Archibald R. Colquhoun (1848–1914)

Abe books: This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1902 Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVI GERMANY, FRANCE, RUSSIA, AND CHINA So far we have dealt with the four Powers chiefly concerned in the Pacific,--Great Britain, the United States, Japan, and Holland,--and now, to complete our rough survey, a glance must be given to the other Powers who also have important interests in or bordering that ocean. Amongst these the first place must be given to Germany and France, not that they are the most important factors, but because both possess considerable interests among the islands of the Pacific, as well as still greater ones on the mainland of Asia. China and Russia--Powers in Asia facing the Pacific, each with a great extent of seaboard, will be referred to later. The transformation which has taken place in the Pacific has been proceeding for half a century or more. But the abrupt appearance of Germany marked the opening of an era of activity in this part of the world. Seventeen years ago Germany, whose appetite was whetted by the scramble for Africa, appeared in the Pacific and has since obtained control of six groups of islands,--the Bismarck archipelago, the Marshall archipelago, part of the Solomon islands, part of the Samoa group, the Caroline and Pelew islands, and the Marianne or Ladrones (excepting Guam)--and of Kaiser Wilhelm Land (German New Guinea). France has been present in the Pacific since the beginning of the last century, her chief possessions being the Marquesas, New Caledonia, the Loyalty and Society islands, the Low archipelago, and the Austral islands (on which Rapa is situated), while she has a joint interest with Britain in the New Hebrides. Within the past few years Spain has disappeared from the scene altogether and has been replaced by the great Western Republic.… (más)