PNG National History

Lecture 4 :
1. The Government of Papua
1884-1942
 Introduction
• Europeans came for varied reasons, but not
until of European government legitimize their
influence…
• The establishment of European government in
the region starts with the claiming of West
Papua by Dutch in 1828…
• Both British and German establish their
government in November 1884… British to the
South and German to the North
 PNG National History

Dutch New German New

Guinea Guinea

1884
1828

1884

British New
Guinea
 Introduction
• By the time European governments were
established , Europeans were already in the
region, but did not support the government.
• On the other hand British and Germans were
reluctant to claim control of the region…
• This lectures looks at the motives for the
British control of the region…
 British New Guinea
• British were attracted to the region, not on
their own, but at the urging of its Australian
colonies .... , still British Colonies.
• Australian interest in New Guinea was limited
to few individuals and shipping firms in the
early part of 19th century.
• Their interest will increase in the later part…
 British New Guinea
• Europeans begin to live in British New Guinea
from 1870 onwards…
• Among the earliest Europeans were
Missionaries & Traders. They had diverging
views on annexation.
• Missionaries have their own reason for
supporting annexation…
 British New Guinea
1. Economic Interest
• Traders consider government control as
unhealthy to their enterprise…

• Direct economic advantage in New Guinea

had influence Australia in supporting
annexation…
 British New Guina
2. Defence Fear
• Chief reason for the annexation of New
Guinea by Great Britain was for the Defence
of its Australian colonies ...
• The colonies saw British navy as their
protector…
• Australian colonies security fear would
materialize in the 1870’s …
 British New Guina
2. Defence Fear
• To Australian colonies, New Guinea was seen
as outpost from which an attack on Australia
would be made…
• Brisbane became first port of call, Using the
shortest sea route…
• German presence in New Guinea tend to be
more telling on the Australian colonies…
 British New Guinea
• Australia to fund the annexation of New
Guinea…
• German assured Britain that she is not
interested in New Guinea…
• Since Australia wanted no one else to annex
New Guinea, there are cheaper ways to deal
with the urgency…
 Brisbane Action
• In 1879 Brisbane extend its boundary to Port
Moresby…
• By 1883 Queensland anxiety was too great
that it was willing to pay for the annexation of
New Guinea…
• Sir Thomas McIlwraith in February 1883 send
a message to Britain to annex the island of
New Guinea.
 Brisbane Action
• Henry Chester sailed to Port Moresby and
took possession on the 4th April 1883…
• On issues of technicality British hesitated to
respond to Queensland move…
• Following year German indicated interest in
New Guinea…
• Britain opt for protectorate rather than an
outright annexation which would make Papua
a colony…
 Brisbane Action
• Formal Declaration of the protectorate was
made in Port Moresby by Commodore Erskins
of British Navy on November 1884…
• While German interest in the region was
purely economic…
• Though German claim control of north eastern
New Guinea, the colony was in the hands of
the company…
 Period of British Rule

The period of • 1884-1888 Protectorate of

British rule in Great Britain
British New • 1888-1898 the colony.
Guinea, the area under William MacGregor.
we now called
• 1898-1906 the late years of
Papua began in
the protectorate of Britain.
1884 and end in
1906.
 Period of British Rule
• 1901 Australian states federated…
• Britain would want to pass the control of New
Guinea to Australia but would not until 1906…
• In 1906 the British colony of New Guinea was
change to the Territory of Papua…
• Why protectorate?
 Conclusion
• It is obvious struggle for possession of New
Guinea was forced on by prevailing
circumstances…
• British claim of Papua comes at the expense of
German claim of interest in New Guinea…
• Britain would like to limit its influence in the
region…