 the native population was torn and divided by civil wars.

When the German flag was hoisted in Mulinuu on March 1, 1900, local war clouds darkened the sky. Right then and there Dr. Solf had to show that he was competent to rule the unruly. He suc ceeded by his personality and ability to beat the Samoan Chiefs and orators at their own game—talking. One attempt after another by some party to gain superiority was broken up, not by military force, but by the power of his eloquence.

Laws to bring about a greater revenue for the natives—such as the compulsory planting of coconuts every year—were not only made, but also enforced. Natives and whites derived the fullest benefit of the newly established and lasting peace and they settled down to work and develop ment. Lands were opened and settled with numerous families from the Old Country and the Colonies. Once established, even the dissatisfaction of one clique of planters, who wanted the natives to work for next to nothing, could not hold up the steady progress; and trade and traffic improved and increased.

These new conditions were considerably helped along by substantial subsidies granted by the German Government upon the request of Dr. Solf up to 1907, when Samoa became self-supporting. These sub sidies were gifts to Samoa and were not to be repaid later. After 1907 every yearly surplus was utilised by the Government for extra public works and improvements.

Although Samoa was a German Colony, residence and business were in no way restricted to German nationals. Every thing was done to draw British and foreign capital and settlers into the country. The Governor’s Council consisted of appointed members, and always two were of British nationality. All worked together in real harmony. Dr. Solf set about to make all classes of settlers and all nationalities feel at home in Samoa and to this purpose left no stone unturned. That he was success ful was proven later.

One of Dr. Self’s prominent abilities was to size up character and efficiency in men.

It was he who appointed and upheld the late Richard Williams as a Magistrate for Native Affairs for Savaii against violent opposition from Berlin; because in Mr.

Williams he had discovered that rare ability to govern natives solely by per sonal influence and without a display of force.

About the most important step in the history of Samoa, besides abolishing the Kingship, was the creating of the Lands and Titles Commission. This was estab lished under the leadership of the Chief Judge, Dr, Schultz (who was an eminent authority on Samoan customs and folk lore) with Mr. Williams, Mr. N. H. Mac- Donald (surveyor) and the late Mr. A.

Haidlen (Government Surveyor) as co judges and assessors.

Anyone conversant with the character and ways of the Samoans will know that very often over a slight and paltry pro vocation the fiercest of fights is started.

By putting all claims for titles and lands before this commission, Dr. Solf took the sting out of many a move, which surely would have resulted in serious trouble.

The work performed by those gentlemen (three of whom have passed beyond) cannot be lauded highly enough.

With an Irishman, Mr. Williams, as his adviser in Native Affairs, a New Zealand- Scotchman, Mr, N. H. MacDonald, as co judge in the Native Land Court, and lastly with another Irishman, Abner Duffy, as nightwatchman of Apia, Dr, Solf did well.

By selecting efficient men from the ranks of settlers for important Government posi tions, Dr. Solf established a liaison between population and Government, which helped greatly to make this far-away German Colony an example worthy to be followed by even the old highly reputed Colonisers.

He continuously impressed his officials with the necessity to help the inhabitants to overcome the difficulties of the law, and refrain from building up obstacles, which they are so fond of setting Up around their austere bodies. Foresight, insight and a sincere desire to understand a situa tion, these were his leading ideas, and had these been followed during later years much unpleasantness would have been saved Samoa.

One thing which marred the successful ending of Dr. Self’s office in Samoa was the Lauati rebellion. Lauati, the highest orator of Samoa, apparently not satisfied with the quiet and steady life, which Dr.

Self’s administration handed out to every body, stirred up strife and created opposi tion openly against Mataafa, but in effect against the Government.

For a little while things looked dangerous, until the warships arrived from China, which Dr. Solf ordered. Then one of the results became apparent of the friendly working together of Governor and governed. From all sides offers came in to give ready assistance and the different missions established in Samoa vied with each other to help in putting down a state of affairs which might easily have led to bloodshed.

I cannot omit to mention the valuable work the late Captain E. F. Allen per formed with his s.s. Dawn. One fine Sun day with Dr. Self’s A.D.C. he went to Manono, secured Lauati and took him back to Vailima, so that Dr. Solf could have it out with him face to face. Finally Lauati was deported to Saipan, Mariana Islands, with his followers, where after a few years he died. It is very remarkable that Lauati’s followers on their return to Sa moa, after the outbreak of the Great War, expressed publicly their full appreciation of the justice that had been dealt out to them by Dr. Solf.

In September, 1910, Dr. Solf left Apia for home service, and it did not take the resi dents of Samoa long to find out that they had lost their best friend. He was pro moted to the position of Secretary for the When I saw him again early in 1914 in his office, Samoa was foremost m his heart. He immediately cancelled two important meetings with representa tives of South-west African diamond in terests so as to be able to have a long talk about his “Pearl of the Pacific.”