680 



PAPUA. 



decided to proclaim and exercise British pro- 

 tection on all the coasts of New Guinea ex- 

 cept those occupied by Holland and the por- 

 tion of the northern coast extending from 145 

 east longitude to the boundary of the Dutch 

 possessions, and also on the small islands adja- 

 cent to the part of the coast that was taken 

 under British protection. It was declared that 

 the northern coast, as far as 145 east longi- 

 tude, was included in the British protectorate 

 at the request of the Malay coast natives. At 

 this time the agents of the German South Sea 

 Company were engaged in acquiring the ces- 

 sion from the coast tribes of the same portion 

 of the northern coast. The German Govern- 



without notice, and before the meeting of the 

 mixed commission to delimit the spheres of in- 

 terests, and the German authorities replied 

 that England had already limited her sphere 

 of interests to the south shore, and was aware 

 of the German plans in New Guinea. The 

 English Government was at this time placed 

 in a dilemma by the excitement and anger 

 aroused in Australia by the German annexa- 

 tions. The Prime Minister of Victoria tele- 

 graphed: "The exasperation here is bound- 

 less. We protest in the name of the present 

 and the future of Australia ; if England does 

 not yet save us from the danger and dis- 

 grace, as far at least as New Guinea is con- 



PAPUAK HOUSES. 



ment expressed surprise, and reserved its de- 

 cision. On Oct. 9 the English diplomatic 

 representative in Berlin declared that, in con- 

 sequence of the representations of the German 

 minister, his Government had resolved to re- 

 strict the British protectorate to the southern 

 coast. ^ On Nov. 18 a British protectorate was 

 proclaimed from Port Moresby, over the south- 

 ern coast from East Cape to the Dutch line, and 

 over the adjacent islands (see AUSTRALASIA). 



The eastern limit of the German annexation 

 of the north coast, proclaimed on Dec. 19, was 

 not definitely fixed. The English Government 

 protested against the act, which was done 



cerned, the bitterness of feeling toward her 

 will not die out in this generation." An ui 

 official representative, Mr. Meade, was sent t 

 Berlin to induce the Germans to renounce 

 their New Guinea scheme. He proposed tl 

 New Guinea and the Luisiades should be 1< 

 to Great Britain, while Germany should take 

 New Britain, New Ireland, and the Duke o 

 York's Islands ; France should be given tl 

 New Hebrides; and Samoa and all the oth 

 South Sea islands should be neutralized. Atte 

 the failure of Mr. Meade's mission, and after 

 receiving a curt reply to its protest against 

 German annexation, the British Government 



