The Press. Tuesday, March 12, 1918. The Future of Samoa.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16158, 12 March 1918, Page 6

The Press. Tuesday, March 12, 1918. The Future of Samoa.

The sharp division of opinion in the City Council as to tho future of Samoa does not in the Ipast reflect any like division amongst the feeneral body of the public. We are not prepared to say that New Zealanders are unanimous, in thinking that no settlement of tho Samoa -problem will be endured which does not leave the islands in the hands of Great Britain or under the control of the New Zealand Government. There is not the lfeast doubt, however, that they , are as nearly unanimous as a people ever can be in holding that that iB the only iruly satisfactory solution, and that in any case they refuse to listen to any suggestion that .■ German tule should be restored. Although, therefore, Sir Lloyd George has said that the future of tho German colonies must be • reserved for decision by the Peace Conference, the City Council -was tight to pass the Auckland'resolution in favour of British control. 'Accustomed as we are to hear extraordinary sentiments comin 2 from the Labour Socialists on our public bodies, we must confess to feeling staggered that any of them should be prepared to contemplate with calmness the suggestion that the Germans should again occupy Samoa. Could a more reasonless defiance of facts than is involved in -such a suggestion? The Cojuicillor who feared that the retenof Samoa, m British hands will necessitate permanent conscription, and war, and a future sacrifice of lives, and it dark and clouded destiny for New Zealand, has evidently given no thought at all to tlio consequences of a German resumption of the islands. With Samoa restored to German hands, and made

:jjf \ into a great base for submarine and !jr* aerial operations New Zealand could I I never feel safe. In such a case New ; Zealand would indeed have to give up a 1§:- • great portion of its life Ito tlio maintenance of a state of military preparedii; ness. Our only safety lies in the cxelusion of Samoa and the Pacific from j the sphere of German control, and a y : theory which conflicts with that obvious fact is self-condemned. There is no ? wish on tho part of anybody in this [• country to embarrass the British Gony,' vprnment, either now or at the time for ;■ .settling-tip, but it is important that ij* that' Government should receive a clear and unmistakable declaration of coloJ : nial feclinc in this important matter, t. and the resolution passed by the Couni u cil does indicate what that is. Mr K "Walter Long, aB Secretary for the Colo'J- nies, has on Various occasions 'publicly recognised the strength of colonial feelrespecting the captured German colonies and the necessity for satisfyK. ing that feeling. But past experience |;if tcaches that the Dominions cannot - safely jely entirely upon the aptitude I of British statesmen to adopt, unaided, I a sympathetic apd imaginative policy ] ' •

in dealing with the interests of the overseas Empire. Samoa itself is a case in point. New Zealand once strove to impress upon Britain its dislike of foreign domination in Samoa, and although its protests were heard, as they could hardly help being heard, they were not heeded. The Dominions have assuredly earned the light to a voice in the peace settlement, and it is New Zealand's duty to express its wishes plainly when it has an opportunity to do so and a prospect of having its wishes practically recognised.